Professor Cecilia Liu reflects on her teaching career at the Department of English Language and Literature at FJCU and explains that with her passion for English she will continue teaching even after retiring.
“I started teaching at Fu Jen [Catholic University] as a part-timer in the evening division from 1983,” said Professor Cecilia H.C. Liu. After finishing her master’s degree, Liu first taught full-time in Taichung and part-time in Fu Jen for 10 years. At that point, she went to Ohio University for a Ph.D. in English Literature and Theatre, then returned to continue teaching at Fu Jen Catholic University (FJCU) until today.
Having published more than 80 academic writings, directed more than 35 theatre performances, and received 20 awards, Professor Liu is one of the most passionate, devoted, and hard-working professors. Students often describe her as independent, brave, caring, tender, and warm-hearted. “I would say that teaching itself is significant. I wouldn’t call it a job but a profession, indeed. And no matter where you are, I will say that it’s really like a beautiful garden,” the professor explained. “The garden wouldn’t be beautiful by itself. You have to nurture it, water it, and move the pots around sometimes.” According to Liu, teaching involves thoroughly researching and studying a text. In the end, a teacher learns more than what is taught.
Professor Liu with students throughout the years of her teaching career. Photo provided by Professor Liu.
When talking about her early years while pursuing education, Professor Liu said, “disability is not only a weakness but also a curse, a sin.” Professor Liu is a polio survivor from a low-income family. She had to work hard to earn chances to improve and foster certain abilities. “I have to be independent. I have to learn something that I can keep with me. That thing happens to be English. It opened a door for me. I learned that life can be different so it's wonderful,” Liu sees her disability as a blessing. Professor Liu said, “you need a strong soul, a sturdy heart, and also, very solid learning as the foundation. So, I equipped myself with different sorts of knowledge.” Through learning, she found that even though her body could be restricted and kind of imprisoned. But her heart, her soul could soar in the sky. It could be infinite.
Liu witnessed the rise of modern technologies such as the internet, laptops, and smartphones that provide the convenience that students should take advantage of. Professor Liu exclaimed, “unlike you! We had to go to different libraries back then, searching through catalogs!” Documents can be copied, saved, and stored safely in different cloud services. Liu lost the handwritten translations of The Odyssey and The Illiad that a former bookstore in front of Fu Jen requested from her. Liu said, “the bookstore asked me to translate the Odyssey and the Iliad into Chinese. I translated the two books, but the bookstore didn’t pay me and the next thing I know was that it went out of business.” She also witnessed the change of landscape too. “I have been through all those changes, so-called the dark times. Right? Witnessed the construction of the MRT and enjoyed the convenience of the MRT. The campus was barren. And in the front, it was all rice fields.”
Professor Liu's favorite photo from her retirement party. Photo provided by Professor Liu.
For now, Liu said of her future plans, “every day is a new day. I am full of energy, passion, and also aspiration. So the prospect for me, so far, I can still serve. I always call it a service to students, literature, culture, and the humanities. I will teach as long as they need me.” Liu plans eventually to travel to Canada because one of her students there implied that “students there are still in great need for literature, qualification, and also reading.”
At the end of the interview, Professor Liu reminded current students and past alumni, “life itself is a moving feast. You can always take something with you. You decide. You are the master of your life. I am, as people say, a powerhouse. I hope I can keep it this way. Keep on learning. Life is wonderful. Life is precious. Even when I'm crying, even when I'm sad, I tell myself: ‘Hang in there, it will be better. You will see the light after this dark tunnel. Hang in there. Don't give up. Don’t give up on any hope. The most important thing is don't give up on yourself.’”