As I write this, three months have already passed, the memories have become even clearer. Looking back at the two sessions, the greatest gain was undoubtedly the improvement of my English proficiency. Through the course, I consciously kept practicing my English. I’m glad that my English did not deteriorate over time; through self-study, all-English instruction, and classroom interaction and sharing, my English has improved significantly.

AELC courses are different from what I usually experience. Here, the emphasis is on “student-centered” academic activities, focusing on exchange and the collision of ideas among students. So, I became more proactive in sharing, discussing, and presenting. I realized that I don’t need to suppress my own ideas just because they differ from the mainstream, nor do I need to stay silent for fear of not having the “correct” answer. Since then, I’ve been more willing to try to express and show myself. I also found that everyone in the course has a unique background, educational experience, and perspective, which always spark different ideas. Every exchange is full of depth and value.

Also, this project once again significantly broadened my international horizon. As I became more familiar with my classmates, I gained new understanding and insights into different countries. Through more and more “real” interactions, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of their education systems and cultural backgrounds, peel off the labels, and truly touch the lives of ordinary people. In fact, much of what I learned was completely new to me, sometimes even was almost different from what I had believed to be true. What is real, I realized, is only what I hear and see with my own senses. As exchanges increased, I came to see that cultural differences are not just abstract concepts in books, but vivid and multifaceted lived experiences. These differences not only broadened my understanding of the world but also challenged my stereotypes, expanded my horizons, and shifted my way of thinking, enriching my worldview and values. They have taught me to view the world with a more sensitive and nuanced lens, free from existing models and frameworks, and to focus more on others’ real experiences and feelings. This has enabled me to genuinely examine the global education landscape from the perspectives of other countries and cultures. This experience has also made me more deeply aware of the importance and necessity of maintaining an open and critical mindset and continuously expanding one’s international outlook.

In short, AELC has allowed me to grow and improve in various aspects, and has also made me deeply aware of the nature of this course: it is an in-depth forum that transcends geographical, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries, and an important practice in promoting educational and cultural exchange in Asia. Everyone here is not only a citizen of their own country but also a global citizen—an important participant in the worldwide context. The Asian Educational Leaders Program doesn’t just focus on one country’s educational issues; it looks at the shared educational realities and challenges across Asia and the world. It is this sense of responsibility and mission to lead and shape the future that has made every participant feel the weight on their shoulders and the fire in their hearts, and it has also helped me gain greater clarity about my future path.