<p>In the late 80s, at the age of 24, I came to the US, land of opportunity, to obtain a graduate degree in the field that I am really interested in. Like many foreign students from non-English Speaking countries, I struggled in express myself verbally so I had a difficult time during the first semester. My academic advisor Dr. M, who was very impatient about my English, gave up on me and eventually I received a C for his class. In this decent private university I attended, to get any scholarship was very competitive and depended heavily on professor’s research grants. Instead of getting me (his student) scholarship, Dr. M closed the door on me and I barely survived (C=2.0 in GPA calculation and any course with a C grade could not be counted as credits hours toward graduation in Master of Science programs). Was I a bad student? At first I had such a doubt in my mind, but not until I spoke with chairman of another department in my cross-disciplinary program, Dr. E, a well-known professor in Biological Wastewater Treatment. I still remember the encouraging words from him that day: </p>
<p>“I remember you. You took two courses that I taught last semester. And you aced both of them.”…</p>
<p>”I understand your English without any problem.”…</p>
<p>”I have a southern accent; too”…”I will be very pleased if my Chinese is as good as your English.”…</p>
<p>”Dr. M has no plan on you, but I do. Welcome to the team (family)!”…</p>
<p>“Who said students with a C in their master programs are doomed. Work hard and study
hard; you can make it.” </p>
<p>Five years after this, I invited Dr. E to participate in my doctoral dissertation committee for the oral defense at my second graduate school located on the East Coast. It was nice to share the biggest moments of your life with someone really care for you. I am blessed to have Dr. E on two of the big ones. A couple months after, Dr. E flew over to the east coast again join my wedding as Guest of Honor. </p>
<p>My father passed away two years before I completed my dissertation. I don’t remember since when Dr. E. became a father figure to my family. We call him Uncle E in several profession conferences we came across occasionally. Whenever meeting with Dr. E, I am always thrilled to listen to his words of wisdom and my heart is always filled with this appreciative feeling. After all these years, his firm, caring and encouraging voices still echo in my ears:</p>
<p>”I will be very pleased if my Chinese is as good as your English.”…
”Dr. M has no plan on you, but I do. Welcome to the team (family)!”…
“Who said students with a C in their master programs are doomed. Work hard and study hard; you can make it.” </p>
<p>Dr. E received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt</p>