BYU-Hawaii alumna and dignitary, Yue-Sai Kan, shared her “10 Points to Success” and elaborated on how she, a music student, became one of the most recognizable faces in Chinese popular culture with students and faculty on Friday, Oct. 11, in the Aloha Center Ballroom. After a piano introduction by Lily Asunama, a sophomore studying music from Japan, BYUH President Steven Wheelwright introduced Kan as “one of, if not our most, distinguished and successful alumnus.” Yue-Sai Kan graduated from BYUH with a degree in music and proceeded to garner an impressive resume after moving to New York with “only $150 in [her] pocket,” as she described. A short video was played before her speech, detailing how after graduating she went on to work as a television news host, a humanitarian, a fashion icon, and an author, among several other endeavors. Her work in public relations garnered her an Emmy award for her work on “China Walls and Bridges.” She is largely credited with joining the East and West through television journalism. In addition to her professional work, Kan has amassed fame for her humanitarian efforts, an accolade that she credits to her lifestyle. She instructed listeners during her talk to, “Learn to love and give. Always be generous.” She is the only Chinese “Say Yes” ambassador for the non-profit UNICEF and has raised enough money to support 12 hospitals in urban areas of China. Additionally, she established the China Beauty Charity Fund, which supports women and children in health and education. Yue-Sai Kan described her time at BYUH as helpful in her musical education and exposure to world cultures. She described how she traveled to Samoa and met Tongan dignitaries, learned to cook new foods, and met wonderful people. She described, “It was a great thing to see all the lights and hear the sounds.” She relates to most students, citing her small budget through college. She recalled, “I missed a lot at that time.” Throughout the speech, Kan instructed students on various tips and lifestyle choices that would lead them to an easier, more profitable lifestyle, using facets of her past as examples and references. She described how learning more languages “opens a window to a new world.” She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English fluently, and is teaching herself French and Spanish. She additionally emphasized gaining international exposure, encouraging students to travel and meet new people. The reoccurring theme throughout her speech was to realize the importance of one's choices. “Life is made of choices,” she described, “Making the right choice is determining if you walk the right road.”
Writer: Devaughn Huntoon-Jones~Multimedia Journalist
