On Instagram, a visit to Seng Chee Hee's profile reveals videos with vibrant subtitles and lively background music, showcasing his daily life as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) student with nearly a million followers.

Born in Malaysia and educated in the United States, Seng's path to studying TCM at Xiamen University Malaysia as both a natural choice and a formidable challenge.

Seng Chee Hee's interest in TCM sparked during his high school years in the U.S., where he experienced the benefits of acupuncture and herbal medicine firsthand due to sports injuries. Fascinated by the efficacy and holistic approach of TCM compared to Western medicine, he chose to pursue TCM studies based on his parents' wishes for him to return to Malaysia.

"Compared to Western medicine, TCM is more natural and clinically effective, making it increasingly popular in today's society. I believe TCM has endless potential," Seng explained.

However, adapting to the bilingual TCM curriculum in English and Chinese posed a significant challenge initially. Fresh from the US, he struggled with the language barrier, dedicating extra effort to pre-read and review course materials.

"Our textbooks require extensive reading. Some classical Chinese texts and complex characters were unfamiliar to me, and I often couldn't understand parts of the lectures. So, I would look up words in the dictionary and annotate them to catch up," Seng recounted.

His determination paid off. Through diligent study, active participation in classes, and consistent review, Seng excelled, graduating as the top student in his class and earning the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship. "This recognition validated my efforts and made all the hard work worthwhile," Seng said with a sense of accomplishment.

Raised in a Western environment, Seng is naturally sociable. However, upon returning to Malaysia, he faced cultural shocks in social interactions. "I love chatting with strangers. Initially, I knew almost no one, so I would strike up conversations with everyone I met. This extroverted behavior seemed odd to my more reserved Asian peers, sometimes even startling them," Seng shared.

Adapting his approach while maintaining his enthusiasm, Seng aimed to become a unifying figure within his community. This aspiration wasn't a sudden revelation but rather a lifelong influence from his father, who taught him to act with benevolence. Seng's goal to bring people together wasn't for personal acclaim but to unite like-minded individuals for a common cause, creating a better world.

During the pandemic, when online classes threatened the cohesion of his TCM cohort, Seng, serving in the Student Union, introduced a "family system". He organized the entire TCM student body into ten families, each led by a "parent" who facilitated interactions and activities. This initiative successfully fostered a sense of community and belonging among students.

Reflecting on these experiences, Seng emphasized the importance of personal growth and self-reflection. "Constantly improving oneself and refining one's character gives life meaning," he said.

Seng firmly believes in the principle that self-improvement is key to leadership. A great leader must diversify their knowledge, extending beyond their primary field. This belief drove him to explore various interests alongside his rigorous TCM studies.

An unexpected opportunity arose when he learned about a sales competition hosted by Huawei. Despite its distance from his medical studies, Seng's interest in business, finance, and marketing prompted him to participate. His boldness paid off, securing second place among hundreds and winning a RM10,000 prize.

This victory underscored to Seng that one should never limit oneself. He began contemplating how his TCM expertise could contribute to a broader mission of making the world a better place. Recognizing the pervasive role of smartphones in modern life, he ventured into social media, encouraged by his brother William, a fellow XMUM alumnus with over a million Instagram followers.

Seng's breakthrough came with a viral video, solidifying his direction. He now shares study tips and his journey as a TCM practitioner on Instagram and TikTok, amassing nearly a million followers. "Dare to dream, dare to act, and don't be constrained by your profession. You'll discover your limitless potential," Seng advised with a smile.

When asked about the secret to his remarkable achievements, Seng thoughtfully responded, "Passion, and really hard work."

(Contributed by Li Yuanjia)