In April 2020, Tan Wei You enrolled in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme at Xiamen University Malaysia. By 2024, he graduated with impressive titles, including “100% Scholarship Recipient for Four Consecutive Years,” “Founder and President of the Coffee Club”, and “President of the Martial Arts Club”, as he embarked on a promising future.
Achieving excellent exam results is challenging, and securing a full scholarship for four years requests more. Now pursuing a master's degree in New Energy Science and Engineering with full funding, Tan Wei You believes that in addition to being dedicated and passionate, effective time management skills is crucial - “Having appropriate time for rest and play helps enhance learning efficiency. After class, he typically takes time to relax before studying, enabling him to engage fully in his upcoming tasks. This approach has allowed him to excel academically while actively participating in and leading various club activities.
The idea of founding the Coffee Club came to Tan Wei You in his third year of university: "I really admired ZUS Coffee. During the two-year pandemic, when it was inconvenient for people to go out, ZUS branches were popping up all over Malaysia, successfully gaining popularity." In addition to the growing number of ZUS outlets, the increase in local coffee shops further validated his belief: Coffee has become a new trend here.
Seizing the moment, Tan Wei You quickly reached out to friends active in the club circle. These friends shared his enthusiasm and ideals, and together they established the new Coffee Club. Despite the demands of his senior year, Tan Wei You was determined to start the Coffee Club and successfully rallied his friends to join.
However, it wasn't easy. Whether in the planning or operating stages, Tan Wei You, a first-timer at the time, felt the pressure mount.
"I couldn't possibly do everything on my own," Tan Wei You states. "So, figuring out how to inspire my committee members' creativity and ideas, as well as reasonably distributing tasks, became crucial." He collaborated with his team to manage the club's finances, ensuring smooth operations from the start. Other friends excelled in coffee art and had experience working in coffee shops. Tan Wei You humbly sought their advice, and together they adapted the operational models of external coffee shops to establish the club's foundational activities: coffee experience workshops.
"We hold a workshop every week, at least five per semester, so that students can learn how to make coffee," Tan Wei You explained. "Each session has a fee, which helps sustain the club financially."
"Isn't this just like how Apple started in a garage back in 1976?" Tan Wei You joked.
The competitions and club activities have made Tan Wei You more confident in presenting his ideas to others and bolder in taking on leadership roles. Nowadays, he actively socializes to expand his network, learning to step out of his comfort zone and explore things he has always wanted to try.
"I'm very grateful for these four years of campus life, during which everything I experienced has changed my perspective. Whether it's mentors or opportunities, they're all there for those who are prepared, and they've become indispensable elements of my life," Tan Wei You reflects on his eventful university years. "Life is meant to be experienced, not performed perfectly. So, we should boldly experience the hardships and joys of different paths to better understand ourselves."
"There's no such thing as a wasted journey. Every right and wrong counts, and the path beneath your feet is the best path."
(Contributed by Li Yuanjia)