What? The maintenance worker who climbs the wire pole became a university professor? Don't suspect! This is not fictitious encouraging film, but the true story shown in our daily life. Wang Jian-lieng, TKU alumnus from a poor family, did not give up any chance for going to school, and he realized his dream of getting doctor degree at his 62. Wang Jian-lieng who was grew up in Chu-San in Nantou county just finished doctoral program from the Graduate Institute of Management Sciences. His parents both are simple farmers. From poor family and with the responsibility of taking care of 7 siblings, Wang Jian-lieng as the oldest child chose to drop out of high school for getting a job to support the family.

He experienced deeply about only going to school could be away from the poverty life. Starting to study again when he was 24 working in Taipower, he read anytime anywhere if he had any chances, although he was busy to work and stood by for repairing in 24 hours regardless of sunny or rainy days. At the age of 30, he finally had his high school degree.

Wang Jian-lieng was admitted into the night school of Computer Science of Fengchia University. On this bumpy studying road, he transferred to Supplementary Open Junior College for Public Adminstration National Chengchi University because he was sent to work in northern part of Taiwan. After finishing college degree, he went to several different schools for finishing University credits.

He ran into the teacher from TKU for the first time at the master program cooperated by both the Graduate Institute of Management Sciences and Hsin-chu Science Park. With the encouragements from school professors Yang Wei-tzen and Chen Hai-ming, he went to study the academic cooperation master program of International Management in University of St. Thomas in the United States. Wang Jian-lieng said, “Working hard for some many years, the child graduated from university too, and the financial pressure of family had a relief. After communicating with the family, obtaining their support, I went to school in U.S.A. for several times. When I got the master degree, I have been already 50 years old.”

Speaking of preparing for the exam of doctoral program, Wang answers with smiles, “ Because I have background of management, I actually was helping my son who was in the master program of Resource Management going to apply for the doctoral program. People suggested me to apply for the TKU doctoral program of the Graduate Institute of Management Sciences with my son; therefore, we did that together.” With the fail of first exam, Wang Jian-lieng worked much harder for the second try. At the senior age of 50, he got into the program which let his study career go one step forward. The whole class enrolled 3 people at that time; however, he is the oldest one even adding up the ages of another two young classmates.

Perhaps it is a test of his destiny. He went back to Taichung immediately to participate the electricity repairing after 921 earthquakes when he was in doctoral program. He said, “I’m very grateful to several teachers and classmates at that time for being so helpful and understanding for me about rushing back to repair the system of transmitting electricity in the middle part of Taiwan. Everybody worked together to rearrange time of course on Friday or Saturday, so my study didn’t get stop.”

For the 7 years in doctoral program, excepting went to work, he always went to classes in TKU. Wang Jian-lieng claimed, “ commuting between Taichung and Taipei frequently at that time, I always carried an alarm clock to wake me up and prevent from missing the stop. This May, Wang Jian-lieng accomplished his dream and obtained the doctor degree with the thesis of “ the Research of Best Supply and Demand on Transmit Electricity – As Example of Taiwan Transmit Electricity Network”. Wang Jian-lieng believes he has the most hardworking and fruitful period of learning during his school years, and he appreciates each person in TKU who has ever helped him.

A few days ago, Wang Jian-lieng got gifts from the mayor of Chu-San town Chu Bao-zen for praising his great work, when he visited his parents at hometown. He shared this honor with his 86 year-old father, Wang Chao-Dong.

Frequently working and studying at the same time, Wang Jian-lieng has his own ideas about time management. He thinks the fairest thing in the world is everyone has 24 hours each day, and people can decide how the time is managed.

Serving in Taipower for 38 years, he is going to retire from the position of Operating Section Chief in Taichong power supplying area soon after 3 more years. With the referral of school president of Nanhua University, he went to teach in Nanhua University in Chiayi and launched his teaching life. He encourages the students in TKU to broaden minds and extend visions to find a suitable field and work hard to show their talents. He said, “The chance is for people who have full preparation; success is for people who work hard. The life is fully meaningful when you completely present your talent.” (~ Johnny Chu )