Ye Kou, Echo
“Believer of Kindness”
I’ve always considered myself an incredibly lucky person. My name is Ye, Kou. You can also call me Echo. I was born in Inner Mongolia, a city in the very north of China. The vast prairie has cultivated my cheerful and open-minded character, and the parents who raised me have given me a kind and upright character. In the education I have received since childhood, “dedication” has always been one of the most important words. And “educator” is the best profession to represent “dedication” in my young heart. So my childhood dream has always been to be a teacher. As I got older, my personal interests became more defined and my career path plans changed. I began to have a stronger interest in finance, so after the college entrance examination, I chose to study finance at Nankai University and double major in cultural studies. But the idea of “wanting to give back to society” has not changed in any way. But at the time, I hadn’t figured out how to do something meaningful with what I had learned. Fortunately, during my life and study in Singapore, I met such a group, they are the inheritors of the traditional Chinese culture-puppet theater troupe. The managers of the troupe are two Fujianese with more than 40 years of performance experience, and they are committed to preserving and passing on this craft. It is a pity that the troupe is facing the risk of disbanding because their performance forms and inheritance methods can no longer adapt to the modern market, and these performers cannot make a living through the existing methods, and sometimes even need to beg for a living. After learning about their stories, my life ideals suddenly had a clearer purpose. That’s since I have a background in business and cultural studies, why can’t I do something for them with what I’ve learned to help them get through it? So a bold and firm idea was determined in my mind like this: “I want to set up a non-profit charitable organization to help commercialize traditional cultural organizations, help these craftsmen obtain economic resources, and at the same time protect this precious cultural heritage.”
In order to further help myself realize this ideal in life, I applied for the business analysis program at Washington University in St. Louis to supplement my business analysis knowledge. Fortunately, I met many kind friends, advisors, administrators, and professors during my study in St. Louis. I not only learned useful knowledge from them but more importantly, I felt the enthusiasm and sense of mission of educators from them. They always help every student selflessly, without asking for anything in return, just for the better development of the students. This spiritual quality deeply infected me. They showed me the meaning of “dedication” again with practical actions, and at the same time injecting more strength into my belief. Maybe in the future entrepreneurial process, I will encounter many difficulties, but whenever I think of the trust of Olin mentors and professors in me, I will bravely overcome all difficulties and realize my dreams. Hopefully, someday in the future, I will be able to return to Olin. As an alumnus, as a non-profit entrepreneur, share my experience with students, and share how lucky I am to study and live in Olin, share the power of kindness and dedication, which can transcend time and space and be infinite transfer.
