Why did you want to be a NetVUE ambassador?
Helping others is one of the best ways to find happiness. When I see someone smile or feel encouraged because of my efforts, I realize that my life has purpose. However, finding what is “meaningful” is not easy. It often involves challenges, reflection, and personal development. I have learned that when we face hardship and overcome it, we truly get to understand who we really are.
“Who we really are” and “our vocation” are only slightly different ideas. As a NetVUE ambassador, I want to discover our future. In the end, I want to build a community where students feel supported in exploring their futures. I will find out the purpose by helping others. I also expect to strengthen my understanding of vocation, leadership, and service.
How has your understanding of purpose and vocation changed since being here at Norwich?
At first, my understanding of purpose was normal. I expect myself to improve my English and earn my degree. As an international student, I faced challenges like language barriers and cultural differences. After I had overcome those challenges, I realized they were helping me to grow and discover my true purpose.
Through daily challenges, I began to understand that my purpose to be here is not only to earn a degree. Instead, it has become about challenging myself, being creative, and not letting the environment or expectations limit who I can be. Norwich has taught me to see every hardship as a new opportunity to grow stronger and more confident.
My understanding of vocation has also changed to a higher level. Although I already have a contract with the Taiwanese Army, learning at Norwich made me realize that vocation is more than just a single career path. It is an ongoing journey of discovering what kind of person you want to become and how you want to serve others. I have learned that whether you contract or get the job or not, you always have the chance to explore your potential and find new callings in life.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that vocation is not fixed. Even after serving as an officer, I know that life will bring new opportunities and new roles to grow into. Norwich taught me not to limit myself but to keep trying, keep exploring, and keep searching for what is most meaningful.
I believe that the true purpose of vocation is living with curiosity, courage, and commitment to become your best self.
How has Norwich helped you develop this sense and guide and influence your vocation path now?
Norwich has given me the courage to explore, fail, and try again. Even when I miss the first opportunity, I learn that persistence creates new ones. This reflects reality: growth requires constant effort and resilience. It also provides an environment to encourage students to step beyond their comfort zones. Building step-by-step training and academic discipline. It finally cultivates not only strength but also creativity.
What truly distinguishes Norwich is its spirit of mutual encouragement. We compete with each other to be better. This culture has shaped my understanding of vocation as a lifelong journey of becoming, rather than a single profession. Norwich has taught me to seek meaning in challenge, to lead with purpose, and to never remain still when I know I can become more.
Kunyi Hong is a junior at Norwich University majoring in Political Science, with minors in Spanish and International Warfare. As a future officer in the Taiwanese Army, Kunyi is dedicated to the study of leadership and global service. He seeks to create a space where students can come together to reflect on their own professional callings.
What kind of life do you feel called to live? What role does Norwich play in your sense of calling, and how can we encourage students to think more deeply about the meaning and purpose of their lives?
I was raised in a Hindu household where every lesson about how to live, how to behave in society, and how to serve our community came straight from our sacred texts. From a young age, my mother would share stories of the gods, their compassion, courage, and integrity, as blueprints for daily life.
In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krsna tells Arjuna that He “resides in the hearts of all beings” (BG 10.20), reminding us that the Divine is present in every person. One of the earliest rituals I learned was touching my elders’ feet and seeking their blessings. At first, I followed this practice simply because my mother asked me to, without questioning why. As I grew older, I understood its deeper meaning: not only does it foster respect and humility, but because “atman sarvatra sama vasudevah sarvam iti” (“the Self dwells in all, and Vasudeva is all”), touching an elder’s feet is also a way of receiving the Divine’s blessing. We honor the god-spark within them.
Our tradition has a well-known proverb: “Fruit-laden branches always bow to the ground, while barren ones stand stiffly upright.” It reminds me that true strength and achievement are accompanied by humility; those who bear the greatest “fruit” are the first to bend in service to others. When I was in school, my mom taught me one of our tradition’s most powerful ideas: niṣkāma karma doing your duty without worrying about what you’ll get in return. She’d remind me, borrowing words from the Bhagavad-Gita, that “you have a right to work only, never to its fruits,” and encouraged me to dive into my studies to learn, not to chase grades or trophies. Once I stopped obsessing over scores and let myself get lost in the excitement of discovering new
ideas, I felt my stress dissolve, and a genuine love for learning took its place. There are many other lessons that I have learnt from the Gita and my mom, like when you do something for someone, never expect them to do the same for you. Suppose you help someone do it without expecting anything in return. Together, these teachings of seva (selfless service), niskama karma (action without attachment), and the recognition of God in every being continues to guide the life I feel called to live—one of compassion, integrity, grace, and genuine support for others.
When I came to Norwich for the first time, I was really fascinated by the discipline the freshmen rooks had, how they upheld every rule and fulfilled each duty even when no one was watching, and the genuine camaraderie they showed with their fellow rooks. Norwich has organized events where we could take part and do some work in the church. There was this weekly event when I was a sophomore where we went to church and served food to people, chatting with friends and new families as we worked. I felt a real sense of purpose in every smile. Norwich provides chances to put values into action by providing an opportunity to participate in these events. I’ve realized that my calling isn’t some distant dream but a choice I make every day: to help someone in need, to listen with kindness, and to give my all without expecting anything back. Being here, surrounded by friends and mentors who live by example, has taught me that true purpose comes from weaving compassion and helpfulness into our daily routines.
For students to think more deeply about this matter, it is by talking to them about these topics. One simple way is to ask students to share moments when they felt truly alive. Almost everyone has times when they were fully engaged or joyful. By talking about those experiences and brainstorming how to make them happen more often, students can see patterns that point to what really matters to them and begin to understand their own purpose.
Lakshya Shah is a Computer Science graduate from Nepal who completed his studies at Norwich University in December. His interests include software development and community service, and his experiences as an international student have shaped his perspective on culture, purpose, and personal growth. This piece reflects lessons he has drawn from his upbringing and time at Norwich.
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