“Find what you love—and devote your life to it.”
Even At 90, Professor Teresa Sun stood tall and spoke with strength and clarity. At the Irvine Book Club’s closing ceremony, she shared her journey—one shaped by war, migration, study, and teaching.
Her life proves that culture is more than identity; it’s a voice to be spoken, shared, and sung.
In 1959, Professor Sun arrived in San Francisco with just $34 to her name. She spoke little English, knew no one—but never let go of her mission : to share Chinese culture.
With a scholarship and a job in the student cafeteria, she earned a master’s degree from UCLA. That marked the beginning of her lifelong journey as a cultural ambassador in American universities.
“I’m a literary soul,” Professor Sun once said. “I couldn’t give up what I loved most.” So she turned to teaching—using poetry, drama, and stories from life to help students fall in love with Chinese language and culture.
Her first class had six students. Years later, over 100 filled her lecture hall. She believed, “Education isn’t about filling minds—it’s about opening hearts.”
Beyond teaching, Professor Sun was the first to introduce Chinese acupuncture theory and traditional opera into American higher education.
She created surveys to spark reflection on how East and West view teachers and knowledge. Blending experimentation with empathy, she organized cross-cultural events that brought worlds together.
Professor Sun didn’t just shape minds—she shaped communities. She served as a library trustee, chaired multicultural councils, led homeless outreach, and sat on theater boards.
Across the U.S., she gave talks, curated East-West concerts, and championed cultural equity.
She produced cultural showcases and concerts that brought stars like Teresa Teng and Tsai Chin together with American singers for cross-cultural karaoke. Her “Global Stage” united dancers from Iran, Mongolia, India, and China—turning diversity into beauty on stage.
She gave 21 cultural talks aboard international cruise ships, speaking on Chinese poetry, theater, and wartime memories of Shanghai and Hong Kong.
“Once, I played a video of a little girl walking through misty rain with a paper umbrella,” she recalled. “The room went silent—only heartbeats. Then, a long, thunderous applause.”
To her, culture isn’t an abstract word—it’s shared emotion. You speak, I listen, and in that exchange, we draw closer.
She also represented the U.S. Department of Education in the People to People Ambassador Program, joining scholars of many backgrounds on an educational mission to South Africa.
She was the only Chinese delegate. “I packed one small suitcase, two pairs of shoes, and two bowls,” she laughed. “Just like when I first came to America.”
She earned her Ph.D. during the busiest chapter of her life—flying to Los Angeles to teach every Thursday, then back to New Jersey by Sunday to study.
She did this for three years without pause. Her husband didn’t understand at first—but in time, her persistence moved him, and he became her greatest supporter.
As her husband’s Alzheimer’s worsened, Professor Sun continued to teach, speak, and curate—with him always by her side.
They traveled on cruises together, filling his final years with dignity and joy. After his passing, she framed his calligraphy and seal carvings, turning his art into a legacy of love.
“I’ve been lucky to have support—but I’ve worked hard never to give up on myself.”
To this day, Professor Sun continues to write, read, and serve on the UC Humanities advisory board—still giving back through culture and education.
“We’re not here just to complete tasks,” she says. “We’re here to become who we’re meant to be. And if you love something, you should do it your very best.”
Quiet but unwavering, she is a teacher, a scholar, a cultural bridge—and a guiding light for generations to come.
Live What You Love: Professor Teresa Sun’s Wisdom：
On Life & Purpose：
- “Find what you love—and never let it go.”
- “Not smart—just stubborn.”
- “Just start. That’s what matters.”
- “I wasn’t lucky—I was determined.”
On Education & Culture：
- “Teaching draws out, not crams in.”
- “Language was the tool. Respect was the lesson.”
- “Culture moves. It speaks. It lives.”
- “Literature speaks. It feels. It connects.”
On Courage & Challenge :
- “Thirty-four dollars. One big dream.”
- “I carved my own way.”
- “Always learning. Always teaching.”
- “Speak first. Learn by trying.”