Lin Jiancheng defies the stereotype of the frail, bookish scholar. With sun-darkened skin, a strong build, sunglasses, and tight-fitting clothes, he looks more like an athlete than an academic. Yet behind this rugged appearance is a man of remarkable intellect and perseverance.
Once honored with the National Youth Public Service Award and presented by President Lin, Lin Jiancheng embodies an unyielding determination. His refusal to back down in the face of adversity has empowered him to overcome life’s toughest challenges.
Early struggles
Born in 1980 into a once-prominent family in Longjing, Taichung, Lin Jiancheng grew up in a household that ran a steel fabrication company. His father, who worked long hours as the head of the company, became seriously ill from overwork and began kidney dialysis at just 40 years old. When a workplace accident involving an employee and a financial guarantee led to crippling debt, Lin and his twin brother were forced to abandon their plans to attend a regular high school. Despite working on construction during the day and studying at night in vocational school, they still graduated from junior high school at the top of their class.
Lin Jiancheng never gave up on education. From vocational high school to junior college and then university, he spent seven years in night school. When a car accident took his father’s life during his sophomore year, Lin barely had time to grieve. He knew: “With Dad gone, it’s all up to me now.” Facing crushing debt, he didn’t run. Instead, he said: “Facing the problem head-on is already half the solution.”
Taking responsibility for his family’s future, Lin Jiancheng started a business making metal gates and windows. Through grit, long hours, and unshakable determination, he repaid the NT$10 million (US$308,000) debt — an amount that many people never earn in a lifetime.
Remaining kind despite hardship
For 10 grueling years, Lin Jiancheng lived each day like it were his last, fighting with everything he had. He juggled work and study, often surviving on just three hours of sleep a night. Yet even amid personal hardship, he made time to serve others. As a volunteer with the Hondao Senior Citizens’ Welfare Foundation, he supported elderly people living alone, offering them dignity, care, and companionship.
His motivation was deeply personal. After his father’s passing, the foundation had once extended kindness to his grieving mother. Now, Lin Jiancheng saw it as his responsibility to give back. Along with his family, he visited elderly residents, assisted with their bathing, cleaned their homes, and provided emotional support. By giving to others, he found the strength to persevere.
Lin Jiancheng remarked that the elderly are among society’s most vulnerable: “With children, you can see hope in their growth. But with the elderly, you witness their decline.” One of the people he cared for was a reclusive man in his seventies named Uncle Chunshu, who rarely showed any emotion. Lin met his silence with warmth and humor, chatting nonstop, playing the clown, and acting silly day after day. Then, one day, Uncle Chunshu smiled. “That smile,” Lin said, “felt like winning a gold medal.”
Resilience in the face of challenges
Lin Jiancheng’s relentless drive fueled his academic achievements, leading him to pursue higher education. Despite the challenges he faced, he dedicated himself to improving his skills. In just three weeks, he read hundreds of academic papers, drastically improving his English. This determination helped him earn a place in the doctoral program at National Tsing Hua University directly after completing his master’s degree — an unprecedented feat for graduates of his alma mater, National Chin-Yi University of Technology.
While many university students spend years studying English without mastering it, Lin, who had no stable schooling growing up, can now give directions in English to foreign workers and even serve as a simultaneous interpreter at international education fairs. His secret? “Don’t be afraid to look foolish. English is just a tool, like a smile — it’s a universal language.” He seized every opportunity to speak with foreigners, never afraid of making mistakes. As a result, his fluency skyrocketed.
In July last year, Lin Jiancheng began working at AUO Corporation as a production supervisor. When offered the best-performing team, he chose instead to lead a struggling team, saying: “I didn’t want to take a team that would succeed with or without me.” He promised to take the underperforming squad to first place within two months, or resign. Thanks to his tireless effort and leadership, Lin turned the team around and brought them to the top spot, earning him the company’s prestigious MVP award.
From construction sites to the high-tech industry, from night school to a doctoral program at one of Taiwan’s top universities, Lin Jiancheng has transformed his life through sheer willpower and determination. Despite the many challenges he’s faced, he holds no bitterness. With a smile, he points to the scars on his body, sharing stories of the accidents he endured on job sites — like the time steel slashed his face or when a rod pierced his foot.
He doesn’t deny having an unyielding nature, an inner fire that drives him to face adversity without fear. “Winning the lottery isn’t fun,” he says with a grin. “What’s fun is starting with nothing, and still becoming the best.”
Lin Jiancheng’s story is not just one of personal success, but of giving back to those in need, facing every challenge with a smile and determination, and always striving to be better. His life reminds us that true success comes not from avoiding hardship, but from embracing it and using it as fuel to reach new heights.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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