2023 Graduation Ceremony

Your graduation is the start of your career. You will put what you have learned into practice. All beginnings are hard. I’ve been engaging in acupuncture for almost 30 years. I’d like to share some of my own experience with you.

First, be patient with your patients. Teach your patients to be patient.
TCM treatment is different here in the Netherlands than in China. Because TCM is not the mainstream medicine here. So most of the patients who come to us for help already have chronic pain or disease, and they see us as their last hope. But they don’t know how TCM works. They are hoping that they will get better after only a few treatments even though they have been struggling and battling illness for many years. It is important to inform them of the duration of the treatment and prognosis very clearly. Explain to them how to view their disease from the perspective of TCM, so that they could have enough patience to accept being treated for a while. In the end, the desired effect could be achieved.

Second, as a TCM practitioner, you must be a good listener.
Listening is one of the four diagnosis methods in TCM. This is more important here because patients lack attention. Give them more time. Try to get the patients to open up to you about their problems and misfortune which is also a healing process because spirit and body are connected as one. This is exactly the principle of the holistic view of TCM.
And you treat not only the disease but also the persons’ wrong habits and lifestyle. You have to advise them to change that because that might be the cause of the disease. So, they can be cured, stay healthy and prevent disease.

Third, be confident.
Don’t worry about not having enough patients. When you cure one patient, he will bring more people to you. In addition, you should know that the scope of TCM treatment is very wide. Are you ready? You’ll be very busy.

The joy I see in my patients gives me a great sense of satisfaction. I believe you will enjoy your work too because you should do it with your passion just like you’ve learned TCM with your passion.

Finally, I’ll say that the TCM professional associations in the Netherlands, such as NVA, Zhong and TCMned, etc, all require their members to participate in refresher courses and training in the future. These are necessary to improve your treatment abilities. Your alma mater – Shenzhou University of TCM provides such courses and training. You are always welcome to come back.               

We wish you all successes in life and good luck!

Today, we celebrate not only our achievements but the immense potential that lies within each one of us in our hearts. We have chosen a path that requires dedication, lifelong learning, and a deep commitment to the well-being of others. It is a privilege and a responsibility that we carry with great honor.

To our families, friends, and loved ones who have supported us unconditionally, thank you for being our pillars of strength. Your encouragement, patience, and belief in our dreams are truly appreciated.

Before closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our school and mentors who guided us on this transformative journey, because your wisdom, expertise, and passion in Chinese Medicine inspired us to move forward in the Art of Healing.

So, Congratulations my fellow graduates. Let us move forward from this day with excitement, confidence, and a deep sense of purpose. Let us share our success, but also don’t forget to embrace our mistakes. Keep learning and growing, staying humble and curious, always seeking to expand your knowledge and skills….and what is also very important, to maintain this friendship that we built up during the last years. Let’s make an impact on the world and let’s keep supporting each other.

Thank you