"I've never thought of myself as particularly smart, but once I decide to do something well, I give it my all," said Professor Meng-Hsun Tsai of the Department of Computer Science at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). From a somewhat aimless middle school student to an award-winning educator and researcher, his life story is one of constant challenge, learning, and growth.

A Turning Point from an English Class

Professor Tsai's academic journey did not start smoothly. As a teenager, he was far more interested in basketball and computers than in studying. That all changed in his third year of junior high, when an English teacher completely altered his path. After earning the top score in his class, his teacher showed him the grade sheet from another class—where over ten students had scored even higher. That moment sparked Tsai's competitive drive and became the catalyst for his renewed passion for learning.

From then on, he began to preview lessons and stay up late to study, determined to catch up to a "better version" of himself. In high school, one teacher wrote on the board the saying, "Those who are prepared will succeed; those who are not will fail." This phrase became Tsai's lifelong motto and shaped his attitude toward learning: always prepare early and never procrastinate.

From Student to Professor — A Journey Rooted in NCTU

Tsai's connection with National Chiao Tung University (now NYCU) began in his second year of high school, when he joined the NCTU Computer Science Camp. That year, Typhoon Herb, one of the strongest of the century, struck Taiwan. Despite getting drenched and catching a cold, Tsai was deeply moved by the thoughtful care of his camp counselors. He decided then and there: "I must study here."

NCTU Computer Science became his one and only choice, and he went on to complete his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees there—eventually returning as a faculty member.

During his student years, Tsai served as president of the student association and was even a "five-time veteran" of the CS camp. He organized large-scale events such as the National Computer Science Sports Cup. "It almost killed me," he laughed, "but that experience taught me how to communicate, lead a team, and ignited my passion for education and organization."

Curiosity for Knowledge and Dedication to Research

When Taiwan officially entered the mobile communication era in 1998 with FarEasTone's GSM service launch, Tsai, then a college freshman, was captivated. "I was fascinated—how can you carry a phone and still make calls?" he recalled.

From his first year, he began auditing graduate-level courses to learn the fundamentals of mobile communications. His master's and doctoral research progressed naturally from 3G to 4G technologies. Later, as a professor at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), he focused on 5G and IoT research, exploring areas such as energy-efficient networking, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and Network Function Virtualization (NFV).

His research has produced over ten papers published in top IEEE journals, with six earning Best Paper Awards at international conferences. What drives him remains simple: curiosity. "The beauty of research is that it connects deeply with everyday life," he said.

Teaching as a Journey of Self-Discovery

Since stepping into teaching in 2010, Professor Tsai has lived by one principle: "A master can open the door, but the disciple must walk through it."

In his classes, there are no roll calls and no spoon-feeding. Instead, students tackle one rigorous four-week assignment every month. Tsai believes a teacher's role is to help students see the big picture so they can find their own passion and direction.

In his lab, he never assigns research topics for students. "Students should take ownership of their research," he said. When asked, "What should I work on?" or "How much is enough to graduate?", he always responds with questions: "What do you want to do?" and "Do you think it's good enough?" To him, true growth in academia comes from independent thinking, self-discipline, and accountability.

The NCKU Years and Teaching Honors

During his time at NCKU, Professor Tsai received multiple "Excellent Teaching" and "Outstanding Teaching" awards. In both 2014 and 2019, he earned the prestigious NCKU Outstanding Teaching Award—reserved for the top 1% of faculty.

These honors reflect not only his creativity and dedication in the classroom but also his genuine care for students. "As an engineer, you might add a few hundred thousand lines of code to the world," he said, "but as a teacher, you might lift a student up at their lowest moment." That belief drives his deep commitment to every aspect of teaching.

Words for NYCU CS Students

Upon returning to his alma mater, Professor Tsai shared this message with NYCU Computer Science students:
"You were all once the top 5% among your peers—you should see yourselves as leaders."

He emphasizes the importance of not only technical skills but also communication, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Most importantly, he urges students to uphold integrity and responsibility.

"Don’t be afraid of failure," he says. "True confidence isn't 'I can definitely do it,' but rather 'I'm well prepared—even if I fail, I won't be afraid.'" To him, failure is simply part of the learning process: "When you look at the same thing from a different angle, it can feel completely different."

A Consistent Philosophy

From his early habit of previewing lessons to his emphasis on self-directed learning in teaching, Professor Tsai's life philosophy has always revolved around the same belief: "Those who are prepared will succeed; those who are not will fail."

He firmly believes that preparation and continuous learning are the foundations of success—and hopes to pass that spirit on to the next generation.

Today, the walls of his office are covered with thank-you cards and letters from students, tangible reminders of his teaching journey. Smiling, he says, "Teaching isn't just a job—it's a responsibility."

In an era of rapidly changing technology, Professor Tsai continues to embody the essence of an educator: to reach out a helping hand, to light a lamp, and to illuminate the path forward for his students.