Source: My UM

Having being assigned to take up the post of the head of the Campus Services Section recently, Betty Chang finds herself buried in work and meetings every day, and yet she enjoys every minute of it. Having worked at UM for 17 years, Betty has worked in eight different departments and undergone many challenges along the way. Her charm is not only in a facial mode but is also reflected in her commitment to work – Betty is more than a match for most men. Asked about the secret to her fruitful career, she answered, ‘Our attitude determines how far we can go.’ Truly, to gain success at work, the first thing to learn is to have a positive attitude.

 

Multitasking Lady

 

Once an English Communications major at UM, Betty was inclined to work for her alma mater after graduation, and so she joined the Centre for Macao Studies in 1998 as an administrator. At that time, there were few resources. The centre only hired three staff, including her. ‘I had to learn as many as I could, such as budgeting, procurement, and proposal writing.’ A year later, Betty was transferred to the former General Administrative Bureau, where she was involved in more tasks from different fields, such as personnel and campus management. ‘It was never a piece of cake. I had to keep my spirit high no matter what. All I wanted was to learn and grow,’ she said. Having that in mind, Betty promised herself she would finish her postgraduate degree in business and management at UM no matter how exhausted she was each night after work. ‘Mostly I just had cup noodle for lunch in order to have more time to study.

 

Looking beyond Times of Challenge

Thanks to the trust of Dr Daniel Tse Chi Wai, former chair of the University Council (UC), and Dr Alex Lai Iat Long, vice rector for administration, Betty was transferred first to the Rector’s Office and then to the University Council’s Office, working as assistant and secretary respectively. That was when her job became more challenging because it was completely different from what she had done at her previous positions. ‘The university was revising the Charter, and the UC served

as a bridge of communication between the university and the government. All paperwork had to be done from scratch.’ The revision involved a lot of legal provisions and for the sake of accuracy, Betty often consulted legal experts and she benefitted a lot from their insights. Betty was very grateful for those who have given her opportunities in her career. ‘I appreciate all challenges I’ve encountered. Only by overcoming them would I have the chance to grow stronger and think more before making any decisions,’ she said.

 

Several years later, Betty was referred to the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA), working

as faculty secretary, which presented yet another challenge to her. ‘I had to deal with students. I spent a lot of my free time to pick things up. There were so many popular courses offered by the FBA, so course enrollment was always a nightmare for many administrative staff. During the add/drop period, our office would be very busy. Every one of us had to work day and night,’ she said.

 

Teamwork Matters

Due to fatigue and stress at work, Betty fell sick. ’After suffering from some illnesses, I decided to change my lifestyle and tried to strike a balance between work, family, and friends. And fortunately, I had a healthy, inspiring and strong relationship with my colleagues. In times of challenge we worked together and we had good team spirit. And now I do my best to stop working after I left the office in order to spend some quality time with my family and friends,’ said Betty.

 

Unforgettable Memory

Asked about her most unforgettable experience working at UM, she recalled the memory of when she worked in the FBA – a mainland student and his mother knocked on her door for help. ‘This student had failed so many courses. If he couldn’t improve his academic performance, he might be expelled from school. His mother was so worried and didn’t know what to do. So she came to see me with her son.’ Betty spoke to the student’s teachers on behalf of the student for permission to enroll in some courses he had failed the previous semester. ‘Also I called him sometimes to see how he was doing and gave him some encouragement. I was glad to learn how much he had changed. And I was so touched when I saw him on the podium, receiving his certificate.’ On his graduation day, his mother came to Macao to thank Betty in person for all she had done for her son. The mother also gave Betty a thank-you card. ‘Everyone working at a university has a role to play in educating the students, and each of us tries our best to help,’ Betty said

 

Tireless ‘Super Woman’

For those who know Betty well, ‘having a great passion for work’ is probably what they would say to describe her. Four years ago, before she moved onto the new campus, Betty was transferred to the Human Resources Office (HRO), responsible for stipulating regulations for residential colleges. Leon Lei, who once worked with Betty in the HRO, was impressed by her devotion to work and described her as a ‘tireless woman.’‘I’d receive her email at any time, day and night, Monday through Sunday; you’d even see her in the office on Saturdays reading documents,’ Leon said.

 

Of course Betty is not a super woman. Like every one of us, she has her share of moments when she feels tired. Her strength is rooted in her belief – ‘your attitude will determine your altitude.’ The Campus Services Section now becomes a new platform where Betty can exercise what she has learnt. As for any ambitious task she plans to do in the near future, Betty said, ‘How to optimize every campus service in order to best satisfy the needs of each UM member is my new challenge at work ahead.’