周碩 Simon Zhou
2016年的澳洲聯(lián)邦大選，一位被朋友戲稱為“零差評先生”的華人參議員候選人“脫穎而出”，成為本屆澳洲華人最關(guān)注的“政壇新秀”。
【從被大學(xué)拒之門外，到進入政府部門工作；從為謀生存兼職打工，到為慈善慷慨解囊無私奉獻；從獻唱慈善義演，到投身政壇“為華人發(fā)聲”；他曾經(jīng)和我們一樣，是一名中國來的留學(xué)生。而十幾年后，就得到了工黨聯(lián)邦參議員的提名。作為一名80后的“零差評先生”，“澳洲Simon哥”周碩有話說。】
“心里有想法，我為什么不表達一次呢”
初見周碩，小編無法相信面前這位溫文儒雅、器宇軒昂的澳洲金銀集團總裁，就是那個十四年前剛到澳洲，拿不到任何一所學(xué)校的錄取通知書，又因簽證問題在悉尼唐人街上邊走邊落淚的留學(xué)生。
由于簽證申請程序不當，周碩的學(xué)生簽證申請失敗。而此時，他已經(jīng)放棄了國內(nèi)的高考。從未踏出過國門的周碩決定放手一搏，申請了三個月的短期簽證獨自來到澳洲。高中成績優(yōu)異的他，只需要一張達標的雅思成績單即可申請大學(xué)。他滿懷信心地準備報考雅思，卻得知悉尼各考點未來三個月的名額全都被訂滿了。他此時獲悉，只要得到三位講師的推薦信，就可以豁免雅思成績直接申請大學(xué)，于是他迅速聯(lián)系了新南威爾士大學(xué)工程學(xué)院的幾位講師，終于在經(jīng)過多次面試之后湊齊了三份推薦信。
“我去遞交材料的時候，他們告訴我，對不起，中國護照屬于第四等級，是不能用豁免權(quán)的。”周碩抿著嘴，用低沉的聲音向小編講述。“那個時候我認為我受到了不公平待遇，我就很失望。離開以后我就在想，有可能我在澳洲走不遠了。”
“但是我遇到了這種事兒，心里有想法，我為什么不表達一次呢？”于是他在網(wǎng)上找到了工程學(xué)院院長辦公室的位置，與院長秘書預(yù)約了第二天早上八點的會面。
當晚，面臨著用有限的英文與人談判，和簽證即將到期卻無法入學(xué)的雙重壓力，一心想要改變未來的周碩無法入睡。
第二天，當周碩邏輯清晰、條理分明地向院長陳述出他應(yīng)該得到這份錄取通知書的理由后，院長握住了他的手。“我現(xiàn)在想起來還很感動，院長當時說，如果像你這樣的學(xué)生我們都無法留住，那將是我們學(xué)校的shame（恥辱）。”
新南威爾士大學(xué)校園 資料圖?
“后來他就讓我回去等消息。但是我就有個疑問，我是一個一無所有的、從別的國家來的孩子，這是一位德高望重的教授，他會因為我的一次表達，真正花時間去幫我，給我想要的嗎？（我）當時心里是沒有把握的。我也賭不起。”心情忐忑的周碩，坐上了當天晚上前往墨爾本的火車，為繼續(xù)他的澳洲之路做最后的努力。“我當時的要求只有一個，離開學(xué)只有一周了，以我當時的條件，任何一個學(xué)校愿意給我任何一個專業(yè)的錄取通知書，我就去那個學(xué)校。”
第二天早上，已身處墨爾本的周碩，接到了一個電話。
“（這個電話）是院長給我打來的，他說Simon同學(xué)，你的錄取通知書我們已經(jīng)給你寄出了，希望在今年年底有機會讓我親自頒發(fā)獎學(xué)金給你。這個話讓我很感動。”
這件事讓周碩清晰的意識到，在這個國家，社會是“相對公平，并且值得人去努力的。只要敢于表達自己，就有可能實現(xiàn)自己的目標。”
“慈善，這是我心里真正想要的”
“我在eBay上賣過襪子，也在唐人街夜市擺過地攤，我發(fā)誓大學(xué)的生活費要靠自己，然而白手起家的確是非常困難的事。”四年的大學(xué)生涯，除了學(xué)習(xí)，他還把精力分散在了社團活動、兼職打工、嘗試創(chuàng)業(yè)等方面上。因此，畢業(yè)后他爭取到了當時新州道路交通管理局(Roads & Traffic Authority)提供的畢業(yè)生計劃。
在工作的三年中，周碩先后擔任了五個不同的職位，包括被委任獨立管理上百人的團隊。看似一片光明的前途，此時周碩卻選擇離開。
“為什么選擇離開呢，是因為我看到十年之后的生活，并不是令我自己百分之百滿意的。那我為什么要在這條路上奮斗十年，去得到一個我并不十分想要的生活呢？
周碩參加慈善長跑活動 資料圖
工作之余，周碩參加了許多慈善活動，還經(jīng)常為慈善義演獻唱。“讓我敲定了自己的決定，是我當時參加的一個慈善晚宴。看到在場那么多人同時進行奉獻，給我的觸動，是非常大的。不管是通過觀眾遞給我紅包進行轉(zhuǎn)捐，還是我自己坐在桌前往紅包里塞了二十塊錢，所有這些的每一個瞬間，我都知道，這是我自己心里想要的。”
為了能捐出更多的錢，奉獻更大的力量，幫助更多的人，他心底里埋藏著的“創(chuàng)業(yè)的種子”再次萌芽。
2009年，周碩懷揣著自己這三年辛勤工作攢下的四萬多澳幣，在臥室里開始了創(chuàng)業(yè)旅程。人工成本太高？外包到印度；資金有限？降低標準；時間不夠？少睡；人手不夠？自己上：早上他是公司的首席執(zhí)行官，中午他就變身營銷總監(jiān)去見客戶，下午他是做賬的財務(wù)總監(jiān)，晚上他是產(chǎn)品設(shè)計師，躺在床上頭腦風(fēng)暴。提及創(chuàng)業(yè)時期的種種艱辛，周碩略帶苦澀地笑著說，“澳洲金銀創(chuàng)業(yè)初期啊，我都快變成一個精神分裂患者啦。”
澳洲第一家金銀交易所“澳大利亞金銀交易所AGSX”開業(yè)典禮 資料圖
在拿到了澳洲皇家鑄幣廠和珀斯鑄幣局的紀念幣經(jīng)銷推廣權(quán)后，熱衷慈善的周碩意識到，可以將發(fā)行紀念幣和慈善活動結(jié)合起來。他馬上和幾個朋友東拼西湊籌集資金，組建團隊，同時聯(lián)系鑄幣局和澳大利亞防止虐待動物協(xié)會(RSPCA) ，并約定好每制造一枚就將捐獻1澳元用于動物保護。
“當時我跟公司里唯一的一個員工說，這個項目不管成敗，這個錢是我一定要捐出去的，因為這是我的一個心愿。如果這個項目成功了，我們就會有其他的項目。但是我的要求是，不管將來做哪一個項目，這個（慈善）文化要保持。”
繼“工作犬”系列紀念幣之后推出的動物主題系列紀念幣
“雖然一開始這僅僅是我滿足自己小小Ego（編者注：自我，自我價值）的一個動作而已，”周碩捧著辦公室里僅剩的一套 “工作犬”紀念幣笑著說，“但也成為了我們公司慈善文化的起源。這個項目發(fā)售的當天就售罄，這其中也有很多商家的協(xié)助。除開商業(yè)目的，和對產(chǎn)品本身的認可，也是他們看到了自己在做一件很有意義的事情。因此我得到了來自各方的支持。”
澳洲金銀集團現(xiàn)已發(fā)展成澳洲最大的民營紀念幣發(fā)行機構(gòu)，在全球擁有50多家經(jīng)銷商。在周碩的影響下，澳洲金銀還將一如既往地為慈善事業(yè)奉獻。
“除了紀念幣捐款，我還在微博上發(fā)起公益救助行動，成立了澳大利亞華人志愿者協(xié)會。我希望帶著更多人參與到社區(qū)公益慈善活動中去。”
“我希望有更多的華人參與到政治中來”
“我在過去經(jīng)歷了留學(xué)、就業(yè)、創(chuàng)業(yè)，在經(jīng)過很長一段時間的探索過程，我最終意識到，要真正地產(chǎn)生價值，支持我們?nèi)A人社區(qū)，必須要有人出來在政界提出我們的訴求，并且在澳洲的議會里要有人能明白我們的想法，有人能傾聽。”
2016年的聯(lián)邦大選，周碩被推舉為聯(lián)邦參議員候選人之一。但他開玩笑說，這次他就是個“暖場歌手”。
“我希望是通過有一個華人，以年輕人留學(xué)生的身份站出來關(guān)注政治，在澳洲的政治走出一步，去拋磚引玉，去吸引年輕人對政治的興趣，有更多的華人參與到政治中來。”2016年的聯(lián)邦大選，可以明顯感覺到，澳洲的華人對本次大選關(guān)注度和熱情都是空前的。“如今網(wǎng)絡(luò)上信息量大，信息傳播快，很多人開始討論本次大選的議題。有些言論可能是偏激的，或者是不真實的。但是從另一個角度來看，這是一個好的開始，至少它變成了一個在年輕人中會被談?wù)摰降脑掝}。”
周碩參與工黨“華人新面孔”新聞發(fā)布會
2012年，曾有媒體采訪過周碩，問他是否愿意進軍政壇。當時周碩回答道：“確實有幾位德高望重的前輩鼓勵我作為80后澳洲華人代表進軍政壇，不過我暫時還沒有具體的計劃。”
一次偶然的機會，他在電視節(jié)目“新州政府直通車”中，看到了一位華裔政客，用中文為華人提供了許多有關(guān)澳洲政治的信息，這讓周碩萌生了對政治的興趣。而節(jié)目中的這位政客，正是新州上議員王國忠先生。
“他是我非常欣賞的一位政治領(lǐng)袖，他很注重對年輕人的培養(yǎng)。”
2014年，周碩參加了由王國忠主辦的“澳洲青年領(lǐng)袖論壇”。在“模擬辯論”環(huán)節(jié)中，他對當時的政治議題產(chǎn)生了濃厚的興趣。在之后的日子里，通過對澳洲政壇的關(guān)注和積累，他也增加了涉足政壇的自信心。
從積極參加社區(qū)活動，到如今親身參與政治，周碩希望看到澳洲華人更有凝聚力，更能互相扶持，拋開黨派之分，共同代表整個澳洲華人社區(qū)的利益，發(fā)出自己的聲音。
周碩參加大選造勢活動
小編后記：十四年前的周碩與我們一樣，孤身一人來澳留學(xué)，經(jīng)歷了種種困難與挫折。而如今，他已然成為了許多年輕人心中的“偶像”。2011年被澳洲總理辦公室授予“澳大利亞十大杰出華人青年”的周碩，如今更是以身作則，用他的實際行動帶領(lǐng)并感染著年輕一代，同時也在竭盡所能地為所有華人謀福利。他勇于表達，懂得感恩，無論在任何場合見到周碩，親切的笑容和謙遜的態(tài)度都是他特有的標簽。對于我們留學(xué)生來說，他是榜樣，也是鼓勵，他的經(jīng)歷為我們另辟蹊徑，為我們的成長提供了一種新的方案。他的昨天就是你我的今天，而他的今天也許將成為你我的明天。
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【THE NEW VOICE】Simon Zhou, from international student to Senate Candidate
【Quick Tips】
Simon Zhou,
-General Manager of Australian Gold & Silver Exchange (referred as AGSX)
-Born in 1983 at Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
-He came to study in Australia in 2002, at UNSW
-Worked in Roads and Maritime Services (used to know as Roads & Traffic Authority) in Sydney after graduated
-He started Australian AGSX in 2009. After 4 years, AGSX became the first legally Gold Dealer in Sydney Central Business District, launched on 11th March 2014.
-In the June of 2016, Simon announced senate candidacy, representing NSW Labor.
Be brave to express what you want
Nobody saw this coming, including himself.
14 years ago, Simon Zhou cried at Sydney China Town, alone. Only days before his 3 months short-term visa expires, it came clear to him that not a single university in Sydney has offered him a chance to stick to his Australian dream.
“I really thought I was done at that time.” Said Simon, ”But I told myself I am not leaving without giving it a try.”
With excellent High School results, Simon only needed a proof of his language level to apply for an offer from any university. When he finished his language course at Sydney, he found out the IELTS test centers across the nation were fully booked until his visa expired.
“I had to figure out a way to get the waiver of IELTS test.” Said Simon, “So I came to the civil engineering faculty UNSW and asked if I can get any.”
What happened next deeply upset him.
“I was told by the administrator of enrollment that Chinese passport is a level 4 passport and therefore I could not get the waiver even if I had my reference letters ready already.” Said Simon, “My head just went blank, you know.”
“The system was unfair. The fact that my passport belongs to level 4 made me really upset.”
Later he realized it was this very moment the toughest but also the turning point of his life. After a deep think Simon decided to contact the Dean of Engineering Faculty, and made an early morning appointment, not only for fairness, but also for his future.
An hour later, his new life began.
“I still remember the words he said to me, ‘it is our shame, if we could not have you, such an excellent student in our school.’”
“It was my first successful negotiation, and I will certainly do more in the future as I believed.”
He realized that in Australia, people should never ever be afraid of expressing their opinions. This country respects your voices, your ideas, and it is worth putting efforts into it.
“Do not be afraid of expressing your opinion because of the language barriers, you have the rights to be respected.”
Be helpful, when others need a hand
Being determined can never be easy, especially for someone who travels thousands miles from home and lives on his own. Nobody ever stop questioning themselves what do I really want?
So does Simon.
“I sold socks on eBay; I tried to start small business in China town night market; Latter I spent three years working for RMS after graduated.”
“It seems pretty good but on and on I’ve been thinking, how do I become more valuable?”
A chance to sing for the poor guided him to another path.
He’s a fantastic singer by the way, therefore was invited to this charity performance, where he started to take another serious think on his career and finally decided to move on with a job and work for his own.
“It was a really touching moment people came to the donation box after hearing me singing.”
“I wanted to help more people, whereas I wasn’t able to at that moment. The way I see it, I needed to become more valuable.”
At the end of 2009, he made the decision to leave his position and started his own business.
Simon started the Australian Gold & Silver Exchange Company in his bedroom. At the beginning, he did almost every job on his own. He worked as the director, marketing manager, accountant and project designer.
“I almost got myself mental diseases during that time.”
“While, if you really want to make it, there is nothing can stop you.”
After acquiring the authority of selling the commemorative coins from Royal Australian Mint and The Perth Mint, Simon finally got his business operating.
The first series of charity commemorative coins, “working dogs” attracted everyone’s attention in this industry across the world. The first patch of coins was sold out in just 1 hour.
Afterwards, every series of commemorative coins AGSX designed was released in cooperate with charity organization.
“I did not see it as a sale promoting gimmick; it just forms my little ego to satisfy myself.” Simon said, “It could be helpful to charity association, also the society.”
Stand up For Chinese-Australian
“I like here, the place I have spent nearly my half life in.”
It’s been 14 years Since Simon came to Australia. He is thankful for everyone who has helped him on every step he took; he feels lucky that he did everything followed by his heart; he never regret a single choice he made. June 2016, he moved further on.
Representing youth Chinese-Australian, when Simon announced his Senate Candidacy for New South Wales Labor in 2016 Federal Election, everyone who knows Simon showed their supports for him.
“Mr. All Good” is his nickname: warm smile and nice attitude are his labels. Thanks to his influence among Chinese-Australians, record number of people of Chinese background were involved in the 2016 Federal Election Campaign.
“It’s wonderful to see a representative came from the background of Chinese International student to get involved. “
Many may have noticed already, the non-politics-caring community of Australia is getting involved in 2016 Federal Election, led by young people. Simon has admitted there’s still a long way to go, however it’s a good start.
“Today, we need role models, we need someone to represent the Chinese Australian community.”
