When I entered the actuarial field many years ago, lots of friends asked me “Is it difficult to take an actuarial exam?” “What does an actuary do?” “Can I be an actuary too?” I did not have a clear answer at that time, but now if anyone asks me these questions, I will say “Yes, everyone can do it if you start taking actions right now.” Dao De Jing (by Lao Tzu) says that a giant tree that fills one’s embrace grows from a tiny seedling; a tower nine stories high rises from a heap of earth; a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Everything can start here and now.

At the end, you may figure that you don’t want to be an actuary but want to do something else. I would say “Congratulations!” and “Fantastic!” as knowing what you want to do is a point to celebrate! Regardless of the paths, the Dao is the same. The website not only provides information for the actuarial career but most importantly it is intended to encourage everyone to embrace their essence, the treasure everyone is born with. “Everyone Can Be” is just a metaphor that I believe everyone is intrinsically self-sufficient to explore and fulfill their dream. Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Chan, once said “Who could have expected that one’s essence could be complete in itself”.

I hope you find the encouragement and strength in life, and I hope the information here is like a seed that you could use to grow your dream. Let your essence shine!