WKU News

Marcus Lum isn't a traditional college student, and that's exactly what gives him a unique perspective.

Born in Hong Kong, Lum immigrated to Maryland as a teenager before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps immediately after high school. Military service led him to North Carolina, where he later worked as a police officer. Eventually, family brought him and his wife back to Kentucky, where an unexpected career transition became the beginning of a new chapter.

"When we got back to Kentucky, the job search wasn't as easy as I expected it to be," Lum said. "I still had the GI Bill from the military, and I figured I'd use it and do something worthwhile. We were in Bowling Green, so WKU was just the obvious choice."

Today, Lum is entering his final semester at Western Kentucky University, majoring in Chinese and Criminology while preparing for a career that combines his military service, law enforcement experience, and language skills.

A Different Kind of College Experience

In his late twenties, married, and raising a two-year-old daughter, Lum approaches college differently than many of his classmates.

"I have less distraction," he said. "I know a lot of college students—they might have a dating world. That's something I'm not worried about because I'm married and have a kid."

He laughs that he's also "a little expired" for fraternities and campus social organizations.

"So I really get the opportunity to just focus on school."

His previous career has also shaped how he approaches academics.

"Having worked before really trained me on how to do research," he explained. "I got different avenues that work better for me. That's something you gain by experience."

Perhaps surprisingly, returning to school has been less stressful than his previous career.

"It's actually not as hard as I thought it would be," Lum said, crediting the GI Bill and Veterans Affairs benefits for easing the financial burden.

"Unlike a lot of traditional students who have to go to school and work, all I've got to worry about is school and family."

More importantly, college has given him something he never expected: time.

"I've been working ever since high school was over. I've been working for 10-plus years," he said. "Going back to college, I'm actually able to catch my breath a little bit."

That slower pace has allowed him to spend precious time with his young daughter.

"I got to spend more time with my daughter, which is a huge blessing. She's two years old right now, so I got to spend a lot of her very young age with her because I'm going back to school."

He also hopes his own educational journey becomes an example for her.

"I want to get it done so I can show my daughter that I can get it done. She'll have something to look up to."

Finding Confidence Through Language

Although Lum already read and wrote Chinese before arriving at WKU, becoming fluent in Mandarin required a different kind of learning.

"The main thing I'm focusing on is actually speaking and listening," he said.

He credits WKU's Chinese faculty with creating an environment where students receive individualized attention.

"They really focus on correcting your pronunciation. If you have questions about a word, they'll take time to address that with you."

Outside the classroom, tutoring has also played an important role.

"The tutor is able to focus on the individual student's personal needs and personal shortfalls versus the broader needs of the whole class."

Learning Beyond the Classroom

One of the defining experiences of Lum's college career has been studying abroad in Taiwan—twice.

His first visit focused entirely on language and cultural immersion.

"We were forced out of our comfort zone," he said. "Instead of teachers catering to the students, we were out in the wild."

Whether navigating local markets or simply speaking Mandarin throughout the day, Lum believes the experience accelerated his learning.

"Language is one of those things that you have to constantly use and practice in order to get better."

His second trip added a new dimension: an introduction to Taiwan's semiconductor industry.

While he praised the quality of the academic program, he candidly acknowledged that an anticipated opportunity ultimately did not materialize.

"The class itself was still good," he said. "We got to manipulate some of the equipment and witness some of the semiconductor-making process."

Despite the disappointment, Lum was impressed by the efforts of WKU faculty members to improve students' experience. Outside the classroom, the program continued to deepen his appreciation for Taiwanese culture. Students visited schools, explored rural communities, and experienced life beyond the major cities.

"It was really fun interacting with students," he said. "The language portion was everything I was expecting—if not more."

The Value of Saying Yes

If there's one message Lum hopes other students take from his experience, it's this: don't assume studying abroad is financially out of reach.

"I thought there was no money out there," he admitted. "I didn't realize how much grant and scholarship money WKU, in addition to the federal government, offers for study abroad."

Between the Gilman Scholarship, Pell Grant funding, and additional university support, Lum was able to complete his summer program without paying out of pocket.

"I paid zero for my whole program," he said.

He encourages students to look beyond the price tag.

"If you think there's no money out there, I would go so far as to say you're dead wrong," Lum said. "There are literally people out there eager to give you money so you can go have fun and go learn."

For him, studying abroad became the defining experience of his college career.

"Being at WKU is fun. I made some friends. But going abroad, experiencing a different culture, experiencing food, going out of my comfort zone—that's the highlight."

He believes those experiences also provide graduates with a competitive advantage.

"Having a bachelor's degree is good, but nowadays it's almost a dime a dozen," he said. "If you have something else that you can stand on—that you're better qualified than others—then your chance of getting a job is a little higher."

Looking Ahead

With just four classes remaining before December 2026 graduation, Lum has already begun preparing for the next stage of his journey.

"I'm starting to shift gears," he said. "I'm starting to reach out to some local departments in Tennessee and doing research on what departments I might be interested in."

Applications will come later this fall, but the direction is already clear.

From a teenager immigrating from Hong Kong, to a Marine, police officer, husband, father, honors student, and soon college graduate, Lum has embraced each chapter with purpose.

And as he reflects on the experiences that shaped him most, his advice to fellow students is simple:

"Go abroad. Experience a different culture. Go out of your comfort zone."

For Marcus Lum, that's where some of life's greatest lessons begin.

To learn more about majoring in Chinese, or about the Chinese Flagship Program, contact the program coordinator: Ke Peng, ke.peng@wku.edu