30/07/2025
THE ONE ACADEMY: In my own lens (2017-2025)
I always consider The One Academy as my second home although I am merely a guest lecturer there. Simply because throughout my 8 years as a guest lecturer in The One Academy, I put my heart and soul in nurturing the young generation in a field that many considered tough - Copywriting.
Let the truth be told. I have never had any bad experience at all in this college although there did have one or two students with disciplinary issue. But it's manageable. So no big deal.
Anyway, when I first joined this College in 2017, my main motive is to give back what the community has given me - invaluable knowledge which I gained as a copywriter and creative director in the advertising industry.
If it weren't my mentors, those good, easy going or even the tough Creative Directors, I won't have my taste of success in this industry. Hence, when an ex-colleague, Teresa Chia approached me if I would like to be a guest lecturer in 2017, I accepted it with an open heart and mind because I just wanted to pass on my knowledge to the young generation. In a nutshell, giving back what the community has given me.
For the past 8 years, I have seen how students became easily vulnerable, crumbled under stress and pressure, and I have also seen some rose on occasion, turning from a slow learner into a smart student. Miracles did happen. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some wanted to quit learning but I went beyond the call of duty, giving them advice and counselling and it did help change their mind to be positive and be back in their game.
The joy of being a lecturer is not just seeing my students successful in life but to see a student who was once facing personal issues and disciplinary problems turning into a highly motivated and smart student.
There was once a Chinese-educated student lacking of confidence in copywriting ended up becoming the Top student in my class beating the other top English-educated student. How did she do it? Well, she came early in class before others and would always take the opportunity to seek my personal guidance in this subject.
Then there was a student who had a single mother calling me why I failed her son. I told her he often didn't turn up in class. He only submitted one Assignment but that caught my attention. It's brilliant. So when he resat the subject, I said to myself I must save this student and not allow him to go back to his old habit again. I told him that his mother cried on the phone knowing he failed his subject and how hard for her to earn money to put him in this College. That counselling session had changed his entire life. He became the top student in my class.
There were many other stories and each of them has a special place in my heart. It opens my eyes to see some students no matter how bad they are could be saved.
Believe me, I have helped these students to realise the importance of education here. Some were problematic because of family issues eg single mother, divorced parents, friends feud, boyfriend-girlfriend issues and etc.
No matter what, I made them see there's always a silver lining in every cloud ☁️🌨️ Not all hope is gone. They just need to think positive.
Today is my last day in the college. There won't be any Copywriting subject by itself in the Diploma side in the near future. So whether I will continue my other subject for the Degree side next year is still unknown until next year.
However, with a heavy heart and a smile on my face, today is the last day for my lecture with the Diploma students, and I will leave this place knowing my purpose have met in this wonderful college.
It was indeed a sweet experience to be able to lecture in both the Penang and KL campus as well as conducting Orientation workshop programme and Styling up workshop and even became a Judge for ESMOD, their fashion department although I am from the Advertising & Graphic Design Department.
And yes, not forgetting, winning the Best Dressed Male in their Annual Dinner two years ago.
If there's one thing I wish for my students, it is my hope that they will be successful in their career and life and remember there was once this tough lecturer known as Sir Francis Yip who crossed path with them and helped transform them.
Thank you to all my students for being wonderful and appreciative of my lectures. Thank you to the Management for having me from 2017 to 2025.
It's time for me to move on for something new, something bigger in life. Love to you all 💕💕💕💕💕💕
Adieu The One Academy. Hello to new beginning. 💕 💕 💕
