I am proud to be Taiwanese American because I feel that Taiwan has a lot to offer to the international community. I’m proud to be a part of it, and I hope to contribute to the world like so many other Taiwanese Americans have.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I am a young professional currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area.\u00a0 To pay my bills, I am in high-frequency trading, but mostly I’m known for starting the World Cube Association, the international organization responsible for regulating competitive Rubik’s Cube solving.\u00a0 In 2005, I set the world record for solving a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded.\u00a0 My brother and I also taught Will Smith to solve the Rubik’s Cube for the movie Pursuit of Happyness.\u00a0 I have been on a number of television shows such as Anderson Cooper 360, The Today Show, and Tonight with Jay Leno.\u00a0 Perhaps I am most remembered for being a cast member on the WB’s reality show, Beauty and the Geek 2.<\/p>\n What do you do? <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>I make my living as a high-frequency trader utilizing algorithmic computer programs to interact with the market in various ways.\u00a0 Some things I do contribute to market liquidity, and other things I do are simply to make a profit.\u00a0 Outside of that, I am responsible for the world of competitive Rubik’s Cube solving.\u00a0 The organization I formed, the World Cube Association, oversees events on an international level, and recently I had the privilege of attending a competition in Taiwan.\u00a0 Besides my work an my involvement with the WCA, I enjoy some other very “Taiwanese” things like playing the violin and piano, and playing badminton.\u00a0 I also enjoy playing chess and have recently taken up rock climbing.<\/p>\n Why are you proud to be of Taiwanese heritage? <\/strong>I am a 2nd generation Taiwanese American.\u00a0 I was born in the United States and my parents are immigrants from Tainan, Taiwan.\u00a0 I am proud to be Taiwanese American because I feel that Taiwan has a lot to offer to the international community. I’m proud to be a part of it, and I hope to contribute to the world like so many other Taiwanese Americans have.\u00a0 Recently attending the Taiwanese Rubik’s Cube competition showed me how my ties to Taiwan, even though I very rarely visit, has contributed to producing a thriving Rubik’s Cube community, and now Taiwan has some of the top solvers in the world in 4×4, 5×5 speed solving, and 3×3 blindfold solving.\u00a0 We’re a small nation, but Taiwanese Americans have done a lot for humanity in many ways.<\/p>\n What does the future of Taiwanese America look like to you? <\/strong>I’m not exactly sure, but I would like to see Taiwanese Americans as our generation goes forward and the next generation comes into this world as contributors to our society, and also as a group that not only preserves its cultural roots, but also adapts to the changing times and environment.\u00a0 I am quite proud that I am able to converse in Taiwanese, and language is something I would like to see preserved.\u00a0 It’s difficult for me in Taipei when my peers are unable to speak Taiwanese as well as me, and I’ve grown up my entire life in the United States.\u00a0 I think it’s a wonderful language, and there are some ideas in Taiwanese that you simply just can’t express in English.<\/p>\n Any additional information you would like to share? <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"mao.tyson4\"](\"http:\/\/www.taiwaneseamerican.org\/100people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/mao.tyson4-199x300.jpg\" "\\"mao.tyson4\\"")
<\/strong>Who are you? <\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"mao.tyson3\"](\"http:\/\/www.taiwaneseamerican.org\/100people\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/mao.tyson3-192x300.jpg\" "\\"mao.tyson3\\"")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"