周硕 Simon Zhou

2016年的澳洲联邦大选，一位被朋友戏称为“零差评先生”的华人参议员候选人“脱颖而出”，成为本届澳洲华人最关注的“政坛新秀”。

【从被大学拒之门外，到进入政府部门工作；从为谋生存兼职打工，到为慈善慷慨解囊无私奉献；从献唱慈善义演，到投身政坛“为华人发声”；他曾经和我们一样，是一名中国来的留学生。而十几年后，就得到了工党联邦参议员的提名。作为一名80后的“零差评先生”，“澳洲Simon哥”周硕有话说。】

“心里有想法，我为什么不表达一次呢”

初见周硕，小编无法相信面前这位温文儒雅、器宇轩昂的澳洲金银集团总裁，就是那个十四年前刚到澳洲，拿不到任何一所学校的录取通知书，又因签证问题在悉尼唐人街上边走边落泪的留学生。

由于签证申请程序不当，周硕的学生签证申请失败。而此时，他已经放弃了国内的高考。从未踏出过国门的周硕决定放手一搏，申请了三个月的短期签证独自来到澳洲。高中成绩优异的他，只需要一张达标的雅思成绩单即可申请大学。他满怀信心地准备报考雅思，却得知悉尼各考点未来三个月的名额全都被订满了。他此时获悉，只要得到三位讲师的推荐信，就可以豁免雅思成绩直接申请大学，于是他迅速联系了新南威尔士大学工程学院的几位讲师，终于在经过多次面试之后凑齐了三份推荐信。

“我去递交材料的时候，他们告诉我，对不起，中国护照属于第四等级，是不能用豁免权的。”周硕抿着嘴，用低沉的声音向小编讲述。“那个时候我认为我受到了不公平待遇，我就很失望。离开以后我就在想，有可能我在澳洲走不远了。”

“但是我遇到了这种事儿，心里有想法，我为什么不表达一次呢？”于是他在网上找到了工程学院院长办公室的位置，与院长秘书预约了第二天早上八点的会面。

当晚，面临着用有限的英文与人谈判，和签证即将到期却无法入学的双重压力，一心想要改变未来的周硕无法入睡。

第二天，当周硕逻辑清晰、条理分明地向院长陈述出他应该得到这份录取通知书的理由后，院长握住了他的手。“我现在想起来还很感动，院长当时说，如果像你这样的学生我们都无法留住，那将是我们学校的shame（耻辱）。”

新南威尔士大学校园 资料图

“后来他就让我回去等消息。但是我就有个疑问，我是一个一无所有的、从别的国家来的孩子，这是一位德高望重的教授，他会因为我的一次表达，真正花时间去帮我，给我想要的吗？（我）当时心里是没有把握的。我也赌不起。”心情忐忑的周硕，坐上了当天晚上前往墨尔本的火车，为继续他的澳洲之路做最后的努力。“我当时的要求只有一个，离开学只有一周了，以我当时的条件，任何一个学校愿意给我任何一个专业的录取通知书，我就去那个学校。”

第二天早上，已身处墨尔本的周硕，接到了一个电话。

“（这个电话）是院长给我打来的，他说Simon同学，你的录取通知书我们已经给你寄出了，希望在今年年底有机会让我亲自颁发奖学金给你。这个话让我很感动。”

这件事让周硕清晰的意识到，在这个国家，社会是“相对公平，并且值得人去努力的。只要敢于表达自己，就有可能实现自己的目标。”

“慈善，这是我心里真正想要的”

“我在eBay上卖过袜子，也在唐人街夜市摆过地摊，我发誓大学的生活费要靠自己，然而白手起家的确是非常困难的事。”四年的大学生涯，除了学习，他还把精力分散在了社团活动、兼职打工、尝试创业等方面上。因此，毕业后他争取到了当时新州道路交通管理局(Roads & Traffic Authority)提供的毕业生计划。

在工作的三年中，周硕先后担任了五个不同的职位，包括被委任独立管理上百人的团队。看似一片光明的前途，此时周硕却选择离开。

“为什么选择离开呢，是因为我看到十年之后的生活，并不是令我自己百分之百满意的。那我为什么要在这条路上奋斗十年，去得到一个我并不十分想要的生活呢？

周硕参加慈善长跑活动 资料图

工作之余，周硕参加了许多慈善活动，还经常为慈善义演献唱。“让我敲定了自己的决定，是我当时参加的一个慈善晚宴。看到在场那么多人同时进行奉献，给我的触动，是非常大的。不管是通过观众递给我红包进行转捐，还是我自己坐在桌前往红包里塞了二十块钱，所有这些的每一个瞬间，我都知道，这是我自己心里想要的。”

为了能捐出更多的钱，奉献更大的力量，帮助更多的人，他心底里埋藏着的“创业的种子”再次萌芽。

2009年，周硕怀揣着自己这三年辛勤工作攒下的四万多澳币，在卧室里开始了创业旅程。人工成本太高？外包到印度；资金有限？降低标准；时间不够？少睡；人手不够？自己上：早上他是公司的首席执行官，中午他就变身营销总监去见客户，下午他是做账的财务总监，晚上他是产品设计师，躺在床上头脑风暴。提及创业时期的种种艰辛，周硕略带苦涩地笑着说，“澳洲金银创业初期啊，我都快变成一个精神分裂患者啦。”

澳洲第一家金银交易所“澳大利亚金银交易所AGSX”开业典礼 资料图

在拿到了澳洲皇家铸币厂和珀斯铸币局的纪念币经销推广权后，热衷慈善的周硕意识到，可以将发行纪念币和慈善活动结合起来。他马上和几个朋友东拼西凑筹集资金，组建团队，同时联系铸币局和澳大利亚防止虐待动物协会(RSPCA) ，并约定好每制造一枚就将捐献1澳元用于动物保护。

“当时我跟公司里唯一的一个员工说，这个项目不管成败，这个钱是我一定要捐出去的，因为这是我的一个心愿。如果这个项目成功了，我们就会有其他的项目。但是我的要求是，不管将来做哪一个项目，这个（慈善）文化要保持。”

继“工作犬”系列纪念币之后推出的动物主题系列纪念币

“虽然一开始这仅仅是我满足自己小小Ego（编者注：自我，自我价值）的一个动作而已，”周硕捧着办公室里仅剩的一套 “工作犬”纪念币笑着说，“但也成为了我们公司慈善文化的起源。这个项目发售的当天就售罄，这其中也有很多商家的协助。除开商业目的，和对产品本身的认可，也是他们看到了自己在做一件很有意义的事情。因此我得到了来自各方的支持。”

澳洲金银集团现已发展成澳洲最大的民营纪念币发行机构，在全球拥有50多家经销商。在周硕的影响下，澳洲金银还将一如既往地为慈善事业奉献。

“除了纪念币捐款，我还在微博上发起公益救助行动，成立了澳大利亚华人志愿者协会。我希望带着更多人参与到社区公益慈善活动中去。”

“我希望有更多的华人参与到政治中来”

“我在过去经历了留学、就业、创业，在经过很长一段时间的探索过程，我最终意识到，要真正地产生价值，支持我们华人社区，必须要有人出来在政界提出我们的诉求，并且在澳洲的议会里要有人能明白我们的想法，有人能倾听。”

2016年的联邦大选，周硕被推举为联邦参议员候选人之一。但他开玩笑说，这次他就是个“暖场歌手”。

“我希望是通过有一个华人，以年轻人留学生的身份站出来关注政治，在澳洲的政治走出一步，去抛砖引玉，去吸引年轻人对政治的兴趣，有更多的华人参与到政治中来。”2016年的联邦大选，可以明显感觉到，澳洲的华人对本次大选关注度和热情都是空前的。“如今网络上信息量大，信息传播快，很多人开始讨论本次大选的议题。有些言论可能是偏激的，或者是不真实的。但是从另一个角度来看，这是一个好的开始，至少它变成了一个在年轻人中会被谈论到的话题。”

周硕参与工党“华人新面孔”新闻发布会

2012年，曾有媒体采访过周硕，问他是否愿意进军政坛。当时周硕回答道：“确实有几位德高望重的前辈鼓励我作为80后澳洲华人代表进军政坛，不过我暂时还没有具体的计划。”

一次偶然的机会，他在电视节目“新州政府直通车”中，看到了一位华裔政客，用中文为华人提供了许多有关澳洲政治的信息，这让周硕萌生了对政治的兴趣。而节目中的这位政客，正是新州上议员王国忠先生。

“他是我非常欣赏的一位政治领袖，他很注重对年轻人的培养。”

2014年，周硕参加了由王国忠主办的“澳洲青年领袖论坛”。在“模拟辩论”环节中，他对当时的政治议题产生了浓厚的兴趣。在之后的日子里，通过对澳洲政坛的关注和积累，他也增加了涉足政坛的自信心。

从积极参加社区活动，到如今亲身参与政治，周硕希望看到澳洲华人更有凝聚力，更能互相扶持，抛开党派之分，共同代表整个澳洲华人社区的利益，发出自己的声音。

周硕参加大选造势活动

小编后记：十四年前的周硕与我们一样，孤身一人来澳留学，经历了种种困难与挫折。而如今，他已然成为了许多年轻人心中的“偶像”。2011年被澳洲总理办公室授予“澳大利亚十大杰出华人青年”的周硕，如今更是以身作则，用他的实际行动带领并感染着年轻一代，同时也在竭尽所能地为所有华人谋福利。他勇于表达，懂得感恩，无论在任何场合见到周硕，亲切的笑容和谦逊的态度都是他特有的标签。对于我们留学生来说，他是榜样，也是鼓励，他的经历为我们另辟蹊径，为我们的成长提供了一种新的方案。他的昨天就是你我的今天，而他的今天也许将成为你我的明天。

【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.”