Time has flown, and I can’t believe that I graduated this year. Throughout my four years at university, I am immensely grateful to our school for providing unwavering support in my personal and academic growth. I extend my heartfelt appreciation of all the professors who have imparted their knowledge and constantly encouraged me.

Participating in the Honours Academy program has been the utmost privilege, and the three-year journeys have been truly remarkable. This program has honed my soft skills and presented me with countless opportunities for exploration. I owe much of my success to the support of our team heads and the HA staff.

I have been fortunate enough to be a part of numerous unforgettable moments. It has been a source of joy for me to engage in a wide range of activities, including a semester-long exchange program, an elite summer program, a global immersion program, a mentorship with my professional fellow, and even a newspaper interview. However, the experience that truly stands out as the most exceptional is my role as the organizer for both the community service team and the recreational team.

Through a well-structured program, I have experienced substantial growth and development in various aspects, including personal maturity, a heightened sense of social responsibility, and a deepened understanding of global citizenship.

In conclusion, I strongly encourage all current and future members of the HA family to adopt a proactive mindset. Embrace challenges without fear and cherish every opportunity that comes your way. Most importantly, be well-prepared.

Fanny Cheung
Tax Consultant, KPMG Tax Services Limited

This three-year journey has undeniably enriched my entire university experience at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. I vividly recall when the HA room was initially bare, and we worked together to add decorations, transforming it into a warm and welcoming space. This coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which my 1st cohort fellows became the primary people I could interact with. From the early days of attending HA seminars, participating in soft meal workshops, celebrating the Chinese New Year with lively dances, learning how to host events from Dr Holly Chung to the present, the opportunities have expanded into something more significant and fruitful. I’m delighted to have witnessed this journey unfold and be a part of it. HA genuinely values our opinions, and my fellow students deeply care about HA. This is indeed the most beautiful experience.

I am profoundly grateful to have had three remarkable women, Esther, Holly and Jeanne, alongside us. Initially, I was quite reserved in approaching them, but over time, we got to know each other, and we became a close-knit family. It’s rare to form such deep connections in one’s lifetime, and I feel blessed to have met all these wonderful souls during this journey.

I would like to extend my gratitude to President, Professor Simon Ho, Professor Y. V. Hui and Dr Tom Fong for their unwavering support. They have consistently provided warmth and encouragement over the past three years, making them pillars of strength within our HA Family.

HA has given me the opportunity to learn and grow in various ways—hosting events, performing, writing academic papers, engaging in exchanges, and even initiating research projects. HA has made me realize that I am continually evolving in multiple dimensions as time progresses. This journey is truly invaluable to me.

To the young HA members, I encourage you to embrace this journey with enthusiasm and determination. While it may not always be as sweet as you expect in your initial experiences, I am confident that you will recognize the true value when you reflect on it in the future. Keep trying, gaining experience and overcoming challenges. Be kind, be grateful and remain humble throughout your HA journey.

Lauren Lin
Postgraduate Student, The London School of Economics and Political Science

“Trying as much as you can, finding what you like and don’t like along the way, and then finding your way out after these three years.” As simple as it might seem, it’s very hard to achieve in reality as you have to balance your work, life and passion while preventing burnout at the same time. Trust me, keep pushing through the hard times, and your future self will thank you later.

Reflecting on my three-year HA journey, I found it one of the most transformative exposures, and I have made lifelong, meaningful friendships here that I treasure a lot. I still vividly remember being a timid person, not being outspoken enough. Having HA as a platform to meet friends with similar goals and start projects that I am most interested in, I got to know more about myself and fine-tune my aspirations.

Throughout these three years, I have engaged in various extracurricular activities, including internships, business competitions, community services projects, overseas learning experiences and so on. For internships, I worked in sectors like elderly care, maritime and blockchain, spanning startups and large corporations. Through these internship exposures, I experienced the differences between various job natures and team dynamics, getting a clearer and clearer picture of my career path. With my engagement in several businesses and entrepreneurial competitions, I got to hone my business acumen and presentation skills, preparing myself with the necessary skills for my career. Through joining and initiating community services projects via the HA platform, I have learned so much about different social issues, including the aging population, youth outreach and stray dogs, realizing that there is so much that I could contribute to society.

Last but not least, I’d like to take this precious opportunity to thank all the great people I have met in these three years. To the three Heads, Esther, Jeanne and Holly, thank you for your open-mindedness and guidance along the way; you were always there when we needed support! To my professional fellow, Mr Benjamin Tang, thank you for being such a genuine and kind mentor! Your stories and experiences shared during our catch-ups have inspired me so much! To my first boss, Ms Queenie Man (CEO of The Project Futurus), thank you for your patience and care during my first internship. Working at The Project Futurus has been a special and eye-opening experience for me. To all my friends in HA, thank you once again for being there during both the good and hard times.

Tom Tang
PwC X-Venturer Member, PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong