Empowering students to flourish in a way they want
Underprivileged students might easily get troubled by the question of what to study at university owing to their greater concerns for career prospects. This makes the role of Fellows particularly important in terms of providing these students with proper guidance and support.
Do you recall what made you decide to study what you studied at the undergraduate level? Was it parental and societal expectations? Or was it career prospects? Were you interested in what you studied?
The question of what to study at university troubles numerous senior secondary school students, who often have to consider not only their own interests and abilities but also expectations from their families and career prospects. Same as all the others, Fiona Or, one of our Fellow Ernest Wong’s students during his Fellowship in 2016-2017, was also confused about what to study at university.
Empower students to go bravely for what they want
A lot of parents in Hong Kong prefer their children choosing subjects with better career prospects, like business, law and medicine. Fiona’s parents were no exception. They wanted their daughter to pursue a degree in business. Fiona was lost in the confrontation by a conflict between her parents’ expectations and her own interests. Fortunately, she met Ernest, who believed that what students genuinely wanted was the most important question. When they discussed Fiona’s university applications, Ernest simply asked, “What do you want to study?” This straightforward yet crucial question reminded Fiona that what she would study at university should be entirely up to her. She also understood that the fact that she did not study at a top secondary school did not mean she should not aim high. Ernest gave her the courage and determination to chase and pursue her dream.
Always be students’ companion and supporter
Coincidentally, what Fiona wanted to study was Ernest’s university major - Psychology. The Fellow shared with his student his personal experience and offered her a lot of useful advice. During her conversations with Ernest, Fiona felt that he cared about his students very much. “Although Ernest may not be experienced in teaching, his passion for education touches me,” said Fiona. “He spends extra time getting to know students individually and shows them the possibilities of the future.”
Having successfully been admitted to a Psychology programme at university, Fiona is now aiming at becoming a clinical psychologist (CP), just like Ernest, who is currently a trainee CP. Being fully aware of the huge difficulty in becoming a CP, Fiona is determined to overcome all the challenges ahead. Although Ernest no longer teaches Fiona, he is still her role model, companion and supporter, and his impact on her will certainly last for many years to come.
By digging into his student’s inner thoughts, Ernest enabled Fiona to realize the importance of following the voice in her heart. His roles as Fiona’s companion and supporter gave her confidence and determination to overcome every barrier in her pursuit of her dream.