When I look back, I have only great school memories. I was an only child so it was a great place to learn how to be social, make friends and really discover yourself, whether independently or through others.

In fact, school was like a new adventure every day that I always looked forward to. I even loved the work and especially the projects.

Those challenges allowed me to be the best I could be because I always cared about doing a good job. And that was reflected in my funniest memory, playing the lead singer in a solo performance of Hey Big Spender.

I can't sing at all, but I somehow dug deep and found the strength to parade myself on that day, dress wildly and have great fun! I've never done anything like that again.

I went to school in three countries and 12 different schools in England, Canada and Australia. They were all very different. England was an all-girls school. Canada was more relaxed, modern and free-spirited. It's also where I spent most of my school years.

Australia was my final three years of high school and a new learning sphere again because of the culture.

I was very lucky because it could've been scary each time I changed school. However, I really loved having another new experience and being a new kid on the block again.

My favourite subjects were typing, shorthand and geography. I think I loved them because they were what I was best at.

My favourite teacher taught geography and he always made the class interesting. He was also kind, considerate - not loud - and I felt liked by him.

My worst subjects were history and maths. I didn't seem to have any interest in anything that happened in the past.

I was terrible in maths once I went to high school. I simply didn't seem to have the skills to do it well and most times I felt inadequate.

I preferred to put my talents to more natural uses so I quit history and maths as soon as I could.

On the whole, I was a very good little girl, but as I grew older I became bolder and resisted some rules and regulations, and was not afraid to share my thoughts.

I remember in Australia, even though it was cold, you were not allowed to wear a winter coat on top of your school uniform. I found this unreasonable and wore it anyway, an was sent home.

I also grew more assertive and stood up for what I believed in. My comments were not always wanted and while some teachers saw this as a great asset, others did not.

My strength and heart - looking back to those days - were always in helping others. So I'd be saddest having an upset with someone, whether family, friends or teachers, and that would really affect me.

I started SoulTalk, a local registered charity in Hong Kong, 16 years ago due to my own adversity in life, although charity work has been part of my life ever since I was seven years old.

I'd lost my home, all my money and my two youngest children were kidnapped. I was in an abusive marriage and finally found the courage to leave after 15 years. The first two years of my divorce were when I started with the support group. Helping others really kept me alive and going.

I developed a complete system for SoulTalk so that no one would ever have to go through or take the hard/difficult road. When you go through something traumatic, it strips you as it's so devastating.

In fact, I wish school had taught me more about the emotional side of life as I really believe that this is so much more powerful than most of us realise early on. It would have been like a magic wand in life.

I went back to school to gain the all credentials and then built a system that would be a complete professional and personalised resource centre filled with counselling, education, empathy, solutions and attention.

Today, SoulTalk provides many solution-based services and we also have a Loving Home Residence for those needing a place to live while healing.

I've learned that giving and helping others is really the greatest gift I can share in this life. My one piece of advice would be to know your true inner self, values and principles. It's these that will be your measurement throughout life about how you feel, what you give and have, and even why. I firmly believe that by being the artist and creator of your own life, you can make anything you want happen.

Andrea Gutwirth is the founder and executive director of SoulTalk Foundation, tel: 2525 6644. She was talking to David Phair.