Poor HKCEE results do not necessarily mean your dream of entering university is over. Take Kit Lai Kit-yi, for example. Ms Lai, who scored only four points in the public exam in 2004, is now studying at Lingnan University. She is certainly a source of inspiration for the 120,000 candidates who get their HKCEE results today. They have a choice - pursue higher education or enter the workforce. Ms Lai said she was shocked when she got her HKCEE results. She realised she had no chance of getting into Form Six, but she was not discouraged. She was determined to go to university. After talking to her parents, Ms Lai decided to take part in Project Yi Jin studying logistics and marketing management. The one-year programme helps students with poor HKCEE results upgrade their skills through practical training. Ms Lai, who graduated from Project Yi Jin in 2005, then enrolled for pre-associate and associate degrees at The Community College at Lingnan University. And last year, her dream of becoming a university student came true - she got a place at Lingnan to study marketing. Ms Lai said she had worked very hard over the past few years. 'I did a lot of research and revision and did not hesitate to ask my teachers whenever I needed help. I became a much more active and motivated student. Studying was no longer painful as I was doing what I liked. I wanted to find out more [about the subjects I was studying].' For Ms Lai, the pursuit of knowledge does not end with a Bachelor's degree. She plans to go for a Master's degree in a marketing-related discipline after graduating next year. Ms Lai credits her transformation from a low achiever to a highly motivated student to the flexible curriculum at Project Yi Jin. 'The education system is all about reciting books and model answers. You basically study to pass exams. This made me lose interest in studying,' she said. 'But my mindset changed after I joined Project Yi Jin. It was so different from traditional schooling. I could choose the subjects I was interested in and learn about stocks, logistics and the promotion of new products. 'There was also a lot of interaction with teachers and I was able to tap into my creativity. Learning became so much fun!' Ms Lai has some advice for students with poor results in the HKCEE. 'Getting high marks is not everything. You should have a goal in life and go for it no matter what others think. If you work really hard to achieve your goal, you will have no regrets. But having a big goal and refusing to put in the effort is a waste of time.' Before deciding on their goals, students should seek advice from adults, such as their parents or teachers, because they are more objective and have more experience, she added.
