THE early bird catches its worm. For Ann Chan Wai-yan, the English Advanced-Level four As scorer, this is more than just an over-familiar idiom - it is the secret of her astonishing academic success.
She earned A(1)s in History, Geography, Economics, Use of English [AS] and Chinese Language and Culture [AS].
The 19-year-old student of St Stephen's Girls' School said: ''I think my memorising powers are at their best in the morning because the quietness of the hour clears my mind.
''Instead of burning the midnight oil, I go to sleep before 11 pm and get up real early, usually at 5 am, and study for two or three hours.'' Some students may find commuting to school a time-consuming, even tedious business. But for Ann, who is lucky to live within walking distance of school, the task is an enjoyable ''nice morning stroll''.
''It saves me time which I can spend on study or extra-curricular activities.'' Her extra-curricular achievements virtually match her academic success.
She is a member of the school volleyball team and school choir, editor of the school magazine, and also helps backstage in the school's drama activities.