MOST of us like to be appreciated and our efforts recognised, but St Mary's Canossian College student Lee-anne Lee Ling-woon has a different view - appreciation should be spared for her peace of mind.
The 18-year-old fencer, who started representing Hong Kong's women's fencing team at the age of 15, believes that encouragement and compliments should be kept to the minimum for the sake of maintaining her integrity.
Even after winning a major title overseas such as the Asian Youth and Cadet Fencing Championships (ladies' epee under-17), Lee-anne still did not like her parents to show off her achievement.
'I'm always afraid that too much appreciation would spoil me. I don't really like my parents telling my relatives what titles I have won, but they simply do not get it.' But who can resist the temptation? It is so natural to tell people how talented the Form Seven arts student is. Her sports accomplishments include championships at the Guangzhou Kei Sing Cup 1991, Shanghai Hong Kong Opposition Cup, Joint School Fencing Competition 1991 (girls' foil team), Hong Kong Amateur Fencing Association's Ladies' Epee Under-16 Championships and the Ladies' Epee Under-20 Championships.
She has been the fencing team captain of her school for four years. Her fluent English has also won her honours, including the championship in this year's Joint School Debating Competition.
The Yau Tsim District Outstanding Student also excels in drama. She once displayed her talent in the school production of A Mid-summer Night's Dream .