Hong Kong’s Students of the Year past and present discuss youth suicide, academic achievement and the pursuit of excellence
Speakers at annual ceremony tackled the tragic issue of student suicides
Student of the Year winners – past and present – addressed the tragic and topical issue of youth suicide yesterday.
Proving her mettle in overcoming difficulties, this year’s grand prize winner, Cheng Wai-chung, drew on personal trials and said she understood how some people would be so anguished as to consider killing themselves.
The 17-year-old was suspected to have mild autism as a child, but with her parents’ encouragement, Cheng slowly overcome her fears of social situations.
“I understand the pain – it was often painful for me too because it really is difficult for me to be social, but they chose to take their lives,” she said. “Not everyone cope with stress well.”
Cheng, however chose to turn what could be seen as tough circumstances into a drive to bring change.
She hopes to become a researcher in molecular biology and genetics, after she lost her unborn baby brother to Edwards Syndrome.
READ MORE: Students at breaking point: surge in Hong Kong suicides rings alarm bells
She said her generation’s idea of happiness deferred from that of the older generation, and that losing happiness in the pursuit of happiness would be pointless.
“For our parents generation, a stable job and comfortable living would bring happiness – I understand that has to do with their generation’s life experience, and that they just want to make sure their children have a happy life,” she said, where pressure from parents to perform well in school could be unbearable for many. “But we don’t share that definition.”
As long as we know what the consequences are and can bear it, it could bring happiness – even in say, a street performer, she added.
The award, organised by the South China Morning Post and supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, honoured outstanding secondary school students and had branched out into different categories in recent years.
The 1978 recipient of the award and former permanent secretary of the Home Affairs Bureau, Raymond Young Lap-moon, said the award had stayed with him through the years, giving him a sense of accomplishment but also obligation towards society as well.
READ MORE: Student suicides in Hong Kong signal distressing lack of mental health support for our youth
While such awards act as positive encouragement to outstanding students, Young said that there needs to be a balance when it comes to striving for excellence in the highly competitive and stressful school system today.
“There needs to be a sense of proportion in the pursuit of excellence, and if it means sacrificing ones own free will – it would not be worth it,” he said, referring to immense pressure and stress on children to perform well in school. “The system today is very cruel, and the children on the receiving end have it bad.”
Young had won the award as a sixth former at Raimondi College in 1978, and admitted that his grades weren’t the best in school but he had interests in music and languages.
Speaking at the awards ceremony yesterday, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said also that he is saddened by the string of young students’ deaths, and speaking to the around 100 students there: “I believe that no matter what you are going through, and no matter what is weighing on your mind, there is always someone that you can turn to and talk to – your families, your friends and your teachers. Remember, you are not alone. There is always a silver lining in a dark cloud, and there are endless, exciting possibilities in life ahead of all of us.”
