Pupils nominated for Student of the Year Awards for overcoming health, behavioural problems
- Chan Tsz-kiu of Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College battled postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and now hopes to join university
- To Nga-man of Buddhist Wong Wan Tin College returned to the mainstream of society with the help of a social worker, and started helping others
For 20-year-old student Chan Tsz-kiu, hospital was practically her “second home” because of a chronic cardiovascular disease, which left her on her sickbed just months before she sat the university entrance exam in April.
The Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College student, who had battled postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome – a blood circulation disorder with an abnormal rise in heart rate from sitting or standing up – has gone a long way to accept and live with her unstable health condition with a firm determination of becoming an interior designer.
“The sickness, although it cannot be completely gone and I probably have to face it for the rest of my life, and the feeling of death being constantly close to me have reminded me not to be afraid of taking risks, as well as to treasure all that I have at the moment,” she said.
Chan, alongside To Nga-man who is also in Form Six, are both finalists in the best-improvement category at this year’s Student of the Year Awards organised by the South China Morning Post and sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Born in mainland China, Chan moved to Hong Kong in 2011 with her father to live with her stepmother after her parents’ divorce. Life was difficult as her stepmother did not only have to take care of her sick father, but also her grandma who had dementia.
She recalled the disease first showed symptoms when she was in Primary Six, when she occasionally felt weak and lightheaded, or felt dizzy when walking home from school. Doctors first diagnosed her condition as panic disorder due to the pressure she faced after moving to Hong Kong and having to adapt to an unfamiliar environment, she said.
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She frequently underwent psychiatric treatment and thus was unable to integrate into secondary school life, as many of her classmates did not understand her situation.
At one time, she fainted just less than 10 minutes after being discharged from the hospital. That was when doctors finally found out she had been suffering from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, as she was ordered to stay at the sickbed for two months.
“I really wanted to give up back then,” Chan said. After the incident, she had to transfer to the Buddhist college in Tai O to continue her studies as she did not get a class promotion at her original school due to her prolonged period of absence.
A school in the foothills with a dormitory located up on the hill, Chan had to face another challenge having to hike uphill to go back to the dormitory after classes every day, which sometimes took her more than an hour, while most of her peers completed the journey in 15 minutes.
But with more exercise and under a new environment with the help of her teachers and classmates, she was able to slowly adapt and open herself up to various opportunities. Despite not being able to take physical education lessons at school, she was able to take part in various volunteering services such as visits to the elderly living alone in Tai O.
At the same time, the frequency of her disease’s symptoms had also lowered, as she was last admitted to a hospital last December before the university entrance exams in April.
Both Chan and To are now waiting for their university entrance Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results to come out on Wednesday. She has already applied to several higher education institutes to study design.
“Now with entering the university, I believe I have the power to chase my dreams, and to change my future and support my family,” she said.
To, who studies at Buddhist Wong Wan Tin College in Tai Wai, had also experienced a major change during her school years, from being a young night drifter who smoked, drank alcohol and often caused trouble at school to becoming an active participant in voluntary services.
The 20-year-old, who came from a single parent family, had frequently stayed out of home overnight with her gang from Form Two. She also said she used to get “easily agitated”, for instance she had thrown tantrums at her teachers who asked her not to sleep at class, and even attempted to escape the classroom through the window during detention periods.
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“I was often being looked down upon, even some teachers had blacklisted me for my poor conduct and behaviour,” she said.
When her school’s social worker started to help her with her situation while she had to repeat Form Three and Form Four, she realised she had to change, and joined volunteering activities to help the elderly, disabled and members of ethnic minorities.
She now leads a group of 20 peers at a youth volunteering network, while also aiming to become a social worker to help those who faced a situation similar to her.
“My mother, who used to be ashamed of me when I was behaving poorly before … has become [proud of me] as teachers and my principal have praised my changes,” To said.
