Top 10: What is your biggest fear about the new school year?
- Our readers share their biggest fears about heading back to school, from bidding farewell to classmates to stressful university entrance exams
- This week’s question: If you could get an extra day off from school each week, what would you do?
It’s certainly been an unusual year. Hopefully, the new school year will be normal! Photo: ShutterstockThis week’s question: If you could get an extra day off from school each week, what would you do?
To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at [email protected] by 11.59pm on September 7 . Tell us your name, age and school.
Grace Tam Tsz-ching, 11, Christian Alliance International School: Seeing more friends leave school. Last academic year, I was in a maths study group with my friends. But I recently found out that most of them left the school over the summer break. I am scared that more students are going to leave the study group.
Ma Jing-mao, 16, Carmel Pak U Secondary School: My biggest fear is whether my school’s tuck shop will continue to serve fish balls. I enjoy eating the tasty snack during recess while chatting with my friends. It is one of the best memories I have of secondary school.
It would be terrible if they stopped serving fish balls.
Valerie Chiu Wing-yee, 12, St. Mary Canossian College: I’m afraid of everything working out perfectly. I don’t want my school life to be a smooth ride because failure can help me become a better person. The more challenges I face, the more determined I will be. I hope I am able to overcome any difficulties and achieve my goals.
Yannick Yam Sze-wai, 17, Creative Secondary School: As I enter the final year of my secondary education, I am naturally fearful of the IB exam. Since primary school, I have been told that good grades lead to good lives and mediocre grades lead to mediocre lives. While this fear has motivated me to bring my A-game, I think it’s important not to be consumed by it. We need to enjoy the special moments while still studying hard.
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Li Kwan-lam, 17, Sing Yin Secondary School: I am afraid of the painful and endless revision.
As a Form Six student, I need to study day and night to prepare for next year’s DSE exam. I think the whole process is going to be quite stressful.
To make matters worse, I have no idea what I want to study at university. This has led to a lack of motivation and has made me more fearful about the future.
Claire Lee Hok-yung, 18, Pui Kiu Middle School : Since so much of our school life has been online for the last few years, I am nervous about face-to-face learning because it’s a totally different experience.
I was so comfortable at home and sometimes, my attention would wander to my mobile phone or I would rest in my bed. I am worried about adapting to in-person lessons again.
Rex Chow Ching-long, 15, Church of Christ in China Ming Yin College: Taking my mask off at school. These days, I seldom remove my mask in front of others.
I would be very nervous if there were mask-off activities at school because I am not used to showing my face in public anymore.
Valerie Shek Sze-ai, 12, Independent Schools Foundation: I am afraid of going back to online learning. I cannot handle any more Zoom lessons. It’s just torture, watching experiments being carried out by science teachers, and equally lame to have online physical education or drama classes. I hope we can have face-to-face lessons for the whole year!
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Grace Lam, 13, Diocesan Girls’ School: I am in a higher form now, which means more work and responsibilities. I am afraid I will not be able to balance my studies and extracurricular activities and as a result, my mental health could suffer. But I really hope that I will be able to get used to my new schedule, get enough sleep, and do well at school.
Anson Ng Wai-yan, 11, Holy Angels Canossian School: As a Primary Six student, I am concerned about my intense exam schedule. I have a keen interest in hobbies such as reading, dancing, and playing badminton, so I hope I’ll be able to strike a balance between my studies and recreational activities.