Stephanie Leung – Youtharch Web

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O426B8S1xKQ” el_class=”video-fixing”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”12901″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”12899″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”12897″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”12903″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”12895″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]

Diocesan Girls’ School – Deputy Head Girl (2016-17)
Red Cross Youth Unit 55 – Chairlady (2016-17)
Diocesan Girls’ School Debating Team – Representative of Hong Kong region to Oxford Schools’ Debating Championships
International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition – Top Asia Pacific Team (2015)

In this city, every child’s fate appears to become inevitably intertwined with the phrase “winning at the starting line”. We take pride in being competitive and getting ahead of others.

In this sense, I must have lost at the “starting line”. My parents never forced me into attending any “interest classes” for the sake of building up my portfolio. In lieu of a packed schedule, I had the luxury to discover my interests through enjoying the folly of childhood, which I could not be more grateful towards my parents for. When I reflect upon it now, I finally understand my parents were trying to teach me to have a balanced life, not one is too busy with academics that they cannot spare time for people around him/her and time to have fun.

I still vividly recall my mother’s words to me when I first entered the gates of Diocesan in primary two, “Just tell us if you find the pressure too overwhelming. It’s okay.” Although competition definitely exists, the Diocesan education has been valuable in shaping my life.

To me, “Daily Giving Service” is not just a school motto to recite, but also a guiding principle that I hold dear to my heart. Through each act of giving, I gradually came to realise that as a secondary school student, there was so much more than just memorizing textbook paragraphs. We can contribute and impart actual change and improvements in others’ lives, rather than just being aware of societal needs. For instance, a service project member told me that her view on the mentally challenged had changed through their interactions. She used to think of them as incapable and strange, but now she deems them “loveable and helpful”. These experiences, as well as the exposures I got from discussing current affairs during debates and summits, helped me to see past the labels of “minority” or “disadvantaged”. Regardless of our social standing and background, we are all capable of giving back to society in our own unique ways. However, these changes can only be achieved when we are willing to step out of our bubbles and to reach out to each other.

Perhaps, those who compare our lives to a race and worry about “starting lines” are too narrow-minded. Looking back at the past 17 years, the ventures I treasure the most are seldom materialised in the form of a certificate or trophy. After all, beyond the running tracks, the world out there awaits us to explore the full spectrum of human interactions and experiences within it. Drawing strength from these treasured memories, I would continue to give daily service so that I can always look back at my service with pride and no regrets.[/vc_column_text][tek_button button_text=”Back” button_style=”tt_primary_button” button_color_scheme=”btn_primary_color” button_hover_state=”” button_icon_bool=”no” button_action=”button-action-link” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2F159.89.198.89%2Fyoutharch-web%2Fpast-awardees%2F|||” button_position=”button-center”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

拔萃女書院 – 副領袖生 (2016-17)
拔萃女書院 – 紅十字會青年團第55團主席 (2016-17)
拔萃女書院學校辯論隊 – 籌委及Oxford Schools Debating Championships香港代表
加拿大多倫多國際中學辯論及演講比賽 – 全亞太區冠軍 (2015)

在這個城市裏，似乎每一個孩子亦要和起跑線的比喻結下不解之緣。人生就是一場賽跑，一邊與身邊的人競爭著，一邊在賽道上永不回頭地跑著。

也許因為我生於一個平凡家庭的緣故，父母從不強迫我馬不停蹄地參加什麼興趣班，以爭取在起跑線前取得有利的位置。正因如此，我才有童年的閒情東走西跑，從中慢慢發掘及認清自己的興趣。我很感激父母讓我自己的童年世界如此寬闊，從沒有被囿於眼下狹窄的賽道。現在回想起來，原來父母藉這段時光告訴我，在奮力學習和力爭上游之時，亦要不忘關心身邊的人和事，探索所處的世界，最重要的還是不忘快樂。

在機緣巧合下，我在小二時插班踏進了拔萃的校園。還記得母親對我說的第一句話就是：「壓力大的話記得要說出來，別要勉強」。無可否認，競爭必定存在，但是，在拔萃的教育中一路走來學會的一點一滴，令我從未後悔於八年前所作的選擇。

「勵志揚善」四字，不僅是校訓，亦是我自己時刻銘記在心的原則。在努力追求「日行一善」的過程中，我意識到身為中學生需牢記的不只是答題遊戲的法則，能為身邊帶來的改變亦遠比自己想像中重要得多。就社會議題而言，身為中學生，我們唯一能做的就似乎是看來敷衍的「提升大眾關注」。然而，尤記得一次服務計劃中，面對同樣「請寫下對智障人士的印象」的問題，一名中二會員從服務前所寫下的「九唔搭八」，到服務後的「可愛！樂於助人！」，我逐漸明白到每一次為基層小學生補習、與智障青年共同下廚、陪同南亞裔兒童探索廟街等，我們亦學會如何拋開「弱勢」和「少數」的標籤來看待服務對象。直到現在，我不敢狂言自己作出了怎樣的貢獻，但是我只求每次服務能為服務對象帶來一點歡樂。儘管似是以卵擊石大家亦在以自己的方法，不論背景和種族，共同為貢獻社會而奮鬥。

現在想來，說人生是賽跑的說法未免過於狹隘。畢竟，賽道外還有偌大的社區和世界等待我們去認識和探索。回望過去十七年，自己最珍而重之的回憶和經驗，往往未能以獎狀或獎杯的形式呈現；我還是希望把它們小心翼翼地藏於心中，盼望自己未來亦能不忘初心，抱一而為。[/vc_column_text][tek_button button_text=”返回” button_style=”tt_primary_button” button_color_scheme=”btn_primary_color” button_hover_state=”” button_icon_bool=”no” button_action=”button-action-link” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2F159.89.198.89%2Fyoutharch-web%2Fzh-hant%2Fpast-awardees%2F|||” button_position=”button-center”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]