Best Progress Award

I enjoyed sports as a child and have always been a keen participant in different sports activities.  Football and badminton were my childhood favourites.  At the time, fencing was not at all popular in Hong Kong.  I was fortunate to get a taste of the sport during PE when I was at Primary 5.  Fencing is a very exciting sport.  The clashing of blades is something that endlessly fascinates me.  Before I know it, fencing has become an inseparable part of my life over the past decade or so.

 

Fencing has taught me a lot.  It builds me up physically and psychologically, and drives me to advance my technique and become a better team player, making me a better person overall.  I took part in various local competitions, scoring some wins and suffering some defeats.  Each match was a unique experience.  There were times when I lost a lead due to losing focus, and there were times when I was cheated out of a win because of the referee’s misjudgement.  Nevertheless, I believe that as long as I learn from these experiences, I could seal the win in the next bout.

 

In addition to being a competing fencer, I have been a part-time fencing coach since graduating from secondary school, hoping to train and pass on my experience to a new generation of athletes and contribute to the promotion of the sport.  Coaching, from a different perspective, promotes my personal growth, too.  Students are like a mirror in the sense that their responses lay bare my inadequacies.  Of course, I am happy to see students stay motivated and engaged, but there are always those who cannot care less.  Coaching the latter is a good opportunity for me to temper my resolve.  Only through constant reflection can I improve my coaching skills.  My biggest motivation as a coach comes from witnessing the growth of my students.  I intend to turn my passion into a career as a full-time fencing coach after graduation, so as to introduce more people to this elite sport.

 

The scholarship gives me encouragement and recognition, prompting me to devote myself to the sport.  Even though my achievements on the strip are less than spectacular, I hope to contribute to the sport in a different capacity.  Someday, I would like to say in retrospect that not only have my efforts not gone to waste, they have brought me appreciation and support of others.  To all those who have their eyes set firmly on their goals, be fully prepared so that you may seize the opportunities when they come.