Endeavour Scholarship

I am a Year 2 student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work at Saint Francis University.  I am deeply grateful to have been awarded this scholarship.  Apart from my living expenses, I will spend the bursary on certificate courses to enrich my knowledge and skills so as to lay a solid foundation for my future career development.  

At the age of 16, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression which was largely due to my intense suffering from school bullying for nearly ten years.  I tried to seek help, but my efforts were in vain.  To escape from reality, I skipped class, and once thought of killing myself.  At that juncture, ending it all was, in my mind, the best solution to stop my pain.  Fortunately, my class teacher and a school social worker came to my aid at the right time.  They supported me in surmounting my emotional and learning difficulties and navigating the challenges I faced during my high school life.  However, due to my prolonged absence from classes and the adverse impact of my emotional turmoil, my learning progress was severely affected and my performance in the HKDSE was eventually far from satisfactory.  Luckily, I was granted an offer in a Higher Diploma programme at Caritas Bianchi College of Careers.

During my studies at Caritas, I tried to be less reserved and enriched my school life by participating in a wide range of activities, such as taking up the post of Vice President of the Joint Student Union in my first year.  Not only did I become more self-assured, but I also rekindled my passion for learning.  My hard work paid off, and I finally graduated with distinction.  By then, I realised that it was my calling to be a social worker to help the needy, particularly those afflicted by mental conditions.  With this aspiration in mind, I decided to further pursue a bachelor’s degree.  To contribute to society through action, I put what I have learnt into practice in addition to learning the theories.  I seized the opportunity to assume the role of the President of the Rotaract Club and organised an array of voluntary activities in an attempt to create some positive impacts on the community.

My learning journey was fraught with challenges and difficulties.  For example, I resorted to absenting myself from classes when panic attacks struck, and hid myself at home when emotional struggles intensified, and I was even made an object of ridicule on campus.  Thanks to the support and guidance of my counsellors and teachers, I could survive the hardship.  My counsellors taught me different ways to relieve stress, while my teachers worked closely with other departments to discuss my situation and work out thoughtful supporting measures.  I am also incredibly thankful to the university for placing trust in me and entrusting me with important responsibilities, such as being the master of ceremonies for career fairs.  From these experiences, I have gained a sense of satisfaction, developed self-assurance and learned to appreciate myself.

Life is a long journey.  The arduous experience is a chapter in my life.  Looking ahead, I will make extra efforts to strive for progress and achieve my career aspirations of becoming a social worker.