CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

In this Issue, Mr CHIANG Ethan and Ms WU Hiu Lam Crystal, graduates of Term 2, 2018–19 and Term 1, 2019–20 respectively, share about their life after graduation.

By Mr CHIANG Ethan (Graduated in Term 2, 2018–19, Architectural Studies)

Hey! I'm Ethan, I studied Architecture at CUHK from 2015 and graduated in the Class of 2019. I’m currently working at an architectural firm in Hong Kong before beginning a summer internship at Shigeru Ban Architects in Tokyo and pursuing a Master of Architecture degree at Yale University or Columbia University later this fall.

Four years ago, I came to CUHK hoping to learn and meet people from all walks of life; CW Chu College gave me that opportunity. During my first visit to the College, I immediately felt at home. I was impressed by the warmth of the College staff, the diverse composition of the student population and the architecture of the College campus itself. Looking back, joining CWC was the best decision I could have made.

In my first year, I was lucky to be paired with an exchange student from the UK in the College hostel. Fortunately, he fitted right into our College orientation camp group, and we bonded easily over communal dining and a killer round of card games. I won’t forget the times when my friends tried and failed miserably to scare us by hiding beneath our desks, or when another friend applied for exchange to Utrecht thinking it was in the UK, or when we ran onto campus as freshmen with mops and buckets to clean our rooms (which we ended up never using). These are moments I will cherish.

Rowing was another highlight for me at CWC. I am proud to have been a part of CWC's first men's team to win in the annual inter-collegiate championships, and to see how participation and enthusiasm for the sport has grown among my College mates over the years. Knowing that new members of our College have joined the University team excites me, and I know there will be many more victories to celebrate.

I hope to pursue a career that engages in community-driven and sustainable design, and I am inspired to do so because of the incredible people I have met at CW Chu College. This College stands out because of its people, and I especially want to thank the professors and staff who have made this place one of the most inclusive and supportive environments I could have hoped for.

By Ms WU Hiu Lam Crystal (Graduated in Term 1, 2019–20, Journalism and Communication)

I remember the first day I moved into the College. It was a normal afternoon, and bringing all my luggage into my new room, I went out with the friends I had made during the College orientation camp (O' Camp) to IKEA in Shatin, to get miscellaneous stuff like a laundry hamper for the next four years of my dorm life, as well as to hang around and grab dinner with my College mates.

And this is how it was for my next four years at CWC. After a long day of class, I would go back to what I affectionately called my ‘home away from home’, for a nice (debatable) hot meal and pleasant time with my friends, to whom I chattered about my everyday life and other things during communal dinners. From being a doe-eyed freshman who knew no one and nothing, eagerly learning survival skills from my O' Camp ‘parents’, to being an O' Camp ‘parent’ myself and sharing my tips for surviving University (such as how to remember school bus schedules and handle the wrath of mosquitoes!), to being an ‘old ghost’ trading final-year tips among one another, I always enjoyed those times bonding with my peers and exchanging new ideas and thoughts with people from all fields of study.

Being in the College gave me a sense of individuality and I was free to become what I wanted myself to be through the opportunities from the College, for which I am very grateful. Back in 2018, I went on exchange via CWC to Utrecht. It was one of the best experiences I had had, in which I could fulfil my dream of travelling around Europe and living abroad. It also equipped me with a more international perspective. Thanks to the College Internship Scheme, I have also been working as a freelance audio producer for an environmental podcast feature for Sustainable Asia, and was also lucky enough to be given the chance to host two episodes recently.

Working on one project to the next, I thrived like an eager plant in a greenhouse during University, all the while learning more about myself, which I have scarcely done for the past two decades of my life. I am by no means an adventurous person, but I had one of the craziest and most passionate times in my four years of studies, with some of my best memories and friends made in the College.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and I graduated in times of turmoil. Like a lot of my fellow friends who are also fresh graduates, it has been difficult to find a full-time job. However, even though we have to sail through the difficult times ahead, we must not lose faith and hope that better days are to come. I wish all CW Chuers good health in this pandemic and please always observe personal hygiene!