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The College held the fourth High Table Dinner, also the last one in the 2016–17 academic year, on 18 April 2017. Prof Wai-Yee CHAN, College Master, invited his former mentee and good friend, Ms Amy FONG, to be the guest of honour for the occasion. Ms FONG was also invited to attend the Master's Reception for the Graduating Class before the Dinner. For details, please refer to the article, Master's Reception for Graduating Class HERE.
Ms FONG had studied at CUHK before she completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the United States. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MBA from Columbia University. Having served financial institutions such as JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Merrill Lynch, and worked in the US and Asia for nearly two decades, she made a drastic career change by joining Save the Children Hong Kong Limited as Chief Executive Officer in 2015. At the dinner, Ms FONG gave an inspirational speech entitled Embracing the Future with Openness. She shared with the students her personal experiences and encounters as well as her journey from business to the non-profit sector, a courageous and admirable move. She encouraged the students to let go of their worries. Worrying too much is never helpful as negativity is counterproductive while positivity motivates one to strive for better. She invited students to live in the present. Lingering in the past is a waste of one's precious time. What one should do is to enjoy life to the full, even if that entails taking risks, as one does not always get second chances. She urged students to keep learning. Immersing oneself in the vast sea of knowledge facilitates not only social inclusion and active citizenship, but also personal development as it enhances one's self-sustainability, competitiveness and employability. She advised students to be grateful for the opportunities and the people that they encounter.Ms FONG practised what she preaches, walking away from a familiar industry to enter one that was novel and challenging. She exemplifies how a change of attitude can lead to a more fulfilling life involving lending a helping hand to the underprivileged in society. Her words of wisdom are so insightful that they are most beneficial to the students' search for identity, studies and career development. The College thanks Ms FONG for gracing us her presence at the High Table Dinner.
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