CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

In this Issue, Ms TAN Brenda Hui Shan and Mr YIP Cheuk Hei, graduates of Term 2, 2018–19, share about their undergraduate life at the College or life after graduation.

By Ms TAN Brenda Hui Shan (Graduated in Term 2, 2018–19, Food and Nutritional Sciences)

It was a random day, when I was filling in the College preference form from CUHK. Little did I know it was one of the most important decisions that would shape my university life, and I was extremely fortunate to be chosen by CW Chu College. I can still vividly remember when I first arrived at CWC and being warmly welcomed by the College staff. To me, it felt like home away from home. Another thing I treasure a lot is the small but diverse community of CWC.

My typical days in CUHK went like this: getting to class early in the morning, getting back to CWC to cook a quick lunch and getting back to class again. After a tiring day from class, in three evenings every week, a hot meal is waiting for me at communal dinner, and I chatted with my College mates while enjoying the meal. The night did not always end like that. Occasionally, the Residents' Association or the College organised activities like ‘Sweet Soup Day’, Cultural Nights or some language workshops for all College students. At some weekends, the Resident Tutors also organised expedition trips around Hong Kong for non-locals like me to get around places that I did not normally go on my own, for example, Tsz Shan Monastery, and those were great opportunities for me to know more about different areas of Hong Kong.

Another highlight for me at CWC was being part of the College Women's Rowing Team. Although my teammates and I had to spare our precious weekends for tough training, all of our hard work paid off in the end as we were able to secure a trophy in the annual Intercollegiate Rowing Championships. I sincerely hope that CWC's Rowing Teams could continue to grow and gain more victories in the future.

The College provided me with a decent amount of resources in terms of preparing me for the workplace. I was extremely privileged to be mentored by Ms Joanne WONG and Mr Gregory LEUNG through the College Mentorship Programme and To the Workplace Programme respectively. Both of them always make time for me and are willing to share their ‘insider insights’ on the food manufacturing industry. Without their guidance and support, it would not have been possible for me to have such a smooth transition from university to the workplace.

Life in CWC and CUHK will always be one of the most precious memories in my life. I would like to take this chance to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped me throughout my university life, especially to my professors and mentors. And to all members of the CWC community, I wish you all the best in your lives!

By Mr YIP Cheuk Hei Michael (Graduated in Term 2, 2018–19, Economics)

In 2015, I was admitted to The Chinese University of Hong Kong and I was fortunate enough to be able to join CW Chu College. Looking back five years later, I am glad to say my time at the College is one of the best moments in my life.

My experience at CW Chu College has shaped me into the person I am today. My most memorable story at the College is definitely the time when I served as the President of the CW Chu College Service Team in Year 1. To be honest, I am never an outgoing person. I had seldom taken part in social activities when I was in high school, let alone being the person in charge of big projects. As a result, I was very nervous when I knew I had to organise the service project, which involved numerous parties and participants. Although I wanted to give up so many times during that year, I eventually made it through and of course learned a lot from it.

With the support from Professor Kenneth YOUNG and my service experience, I was awarded The D. H. Chen Foundation Scholarship which offered me a wide variety of opportunities. These included voluntary service opportunities and scholar connections. In particular, with the exchange allowance, I was able to study at McGill University in Canada and discovered my interest in academic research. The two semesters at McGill dramatically changed my career path, from entering the workplace immediately after graduation to going for further studies.

I am now studying Finance and Economics at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). After finishing my master's degree at LSE this summer, I plan to work in the US as a predoctoral fellow for a few years. I wish I will go on for the PhD in Finance or Economics in the near future.

Choosing CW Chu College has certainly been one of the best decisions in my life and it is my honour to be part of it. I wish all fellow students to enjoy the College life, and make the most out of it.