Sharing from SEP students
Miss Dong Naiyu, Zita
BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology, 2011
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| My Wonderful Summer Experience |
I participated in the Metropolitan Attachment Programme during last summer. And I spent six weeks interning at San Francisco Community Power and the Potrero View. Serving two organizations at the same time doubled my working experience. Providing different tasks everyday was part of the fascination of the job, which allowed me to get involved in a variety of activities and enriched my working and living experience abroad to a great extent.
By working with the Potrero View, a local newspaper, I was given precious opportunities to get involved in the neighborhood. Meeting merchants of the community, and greeting neighboring business in the same building helped me to learn more about the society and culture of the host country. And I can still recall the exciting feelings when I was holding a newly printed issue of our newspaper. Participating in the Green Home Assessment Program administered by San Francisco Environment Department, I conducted in-door assessments to collect data and to offer residents simple tips on saving energy, conserving water, and recycling. And luckily I was put in the Singtao Newspaper for the promotion of this program. Through this program I obtained hands-on experiences in data acquisition, data analysis, and what is more, my communication and interpersonal skills were greatly improved as well.
I got along well with my lovely colleagues of different cultural backgrounds, they not only taught me valuable working skills, but also treated me like friends and family, which made going to work like coming home, we went out and watched comedy in the theatre together. Thanks MAP and my hosting organizations for providing me a wonderful and unforgettable summer.
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Miss Geng Qinxin, Sylvia
BSc (Hons) in Statistics & Operations Research, 2011
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I am proud to be a student in the Faculty of Science where are full of opportunities. I have been attending a variety of seminars, forums and public lectures from which the broad knowledge and fresh insights I have obtained are of great value for my progress in the field of statistics, mathematics or science as a whole. In the last October, I had an opportunity to give an academic talk for the first time in my life. I was honoured to have presented my summer research project to Prof. Sunney Chan and other distinguished scholars from the Faculty. The summer research programme is a great opportunity for undergraduate students to gain valuable research experiences. And as students who seek bright future, we should always be well-prepared, and turn this opportunity into real and lasting achievements.
Last year, I joined the Science Elite Programme (SEP) which was organized and supported by the Faculty. The programme aims to provide the top students in the Faculty with special training in personal development, social involvement and achieving high-level academic standard. I am glad that the programme has benefited us so much. Being equipped with confidence, public speaking skills, leadership, and creativity, we are indeed receiving a whole-person education and being well-prepared for our future endeavours.
Having been a member in the Department of Mathematics and Faculty of Science for three years, I have already developed a strong sense of belongings to the Department as well as the Faculty. I am happy and proud to represent the Faculty at any time. I appreciate that the Faculty has provided me a fulfilled university life. At the moment of the golden jubilee birthday, I wish the Faculty to have a fabulous anniversary celebration and a brilliant continued success in the future.
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Mr Nian Ke, Nick
BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, 2011
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| Although I have gone through a variaty of activities from Science Elite Program, I must admit that two years training from Science Elite Program does not make me an elite. There would be a long way for me to go through. But I would say that I was the training from SEP that helps me finally acquire an answer to a question that has puzzled me for a long time.
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| What should we get from university? |
A typical answer is we should get knowledge and skills. However, do I really believe in these answers? I remember Prof. Ng Kee Yin's-one of the mentor of SEP program- speech to the freshmen of computer science departments three years ago. At that time, he mentioned that, technology is changing fast. What we learn today may be outdated tomorrow.
Truly, nowadays, it would fast to acquire knowledge, providing that we really want to and we really like to. Most of us do know how to be self-educated. With the help of online open courses, library, Wikipedia and Google, learning new thing is comparably easier than before.
Compared to acquiring knowledge, what is actually hard is to find the purpose of learning.
As for me, honestly speaking, I study hard because that I want a better life, I want to get myself a decent life and good jobs so that I can live on my own. I want to find a good wife in the future.
I did not think there anything wrong to do so until a month ago, when my supervisor gave me his final remarks on my final year projects. At that moment he said that I have done a lot but he can see from my works that what I want is merely to satisfy the requirements and I do not have passion on this project. It was that awkward moment that I realized the pathetic part of my college life-lack of passion and interest.
It is painful to hear my supervisor's remarks but I admit he is telling the truth. I do work hard to finish the assignments, projects, and exams but I seldom really put my heart on it. I do work hard to earn a ticket for graduate schools but I seldom ask myself a simple question: do I really want this?
It was in the that moment that I start to realise what we really should get from this program, from university education. It was not honors, diploma, respect, decent jobs or graduate school offers. It was a dream that we could fight for life, a passion that could motivate us for life.
It is not an overstatement that many people, deep in their heart, would simply respond just like the way I do. But I finally know that this kind of purposeis not enough. I still remember Prof. Jane Lai's - one of the mentor of SEP program-remarks about what makes an elite. At that time she said:
"To become elite for life, whenever there is a challenge, just try to Do it. Do it well. Do it beautifully."
To accomplish task as above slogan indicated is not as easy as we repeat it. It requires us to find out what we like and what we want from life. Only by knowing that can we move forward.
So whenever we try to engage in some tasks, ask why we want to do it first. Whenever making a big decision, ask do we really want to do it first. Follow the passion and interest instead of pressure. Let us study not because we need to but because we want to.
It is not important whether you join the Science Elite Program or not. It is not even important whether others regard you as elite or not.
What is important is to really get a a big dream for life. With a life-long dream and diligence, we are true elite and true hero for ourselves.
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Mr Zhao Yize, Moss
BSc (Hons) in Computing Studies (Information Systems), 2011
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Exchange Program
2009 Fall Semester, Baylor University |
| Baylor has been a phenomenal experience for me. I only wish I could stay longer than a semester. As an exchange partner of HKBU, Baylor shares a lot in common with HKBU. In Baylor, I developed the interest in outdoor activities such as rock climbing and backpacking. From these activities, I had the opportunity to expose myself to the beautiful nature. What's more, I learned the importance of teamwork, self-reliance, and compassion. I also established a long term relationship with my host family in Baylor, who was extremely nice and helpful during my stay. One of my Baylor professors guided me through a lot of academic challenges and professional development. |
Career Placement
June-2010 to June-2011, HSBC Global Banking and Markets |
| I worked as a student placement in HSBC's Global Banking and Markets. My primary duty was to take part in in-house software development and testing for credit derivatives trading business. I gained experience in interaction with users and project management. From my colleagues, l learned to be extremely resourceful and attentive to detail. Besides working on software, I engaged in cooperation with other control groups in the bank, such as Credit Risk and Market Risk Management. I was also a member of company's Social Convenors, a group dedicated to organizing social activities. This is an ideal place to radiate my creativity and enthusiasm. The happy face on our colleagues is the best recognition to our achievement. |
Summer Program
June to August 2011, Stanford University |
| I spent a remarkable summer at Stanford University in 2011. Stanford is definitely the place of world's best collection of intellectual talents. Studying at Stanford could be intimidating, exhilarating, sometimes a bit discouraging, but always challenging. Stanford is able to unite people from all over the world across racial and religious lines. Apart from learning cutting edge technologies, Stanford also taught me fundamental lessons such as perseverance, hard work, and service. My favorite class was Public Speaking, where we engaged ourselves to romancing the room and audience. Speaking in public used to be my worst fear, but now it becomes my hobby. |
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