- These pithy thoughts will keep you motivated in life, even when times get tough
The Student of the Year Awards 2018, presented earlier in May, awarded Hong Kong secondary school students for their passion and talent in nine distinct categories. From a troubled teenager who finds purpose in life through sports to a young inventor who designed a learning tool to help students with ADHD, the annual awards ceremony showed that anything can be achieved if your put your heart into it.
Many of the winners had to overcome personal obstacles to get to where they are now, so Young Post asked them to share a quote that helped to keep them motivated. Hopefully, these words can give you the courage to fight adversity and make your dreams a reality.
Grand Prize, and Scientist and Mathematician
Sean Mann, 18, Diocesan Boys’ School graduate
“If you know you’re not good enough, get better.”
Community Contributor
Yue Hang-chi, 18, Heep Yunn School graduate
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
Performing Artist
Wallace Lee, 18, Diocesan Boys’ School graduate
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
Linguist (Cantonese)
Apple Tam Nga-sze, 17, St Mark’s School
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy
Linguist (English)
Benjamin Chan, 17, St Joseph’s College
“It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone.” – Hans F. Hansen
Linguist (Putonghua)
Wong Mei-yu, 18, Singapore International School (Hong Kong) graduate
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
Best Devotion to School
George Siu Chak-hang, 18, St Joseph’s College graduate
“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” – John C. Maxwell
Daisy Kwok Hiu-ming, 19, Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School graduate
“Never give up. Never say no. Keep on trying. Give it a go!” – her teacher George Coveny
Serina Chong Tsz-san, 17, King Ling College
“With our capability and experience, the world is our oyster.” – William Shakespeare
Natalie Yu Man-ying, 18, Leung Shek Chee College graduate
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” – Edward Everett Hale
Best Improvement
Alex Mai Wen-feng, 18, St Margaret’s Co-educational English Secondary and Primary School
“The world wants you to chase fame, but no skill is greater than maintaining sincerity.” – translated from lyrics of a song by Hong Kong indie pop band My Little Airport
Sam Ngan Shu-sum, 17, The Society of Boys’ Centres Hui Chung Sing Memorial School
“Only when you’re optimistic, you’re strong enough to face all challenges.”
Ngan Yu-ching, 19, Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College graduate
“Never underestimate your power to change yourself; never overestimate your power to change others.” – Wayne W. Dyer
Lau Chit, 18, HKWMA Chu Shek Lun Secondary School
“It is not whether you can do it or not, it is whether you are willing to or not.” – his principal Wai Yee Kwan