SOTY 22/23: Best Improvement winner overcomes language barrier and parents’ divorce to make Hong Kong her new home
- Lin Wenyu moved to the city from Guangdong during the pandemic, unable to speak Cantonese and unfamiliar with traditional Chinese characters
- Stringent pandemic control measures made obtaining proper identification a challenge
Lin Wenyu, winner of Best Improvement in the Student of the Year awards. Photo: HandoutAt the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lin Wenyu, from Huidong County, Guangdong, made her way to Hong Kong to reunite with her parents and prepare for her studies.
The move was challenging for Lin, now 19 and a student at Ju Ching Chu Secondary School in Tuen Mun.
She arrived in Hong Kong unable to speak Cantonese and unfamiliar with traditional Chinese characters. The stringent pandemic control measures meant numerous government offices had closed, preventing her from obtaining proper identification.
During her initial six months in Hong Kong, Lin grappled with isolation and a shortage of friends. Her days were confined to the walls of her home, where she attended online classes, played on her phone and focused on her studies.
“When I first arrived in Hong Kong, everything felt unfamiliar. I could not navigate the streets, and reading maps was a struggle,” Lin recalled.
“Thankfully, I encountered kind-hearted locals who offered me guidance. Despite my limited Cantonese-speaking ability and their lack of Mandarin proficiency, they extended their help and sometimes went out of their way to personally escort me to my destination.”
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After six months of determined effort, Lin secured a place in a secondary school as a transfer student. Overcoming the language barrier was her next hurdle.
At the beginning, she could not communicate well with her classmates, sometimes resorting to non-verbal gestures.
“Luckily, my classmates were incredibly supportive,” Lin shared. “They would attempt to interact with me despite the language barrier. They never mocked my limited Cantonese, and I learned new words daily and practised tirelessly.”
Lin’s determination was evident as she prepared for the end-term exams just a few weeks after joining her new school. She would wake up at 5am every morning to study, determined to catch up with her peers. In that remarkably short preparation time, she not only achieved first place in Chinese language proficiency, but fifth in overall academic performance.
In addition to language barriers and the challenges of adapting to her new environment, Lin had to navigate her parents’ divorce.
“Running became my sanctuary when I wasn’t feeling happy. It allowed me to find solace and personal space. During my runs, I could reflect, release emotions, and clear my mind. It felt like a metaphor for life; we encounter unexpected obstacles, but we must find the strength to persevere,” Lin explained.
In her pursuit of a more fulfilling life in Hong Kong, Lin actively engaged in community centre activities, enabling her to embrace diverse cultures and make new friends from various backgrounds. Her love for dogs also led her to volunteer at an animal shelter, where she learned to care for and interact with dogs, bringing her immense satisfaction.
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Lin’s efforts have made her the Best Improvement winner at the Student of the Year Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Lin dreams of becoming a teacher one day, a calling she takes to heart. She attributes her perseverance and dedication to her teachers, who have supported her.
“Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about nurturing a student’s moral values and instilling the right principles. Even when faced with setbacks, it’s crucial to teach students how to handle challenges with the right attitude,” she said.