Anice Lui, 15, Maryknoll Convent School
I am worried that I would not be able to balance studying with extracurricular activities as I prepare for the DSE. Although I have set aside time for music, poetry and filmmaking, I am fearful that my focus on the public exam would leave me numb and jaded and I would lose my drive in the process.
Wong Wing-yan, 14, The Hong Kong Management Association K. S. Lo College
My biggest problem is that I have so many things to do but very little time to do them. I will be a Form Four student in September. I have to memorise some articles to get better results in Chinese. Unlike junior form students, I will have a lot of tests. Therefore, I will have to study very hard, so I won’t have much free time left to try other things such as volunteering.
Talking Points: Should there be a legal limit on how small a flat in HK can be?
Saanchi Shah, 14, King George V School
I will be starting the GCSE curriculum next year, which is a huge leap from middle school into senior student. The new GCSE curriculum comes into effect in the next semester, so the grading and content will be different now. I hope to familiarise myself with the new syllabus and enjoy the journey I am about to embark on. My ultimate aim is to perform well in my GCSEs.
Ngai Yeung, 17, International Christian School
As a new senior student, the single most worrying thing would be university applications. The whole point of secondary school is to prepare you for university, so it is crucial that the culmination of all my years of hard work does not go to waste because of one hastily written essay or a missed deadline. What’s more, if one gets an unconditional university offer, one could slack off and not do anything – not that I’m suggesting one should do that.
Talking Points: Should the government spend money on the e-sports industry in HK?
Bianca Lee, 15, Phillips Exeter Academy
Next school year, I’ll be in Year 12. And we all know what that means ... university. Not applying for university, of course, but still preparing for it: campus tours, recruitment, making a decision on my “dream school”. Another, possibly more important, thing I’m worried about is finding a good balance between my running, grades, and clubs. To make me feel a little bit better, I can reflect on the concerns I had going into boarding school last year and say to myself that at least I will be struggling in an environment I have familiarised myself with.
Angelina Wang, 16, Chinese International School
I’m definitely most worried about the college application process. In an extremely competitive pool of aspiring youngsters, it’s hard to navigate your path and find what makes you special! But I’ll try my best to power through.