- Hong Kong Inter-School Fencing Competition Women’s Epee Individual A-grade Champion
- AS Watson Hong Kong Student Sports Award 2023-24
- UK Mathematics Trust Senior Mathematics Challenge Gold Award
- John Locke Global Essay Competition 2023 (Economics category) – Distinction (Top 2% Globally)
- Trinity College London ATCL diploma in Violin
From a young age, my life has been profoundly shaped by experiences that highlighted the fragility of the human brain. At just seven years old, a fall from a playground climber resulted in my first concussion, leading to a brief coma and a week in the hospital before I was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. This accident left quite a lasting impact on me as I struggled to recall even why I was in the hospital. Years later, when I was fifteen, I suffered another concussion from a biking accident. My memory only worsened further, severely impacting my academics and public exams, and yet, there was no medical cure or treatment for traumatic brain injuries.
My interest in biomedical science and neuroscience was fueled by a desire to regain my cognitive abilities. Through immersing myself in various memory-training methods, as well as how the brain operates and stores memory, I slowly developed an interest and passion for research. I joined the junior research mentorship program at the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong where I was given the opportunity to spend half a year under the school of biomedical engineering with Dr Timothy Lee and his team. We used PolyU’s lab facilities and conducted research on the correlation of hours of physical activity and morphology of lower bilateral back spinal muscle.
In addition to my passion for research and science, I have a strong dedication to sports. Fencing, my primary sport, demands quick thinking and the ability to anticipate your opponent’s next moves, transforming it into a complex mental game. The real challenge lies in how you can outsmart your opponent to show reactions that would give you an advantage, and I am eager to explore more about the neural activity of the brain during fencing.
It is often said that “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” I find it rewarding that my two main passions—neuroscience and fencing—are interconnected, providing me with the motivation to continually improve myself.
I am truly honoured to receive the Hong Kong Outstanding Student Award and I want to sincerely thank my principal, Mr. Misso-Veness, for his constant guidance and the many opportunities that he has given me to pursue my passions. I would also like to express my appreciation to my family, coaches, teachers, and friends for their unwavering love and support along the way.