- Diocesan Boys’ School – Chairman of Robotics Team, Vice-Chairman of Olympiad in Informatics Team & Physics Olympiad Team (2022-23)
- FIRST Tech Challenge Asia Pacific Open Championship – Control Award Winner (2022-23)
- The American Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation Frank Martin Prize Book Award Winner (2022-23)
- HK School Drama Festival (English) – Award for Outstanding Director & Award for Outstanding Performer (2021-22 ; 2020-22)
- Diocesan Boys’ School – Academic Scholarship, Scholarship for Art, Design, and Technology, All-round Boys Scholarship (2020-23 ; 2021-22 ; 2019-22)
Amidst the midnight darkness at my school, our Robotics Lab was a flurry of activity as my team and I prepared for the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Asia-Pacific Open Championships 2023 held in Sydney. For me, school isn’t just about academics, but a place to develop my passions alongside like-minded people, and to share my knowledge with peers.
Back in early secondary school, I actively pursued my interests in robotics, music, and drama. However, when the pandemic struck, uncertainty loomed over us with school closed and competitions halted. How could I demonstrate drama stage directions on ZOOM? How could I play saxophone in a quartet group with masks on? How would I build robots virtually? Life is too short, and school life is even shorter. Adapting to adverse situations, we switched to online performances, and I also took the opportunity to participate in Informatics, Mathematics, and Physics Olympiads. Those few years had been disruptive, and at times devastating. Nevertheless, it never eroded my passions, and it is the willingness to accept new challenges and to enjoy the process without expecting anything in return that I believe truly define an “outstanding” individual.
As I approach the final year before my public exams, I often contemplate if having multiple seemingly unrelated interests is a detriment. However, while preparing for the FTC, I realised each area of my interests was in some way intertwined with each other, leading up to excellence in robotics, engineering and leadership. Having the opportunity to participate in international competitions was definitely a dream come true. Facing strong international teams from Australia, the USA, India, Romania, etc. our team’s collective hard work earned us a spot in the semifinals in robot performance. Additionally, we were honoured to capture the Control Award, one of the most prestigious recognition for our innovative control, sensing, and mechanical systems in solving game challenges, becoming the first team from Hong Kong to achieve such recognition.
Reflecting on my own experiences, I hope to inspire other students to value the opportunities and pursue self-enrichment. Similarly, recognizing the need to make STEAM education accessible to more individuals of different backgrounds, I organised STEAM workshops and tutored SEN children, and coordinated a global online programming contest. With further growth, I aspire to utilise technology to drive positive change, just like my school motto says, “To Serve and to Lead!”