- Asian Cadet and Junior Cup 2023 – Bronze medal (In both Hong Kong and Macau station)
- Ulaanbaatar East Asian Youth Game 2023 – 5th
- Wan Chai District Outstanding Youth Award
- 22-23 Executive Committee Member of the Prefect Board, 21-22 School Prefect
- SPSS Nursing Cadet Division (Cadet Corporal + Secretary)
Whenever my body and mind get exhausted because of training, there’s always a voice in my head, telling me to keep grinding. “Keep Grinding,” that’s what is always in my mind, what keeps me going, and what makes me become a better version of myself.
Life is full of hurdles and my path of being a student-athlete is never an exception. I am a current member of the HK Judo Junior Squad but it is an utterly harsh reality that I am not talented – I was never the strongest, fastest and smartest person. Having been to a few International competitions, I have realised that the world is bigger than I thought and I am just a tiny dust particle, who might seemingly mean nothing. Despite all the hardships, I toughened up myself as it is my firm belief that hard work will always outrun talent.
Rome wasn’t built in one day. With one brick, one stone, one move at a time, success will come naturally. I always keep it in my heart that consistency is the key to success and training is the only way to improve. Therefore, no matter how tired I am, both mentally and physically, I show up to practices and get myself trained – I grind.
Although it is often depressing when there are admittedly a lot of stronger athletes out there, I stiffened up my lips, promising to myself that I will be better than them one day.
How native and immature was I to think that I can be whatever I want if I just grind. No, that’s not enough. When time passes by, I finally realised that the real grind is when you work hard when nobody is watching – Getting up earlier than anyone else, staying up later than everyone and working even when nobody wants to. The only way to improve is to “out-grind” and work harder than others by not settling and going for the easy path. Forgetting about the pain, focusing on training and breaking through the boundaries – I grind.
The battle in the field is tiring enough, let alone the hard-fought battle at home and at school. Hello darkness, my old friend. I always get stressed over the jungle between studies and my sport. Finishing the mountain of assignments is stressful enough, not to mention catching up after skipping school for competitions. The accumulation of work seems never-ending and I have already lost count of the days and nights when my mind is scattered into pieces. Yet, the voice in my head reminds me of not stopping in the middle of the process. I won’t be destroyed – I grind.
With all the hard work, I was honoured to have the precious opportunity to represent HK in the opening ceremony of the East Asian Youth Game in August. At that time, I said that I had to be the shimmering stars in the sky, shining on the judo tatami. Even though there is still a long way to go, I will grind through all the obstacles and unleash the “lion mentality” in me – the mentality to keep on striving for the best, staying hungry, and not being complacent.
You direct the power in your life, whatever your life is right now. I made a promise to myself that I have to evolve into a better self, hoping to influence more people and bring positivity. It took me quite a while to figure out what truly is an “outstanding student” and I used to think that I am no way near being one of them. Yet, there is an overwhelming moment when I was told by a junior that I have motivated her to work hard. I have never noticed that I am slowly becoming the person that I wanted to be. Although I am not outstanding at all results-wise, I wish I can spread this kind of determination and perseverance to every HK students who are going through a rough patch and are losing their motivation in life through being one of the outstanding students – Believe in your ability, keep grinding.