A Message sent from one of our scholarship winner of this year, Georgia JiangRong xianzi (江蓉仙子)

 

It is Nothing about Routine.

    When I heard my name resounding in the AC hall, when I accepted the trophy and looked at the camera, I was so astonished and proud of myself; I have never expected that I could gain this award - two years’ study life at College of International Education Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU CIE) flashed in my head.

It was quite a tough decision for me to come to Hong Kong. After college entrance examination, I’ve already been admitted to another famous university in mainland, and it seemed to be a big risk if I choose to start over and fight for a degree position in a completely strange city. The language differences, the fear of unfamiliar place and people and the pressure of degree pursue were the barrier that kept me from Hong Kong. But thinking of Hong Kong’s fascinating democracy, openness and prosperity, I said to myself: ‘What can you accomplish if you can not even make a change and take the risk? It’s a really good opportunity for you to learn how to live alone in the big city, make new friends, learn new language and accept new ideas. Trust yourself, you can do it! ’.  I still remember how I was in fear and trembling when I first stepped into the CIE classroom; I went to the corner and found a seat-I didn’t expect anyone to talk to me because no body knew me. But to my surprise, some classmates come to chat with me; I was very touched by their kindness and friendly attitude. They even invited me to have lunch with them, where I met people, many of which become my close friends through the 2 years. We had very pleasant time together, and thanks to them, I can speak fluent Cantonese now.

In middle school and high school, I was fond of joining Student Union and managing functions. I was the leader of Student Union, and always the hostess of many essential events. But in CIE, I wasn’t, I only helped managing several functions. Instead of joining clubs, Hong Kong’s culture, local people’s lifestyle, numerous and variety kinds of streets and shops are more attractive to me. I feel like that every people, every streets, every stone in Hong Kong are telling me a story. Therefore beside my academic life, my focus are more on social with my classmates, meet new people, make new friends, sightseeing in Hong Kong, listening to this place with my heart. And I never regret to have this change, friends is my most precious harvest here, not to mention that my interpersonal communication skills and social enthusiasm was largely improved. I like this place with my whole heart, because I already felt that I am part of Hong Kong now.

So here I am, in Hong Kong, completed the associate degree and gaining this glory award. It was until then that I realized that life is nothing about routine, we can’t “plan” everything. Life is about breaking the cliché’s, put aside the rules, making changes and taking risks. Unknown objects are freaking, but just because of the unknowns, uncertainties, could we embrace the beauty of change, feel the heart beat of accepting challenges, taste the joys and tears of hard working. I know I was here to gain experience and burnish my life. I was here to show my passion, my energy, and my attitude to life. If life is a long race, I prefer choosing the unusual way that others would probably not, to just baldly run along the settled routine, because I know that in those roads, the scene would be unexpectedly beautiful. Although there would be some thorns and barriers, it was worth it.

I have to thank CIE, every lecturer, every partner and classmates, my parents and friends, for the opportunity, for the kind help they offered me, for the fabulous education I’ve been accepted, and for all kinds of support they’ve given. I would never be me without them. And of course, I have to thank myself, because this is the person who dares to make the change and accepted the challenges, this is the person who struggled through all the difficulties and finally made some progress. As I taste the joy of breakthrough myself, I hope everyone who read this would feel the same way. After all, it is nothing about routine.

 

 

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