Sharing of Scholarship Recipients - CHEUK Ka Ho Rex
CHEUK Ka Ho Rex (Journalism)
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship
It has been a hard time for Hong Kong people and the world over the last 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to that, I also encountered a life-changing accident that left me paralyzed from waist down 3 years ago. I was depressed by the fact that I can no longer walk again. After a year of hospitalization, with inner struggle but also the support from my family and friends, I started to change my attitude to embrace a new life with my “new body”.
The injury will still be an indelible memory, but I did learn a lesson from it. I realized the potential and plasticity of human beings are unimaginably powerful. By changing my attitude, I started to not focus on what I am not able to do, like my old hobbies, playing football and cycling. I started to look for new interests, and a new life. When I enrolled at HKBU as a student majoring in Communication, photography becomes one of my new hobbies, as well as parasailing.
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” I particularly like this quote by Zig Ziglar. This is not merely a motivational quote or chicken soup for the soul to me. Recently, I have been reading the books of Alfred Adler, the founder of individual psychology. I would like to share his view that unfortune does not inevitably change our lives unpleasantly, it depends on how we interpret it. Life consists of ups and downs. There were and will always be something unexpected for us, either good or bad. Feeling pessimistic is inevitable when we encounter negative situations. But what’s important is our attitude after digesting the bad emotions, whether we take steps to change the situation or sink with the bad emotions.
It is my great honour to be one of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship recipients. The Scholarship does not only show a significant recognition of my academic performance, but also my enthusiasm for extra-curricular activities and social service.
The Scholarship is more than financial support to me, it grants me a chance to broaden my horizons as I am planning an overseas exchange next year. Most importantly, the Scholarship provides me with precious opportunities to meet different scholars who are passionate about different social issues, such as inter-generational poverty and racial equality. It is my deep pleasure to work with a group of caring leaders and build up a better Hong Kong, a better world.