Every year, around the span from October to November, a series of graduation ceremonies for HKCC students takes place. Attending graduation ceremonies is one of the most delightful things I always look forward to despite the busy work agenda. As usual, I attended the ceremony for the session of Associate in Information Technology (AIT) students this year. Looking at all those cheerful faces who were finally honoured on stage after years of efforts, I was deeply moved and felt so proud of them from the bottom of my heart.
These young ladies and gentlemen, then in gowns, brought back a lot of precious memories to me. As the AIT Programme Leader, although I might not be able to call out all of their names, there is no doubt that I could recognise every single face of them. Among them, there were certainly students who were particularly outstanding and there were also students who needed special attention to assist their studies. The former were those students who were already brilliant on their own and might only require some ignitions for them to shine. Teaching these students was always challenging as they always brought up tough questions which sometimes pushed me to advance as well. Yet, teaching them was also enjoying as it could bring in a sense of satisfaction and success. On the other hand, the latter were those students who were a little weak in their academic background and might encounter more learning difficulties. These students might require extra forces to lift them up or some alternative ways to bring them to the learning destinations. Seeing the progress these students had made throughout the learning path, from a relatively difficult start gradually to the point where they could then stand on stage as one of the graduates, I got that touching feeling which could hardly be described in words.
As a lecturer, I always keep in mind that my mission is to inspire students in their studies and personal development such that they can achieve the learning outcomes of the various subjects and to help bring out students' learning potentials regardless of their own talents. The ultimate goal is that all students can graduate from the programme and can either continue further studies or start their careers with a solid background as they desire. At the graduation ceremony, every "thank you" said by the students, every request for a photograph together, or even every eye contact with appreciation, already serves as the most rewarding moment between the students and me. It is this passion deep inside that drives me to always remember my role to help these youngsters to blossom.