Empower through reading
Valerie Chiu, St Mary’s Canossian College
In an era of so much technology, many students spend their time scrolling on social media or hanging out with friends, when they are not studying or doing practice papers. Nowadays, not many people want to pause to pick up a book, flip through its pages and engage with the ups and downs of the protagonists.
Held on December 7, “Empower through Reading with Siobhan Haughey” united young readers and called for change. Not only has it infused me with a love of reading, but it has also encouraged me to reflect on the role of technology.
The event kicked off with a panel discussion featuring Hong Kong swimmer and multiple Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey and Joanna Hutong, founder of KG Group and Kids’ Gallery.
They discussed how they have been passionate about reading since childhood. Haughey explained that she loved comics like Old Masters Q as a kid and that exchanging coming-of-age books with her friends helped strengthen their bond.
Meanwhile, Hotung shared how reading helped her alleviate loneliness, as social media and the internet were not available during her childhood. They also shared their views on the role of technology in reading and how reading has influenced their lives.
During the panel, memories of my reading experiences came flooding back in my mind. I thought back to when I was young and enjoyed sitting in bed, reading stories and letting my imagination run wild.
After the panel discussion, there was a guided book club and a mini artificial intelligence (AI) workshop, where we delved into a chapter of the book Everything I Know About Love and discussed the theme of friendship with other young readers. It helped me realise that non-fiction is not solely informative; it also offers a way for people to exchange ideas.
We also used image-generation tools to create a bookmark about friendship, exploring how technology can visualise interpretations of an abstract theme but cannot take over one’s thoughts and feelings.
In this day and age, many adolescents have short attention spans and are drawn to quick, colourful clips on Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms. But watching films and playing video games can be thrilling, too. Indeed, much more willpower is needed to concentrate on a book and digest what the author is trying to convey.
While AI and online blogs can provide the plots and core messages of a book in a jiffy, they fail to reveal how words resonate with us. Only by reading between the lines can we truly understand a book, because things like plot twists and the author’s voice can be interpreted differently by everyone.
Last but not least, the reflections about how reading influences our life experiences have taken root in my heart. I realised that we can liken ourselves to protagonists in a book. It is not about being self-centred; rather, it reduces the risk of being overwhelmed when obstacles arise.
If the protagonists in our favourite books are flawed, then why shouldn’t we embrace our imperfections? In the face of adversity, books can help us actually picture ourselves embarking on an adventure, patiently collecting clues and curiously seeking a way out.
100 years of Munsang College
Carina Sin, Munsang College
Located at 8 Dumbarton Road, the red-brick words Munsang College on the front gate have greeted students for decades. Over the years, the school has grown from a small local institution into one that includes kindergarten, primary and secondary sections, guided by its mottos, “All for One, One for All” and “Light and Life”.
As the school celebrates its 100th anniversary, it is a good time to look back at how it has developed. Having studied here for more than 10 years, I have seen many changes – from the opening of the Assembly Hall Complex to improvements to the sports ground. Although Munsang College is now a century old, it continues to renew its facilities and adapt.
One special feature of the school is the close link between its three sections. It is quite common for secondary students to see familiar teachers from their primary years, creating a strong sense of connection. Events such as the annual Service Day also bring students from different sections together. On that day, senior secondary students run interactive games and activities for younger students, which helps strengthen bonds within the school community.
Tradition also plays an important role in school life. One meaningful ceremony is the “Passing of the Lamp”. During the Form Six graduation, senior students pass the school emblem and an oil lamp to Form Five students. This act represents the handover of knowledge, values and responsibility from one group to the next.
As Munsang College moves into its next chapter, its story continues to reflect the spirit of education in Hong Kong, one built on learning, connection and growth through time.
