Scoring seven points out of a maximum of 42 in Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams might seem low to some. But for non-verbal student Tam Chun-yu, it was a remarkable accomplishment achieved by typing his answers with just one finger.
At the Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre, Tam, 20, was among the candidates receiving their DSE results last Wednesday.
He secured level 2 passes in English, Chinese and information and communication technology (ICT), as well as a level 3 in Chinese writing.
Tam achieved these results despite living with severe cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia – conditions that had steadily worsened since secondary school, progressing from a walking disability to severe spinal curvature and speech difficulties.
Relying entirely on a carer, he requires a specialised table and supportive aids attached to his wheelchair just to maintain a proper posture.
Still, Tam successfully completed all six exam subjects using only his index finger.
Tremendous effort
Because of his physical limitations, Tam applied for special exam arrangements. These included typing on a smartphone notes app, using a computer and being exempted from up to half of certain exam papers.
He was also allowed to take a five-minute break every 45 minutes of exams, during which his carer could enter the hall to adjust his posture and massage his stiff hands, back and neck.
“I managed to answer most questions across the six subjects and typed out my responses,” Tam told reporters, communicating by typing on his phone. “Being able to try my best to complete the entire DSE leaves me with no regrets.”
Keeping up with lessons left Tam exhausted, and his slow typing speed meant he had far less time than his peers to do past papers.
He also had to take a day off every week for acupuncture sessions, after which he would ask teachers about the lesson content and attend online make-up classes.
His mother said his study time was limited to just a few hours a day before bed, squeezed in after dinner and his essential daily care routine.
As his physical condition hindered his academic ambitions, Tam said he suffered mental exhaustion and faced countless moments of frustration when he wanted to give up. Ultimately, the devotion and support of his mother and teachers kept him motivated.
“I wanted to tell those around me with my actions that I would not let them down,” Tam wrote. “And today, I did it.”
Giving back to family
At the Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School, 19-year-old Liu Pong-faat said he was driven by the dream of giving back to his family and that his DSE performance was better than his in-school results.
Liu has hand muscle weakness caused by incomplete brain development, making writing in Chinese particularly difficult and time-consuming. However, he still completed his exam papers with special extra-time arrangements.
Even before Wednesday’s results, Liu had already secured a place to study for a degree in counselling and psychology at Hong Kong Shue Yan University through the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme.
His motivation to push through late nights of studying in his school dormitory came from a personal desire to support his family.
“My father has an illness, and my mother has had to support our family all by herself. It is painful for me to see,” Liu said. “As the eldest brother, I understand how hard my parents are working. My goal in life is to study well, find a good job, and give them a much better life.”
