K S LO ENGLISH

Have you ever deeply understood Chinese culture? I have unshakable confidence that you will appreciate its subtleties. Spending time learning about it, I take pride in Chinese arts and language.

Of all the reasons why I am proud of Chinese culture, the first aspect I want to introduce is Chinese arts. As is not uncommon, Chinese people are known for tactfully expressing their feelings and thoughts through meaningful paintings and poetry. Understanding the background of these arts is crucial to appreciating their meanings, including historical context, the personalities of the artists, and their experiences. This is the point I am proud of – discovering the messages and meanings behind them, which offers a new understanding of our world. Different perspectives, feelings, and understandings will emerge. For example, Wang Wei’s poem “Mountain Life on an Autumn Evening” describes the peaceful and relaxing nature of human existence. It inspired me to experience and connect more with the world by putting down my smartphone. I take pride in feeling this connection.

Apart from Chinese arts, the language also plays a significant role in my appreciation of Chinese culture. Unlike other countries, China encompasses various dialects, including Wu, Xiang, Pinghua, Yue, etc., used in different regions. The core language is Putonghua, which unifies different regions into one. It is truly amazing, isn’t it? Learning different dialects becomes a symbol of identity. The most interesting fact is that most people do not know how to write these dialects, but they can effectively communicate using them. I am proud of this because it is rare to find a country with such diversity of dialects for communication among its citizens.

Considering all these aspects, it is my firm conviction that if you invest time in deeply learning about Chinese culture, you will come to love and appreciate it as much as I do.

S5 Champion, Chinese Culture Week 2023-24 English Writing Competition

Growing up is like a journey of getting to know your true self. Along the way, we may sometimes get lost and not recognise who we truly are. However, if we can hold tight to our faith and not be threatened by all the setbacks in life. We can eventually find the meaning of life. For me, the first breakthrough came when I kicked off my secondary school life.

 

Being a girl with low self-confidence, I thought I was inferior to others. In primary school, I was labelled as a coward and loser. I can still remember very clearly how other people played pranks on me. I always received rubbish in my locker or some wasted paper with words like “You are a loser” written on it. These bullies were like swords that hurt me ruthlessly. Therefore, I seldom talked to others. My only hope was that I could grow up quickly and get promoted to a secondary school which could possibly be a heaven to me.

 

My wish has come true very soon. After I enrolled in my current secondary school, I joined the Archery Team by chance. Then, I started my first practice of archery. The first time I saw the arrow hit the bullseye, I was fascinated by it! I could hit the target so easily. I never knew I could do it. I fell in love with archery from that very moment! Since then, I practice hard every day. Throughout the process, I realised that all I needed to do was to compete with myself. I tried to improve my archery skills by correcting my wrong postures and adjusting my mentality. I have learnt that in archery I don’t have to compare myself with others. Archery has brought me confidence. My only enemy is myself. I have finally found my passion for life.

 

My first attempt in archery competition came very soon after my first practice. I admitted that I was as timid as how my primary schoolmates described me. But I kept telling myself ,‘I am not a loser!’. When the competition started , I felt that I have gained a lot of emotional power, that made me become more powerful and confident. I tried to perform my very best to complete the competition. When I calmed down, I started to aim at the gold medal. I was determined to get the champion!

 

Eventually, the competition ended and I was exhausted and soaked in sweat. It was time for the judge to announce the results. While the judge called out my name—”the champion was Lui Ka Lam”, my secondary school friends and teammates all burst with joy! hugged me and the audience gave me a standing ovation. That was just unbelievable! I was overjoyed and that was the first time I felt different from before! That was the first time I gained a sense of achievement!

 

Through archery, I have regained my confidence. I was once considered a loser and coward in primary school. Now, I am proud of myself for making progress and becoming a better person!