Annual Journal 2019 by English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U.

Publisher: English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U., Session 2018-2019 Editors: Chow Yue Ching Felix (felix.hkuengsoc@gmail. com) Christy Kwok (christy.hkuengsoc@gmail.com) Cover Art: Kana Poon (kana.hkuengsoc@gmail.com) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HKU.English/ Instagram: hkuengsoc Issuu: https://issuu.com/hkuengsoc Email: engsoc@connect.hku.hk Address: 2A01(1), Fong Shu Chuen Amenities Centre, The University of Hong Kong

Glossary: BA: Bachelor of Arts Jongyaus: Our fellow Executive Committee members ExCo: Executive Committee EngSoc/English Society: English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U. Disclaimer: English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U. does not own any of the graphics in this publication (except original photos).

Contents 13.

Contents A Trip Back In Time 4. Foreword

6. About Us 7.

Freshmen Guide

Meet Our ACWC ExCos 2019

19.

31.

Dare to discover the valour in you 33

Editorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Foreword Dear readers, I'd just like to extend my warmest welcome to all of you who are starting your university journey here at HKU. The Annual Journal traditionally provides an insight into life as an HKU English student, including some of the challenges you'll be facing and life as an Executive Committee member of English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U.. This is my second publication this year (after LINK 2019), and I'm so happy to finally see it in print. It has been tough learning how to use Adobe InDesign (especially with no previous design experience), but looking back it has been a very rewarding experience. We had a lot of deliberation about what content to include in the Annual Journal, and one of the new things we have done is including a Freshmen Guide to hopefully help you navigate your first semester here! We do hope it helps, and if there's anything you'd like to ask, do feel free to contact me or my fellow ExCo members. I'd like to thank my fellow ExCo members, especially Christy, who has been an absolutely wonderful co -editor and friend. Without them, there would be no Annual Journal (and no English Society!). I'd also like to thank Leanne, last session's Publication Secretary, for giving me the chance to do this. Finally, my gratitude goes to Louise. Thank you for standing at my side through thick and thin. Good luck readers! I hope I'll be seeing you soon. Best, Felix 4

Dear readers, The Annual Journal covers events held by English Society in the past year, an introduction to the cabinet, Tips for Freshmen, and much more. We hope that this will provide a good insight into the works of English Society, give freshmen a good idea of university life, and also hopefully inspire freshmen to give ExCo life a go. The Annual Journal is traditionally edited and designed by the Publication Secretary. But this year, Felix and I decided to work on it together. While Felix had some experience with InDesign for LINK, designing and editing twenty pages with no prior experience was challenging. (Though, Felix went through the same process so I'm not sure why I am complaining!) I would like to thank Felix for being patient with my relentless and silly questions about the software. I also want to thank Shania and John for editing the entries even if it may be very frustrating at times. Lastly, a shoutout to all ExCo members for being so supportive throughout the whole process. After agonizing over different design ideas and scrapping them when it did not meet my standard, I am proud to present the Annual Journal to you, and hope that you will find it an interesting read. Best, Christy

Felix Chow Christy Kwok

About Us English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U. Our Society, founded in 1960, is an academic society that aims to promote the use of English to HKU students. After our first event that marked the start of each session, the Inauguration Ceremony, we hold academic events like the English Festival and the upcoming High Table Dinner, the former of which aims to encourage the use of English within the campus, while the latter aims to facilitate intellectual exchange and a closer bond between students and the School of English. Aside from that, we also hold a variety of non-academic events like the Welfare Week and this year’'s Maritime Ball, as well as the Orientation Programme during the summer break. Our cabinet wishes to act as a bridge between the School of English and fellow English majors by voicing out students'’ opinions and help create a better and more harmonious learning environment. Ultimately, our cabinet strives to create unforgettable memories with our members through organizing various events and making a positive contribution to their school lives.

Our Session

Our motto this year is D“ are to discover the valour in you”, stemming from the belief that everybody can be a hero. We believe that a hero is not necessarily one who possesses any supernatural powers or extraordinary talents, but is any regular person who is willing to step up and leave one'’s comfort zone at times when others cannot. On that note, we wish to encourage our fellow schoolmates to be courageous and actively pursue a journey of self-exploration during their university years. Through this, it is hoped that we can all unearth our hidden potential, positive traits and the bravery that lies within us. By the time our session ends, we wish to have inspired others just as our own heroes had inspired us.

Meet our

ExCos

PIC event: N/A

siu ia Shacn hairperson

Responsibilities: I act as the second PIC of all Society events and represent the Society in external events. I also want to be a leader who leads by example with passion and open-mindedness. The final one is the hardest and I’ll work harder to achieve that the best I can. Prospective Majors/minors: English Studies (Major), Sociology (Minor)

One year on...

I’d initially anticipated the first year of my University life to be a living nightmare, so to make time fly by faster, I occupied myself with all types of work. Hosting events and attending meetings occupied some of my free time and fulfilled my initial expectations of this position. However, I also gained indispensable event-organizing skills, experience and most importantly, invaluable bonds of friendship with my fellow Executive Committee members. Time flew by so quickly and I am truly glad that my fellow ExCo members have helped me fill the past year with so much laughter and unforgettable learning moments. In this Society, with 9 of my fellow ExCo members, I can now say with certainty that I’ve found where I truly belong.

John Bewley

external v ice-chairpe

PIC event: High Table dinner

rson

Responsibilities: I represent the Society in all external affairs and coordinate members of the Executive Committee who are involved in them. Prospective Majors/minors: French (major), Political Science (Major)

One year on...

University is very different from secondary school: you need to be much more self-motivated, organized and disciplined. My first year was nothing short of thrilling; from meeting different people to trying various new experiences. Looking back, I was very lucky to meet a group of people who shared the same ideas and interests with me. Although initially wanting to seclude myself to focus on studying, I “found” myself joining an Executive Committee, doing freelance translation work for my hall and engaging in escapades, while still maintaining my academic endeavours. I realize now that one can only do so much at university, and spending your time wisely on the things you are most capable and passionate about is essential to a fulfilling experience. Despite the occasional rough patches, I’ve found that junctures of adversity and struggle make us more aware of our inner potential. 8

ng u S i t t u t person

ice-chair Internal v

PIC event: Inauguration ceremony

Responsibilities: I am mainly responsible for dealing with all internal affairs like booking venues and maintaining internal relationships. I also coordinate with any ExCo member who is involved with these affairs as well. Prospective Majors/minors: translation (major), Spanish (major)

One year on...

The first year has passed by like a shooting star and I can’t believe that it’s over already. University was rough at first. Loneliness hit me really badly. All my friends are studying in other universities and I could not make any friends due to my awkward personality. I went to school alone, had lunch alone, studied alone, and went home alone. Sounds pretty awful. So, to make myself feel less lonely, I signed up to be an ExCo of English Society. It was hard getting along with the others as they were kind of scared of me and I was scared of them too, but I would say things turned out quite nicely. Other than joining the Society, my freshman life was quite boring. As I couldn’t make many friends to hang out with, I occupied my time by taking up jobs. I still hang out with my secondary friends a lot, however, I don’t have much to say for the academic part as I did not spend a lot of time on it, so don’t learn from me!

Christy Kw ok gen

PIC event: N/A

eral secret ary

Responsibilities: I am mainly responsible for compiling and proofreading the Year Plan, Half-Yearly Report, and the Annual Report. I’m also in charge of co-editing the Annual Journal and taking down meeting minutes. Prospective Majors/minors: English Studies (major), Language and Communication (major), Linguistics (minor)

One year on...

I’ve got to admit: I have yet to sit on a patch of grass with my multicultural group of friends. University is much more different than I had imagined, and I constantly feel like a baby bird that was kicked out of a nest and is forced to fend for my own life. As a non-jupas student, I often feel lost, as I tackle a lot of language and cultural barriers with many of my peers in university. Though, I guess that’s a good thing as it made me branch out more and get out of my comfort zone by joining clubs and societies. Although it was hard (and still is, to be honest!), I’m glad to have found and met different people from different backgrounds. 9

ung raciahleselcrehtae ry F inanc

PIC event: N/A Responsibilities: I am responsible for preparing the financial budget and reports, applying for funds, and managing the finances of the Society. Prospective Majors/minors: Chinese language and literature (Major)

One year on...

As a university student, I like to describe myself as a free person. Saying goodbye to the DSE means that you will no longer need to sit alone and study the same book for hours, days, and years. I get more time to do whatever I want. At first, things got out of control: I applied for a lot of courses and activities that I could not wait to try, and as a result, I had to chase the final train and groan in front of my laptop every night. So, I learnt a lesson, which is to balance my life with better time management. The joy of freedom comes with discipline! BE CAREFUL.

on kana Pro etar promotion

sec

PIC event: N/A

Responsibilities: I am responsible for all promotional materials, decorations, and of course, designing society products for the Society. Prospective Majors/minors: english studies (Major), translation (Major), spanish (minor)

One year on...

This year was nothing like what I had expected a year ago. I thought I would occupy myself with studies, but I somehow became an ExCo member of English Society and this experience was truly life-changing. I became slightly more outgoing, a little more talkative, more willing to work with others, and a lot more into designing. It was tough being a newbie to university life, and at the same time being an ExCo member, but you never know what you’ll get in return till the last moment. Now that my time as an ExCo member is nearly over, I would proudly say, I’ve made one of the best decisions in my life because I’ve transformed into a better version of myself. “It always seems impossible until it is done.” - Nelson Mandela 10

felix chow

tary publication secre tary g academic secre actin PIC event: english festival Responsibilities: I am responsible for all the publications (Including LINK and ANnual Journal) and academic events of the Society. I also am the chief copywriter and I help Christy with proofreading. I organize the annual creative writing competition as well. Prospective Majors/minors: english studies (major), philosophy (Major)

One year on...

University forces you to grow. That’s a fact. It forces you to improve, both academically and personally. Knowing that you have to work hard to become better makes you more driven and more economical. And seeing the improvements you’ve made, one year on, is immensely satisfying. Instead of just growing as a student, you’ll grow as a person too. One of my main takeaways from this year is to stay true to myself. No happiness is gained from submitting to peer pressure. Devote yourself to the things you love, and you’ll naturally find like-minded people. In all, my first year of uni has been incredibly fulfilling, and the Society has allowed me to do what I love (writing) in a semi-professional context. I’ve loved every bit of my Society life and I’ve met some very important people along the way too.

clement lo social secr

PIC event: Maritime ball - wish upon a star

etary

Responsibilities: I am responsible for organizing the annual fundraising event and maintaining a close relationship between ExCo members by organizing gatherings. Prospective Majors/minors: English Studies (Major), translation (Major), Spanish (Minor)

One year on...

This year has been full of surprises and challenges. University is way different from secondary school, in that you no longer have a fixed schedule and you have more free time to pursue your interests. One of the challenges that I faced was that I couldn’t make any friends. So I joined the Society and the journey has been amazing! What impressed me most was the friendship formed among the ExCo members, as I could share my glee and sorrow with them. I have to admit that it was rough occasionally, but when you persist and seek advice from your friends, you can surely find a way out and even learn a lesson which will have a lasting effect on you. 11

k u K e n i a r o l

fi secretary programme n secretary g promotio in t c a

PIC event: Orientation programme

Responsibilities: I’m in charge of Registration Day, Orientation Camp and Orientation Day. I also help Kana with promotion materials. Prospective Majors/minors: English Studies (Major), spanish (Major)

One year on...

My first year of university has been very dull, to the point that even my mum often questions my identity as a university student. Most university students would spend their time hanging out and going on trips whenever possible, but I would rather stay at home lazing around - which is completely at odds with people’s expectations. However, I am glad that I am part of English Society as an ExCo member, because it occupies my time and gives my life some purpose.

g elijah ton arketing secretary m

PIC event: welfare week

Responsibilities: I am responsible for reaching out to potential sponsors to Improve the welfare of our members. Maintaining a good relationship with sponsors is also part of the job. Prospective Majors/minors: language and communication (Major), linguistics (Major)

One year on...

This year has been very hard - harder than I could ever have imagined. Having to strike a balance between my duties as an ExCo Member, my private life, and other commitments is extremely daunting. Looking back at myself one year ago, I was too irascible. Luckily, I have met and worked with people who are willing to teach me and stand by me. I never thought that I would join any societies or clubs in my university life as I am w\ really shy. Nevertheless, I did and I enjoyed it. Undoubtedly, this is a year worth looking back at and be proud of, not because of becoming a student of HKU, but because of the people I’ve met and the things I’ve achieved. 12

A Trip Back In Time

Inauguration Ceremony

Tutti

The Inauguration Ceremony is the first event of this session and was held in Rayson Huang Theatre with a total of 145 guests. It aimed at introducing the new ExCo members of the Society and formally announcing the installation of the Society. It was hoped that communication and bonding between the members and the School of English could be facilitated and strengthened. We had met these targets and I would say everyone enjoyed that night. With the effort of the helpers and the ExCo members, it ended successfully and joyfully. On the other hand, it was our pleasure to have three honourable representatives, Professor Jaworski, Dr Singh and Dr Wong, from the School of English with us to spend that meaningful night together. Not to mention, great food and drinks were sponsored by several companies. As I try to recall that night, I cannot remember everything in detail as I was pretty nervous and things just happened so quickly. I didn’t have any experience of organizing activities at all, and as this was the first event of this session, I couldn’t ask other ExCo members for advice because they had close to zero experience as well. So, all I could do was to plan everything step by step with the help of Crystal, the IV of the last session. There were quite a number of problems that night: We didn’t have enough time for preparation, we left things in our Society room, and some people showed up suddenly while some disappeared. If I were to use one word to describe that situation, it would be “unpredictable”. Luckily, things turned out as they should have been. Here, I have to thank all the people who have helped me and supported me. Without them, I couldn’t have survived this. I can say the Inauguration Ceremony kick-started the session quite well.

Maritime Ball Wish Upon A Star

Clement Maritime Ball — Wish Upon A Star was successfully held on 15 February - the day after Valentine’s Day, a time when romantic spirits were at their peaks. The name of the ball may ring a bell — we actually got the inspiration from Disney as Wish Upon A Star is a famous song from Pinocchio. To us, a ball should be romantic. It is an occasion where participants can meet a special someone or some new friends. As such, we created an atmosphere akin to a dream-like paradise. We believe that fate will bring people together as long as we truly believe in it. That night, participants got to mingle on the balcony, taking in the stunning views of Central Pier and the Observation Wheel. We also had wonderful performances from two bands, which further hyped up the atmosphere. Participants also got the chance to take snapshots at the photo booth. It was an unforgettable night filled with great food and music, and we are very grateful to all participants for their support. As the PIC, I found this event more than fulfilling. It was indescribable, seeing a sea of happy faces and hearing the positive feedback from our participants. I could say, the preparation work was not too easy. However, with all hands on deck, we pulled through and had a blast in the process. I particularly liked the theme of our ball, for it reminds people to pursue their love with courage. When we wish upon an evening star, fate will help bring us together. Perhaps, our Maritime Ball can show that, as Disney says, When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires Will come to you

English

Festival

Felix

English Festival is the main academic event of the Society. It consists of a series of events that aim to cultivate an academic atmosphere on campus and to promote a literary appreciation of English. The theme for the festival this year was “Heroes - Classical and Contemporary. We started the festival off with a new event, the Book Sharing. During the event, students shared various books dealing with the theme of heroes, and we had a chance to look at various representations of heroes in different text types. We also organized the Book Fair in the first week of the festival. We started a Book Donation drive to help our members pass on books to others who desired them. Sticking to our theme, the books sold during the Book Fair included forms of literature both modern and new. Titles ranging from Paradise Lost (an epic poem) to The Adventures of Tintin (a comic book series) were included. As for the Academic Dialogue, it was a delight to invite Dr. Jason Polley and Dr. Elizabeth Ho to join us. Through a meaningful discussion with our esteemed guests, participants learnt that comic books and graphic novels are not just forms of entertainment, but also forms of literature. As for the Academic Talk, Dr. Stephen Weninger elaborated upon the theme of heroes, using examples ranging from Beowulf to Watchmen. It was highly informative and was the perfect event to end English Festival with. Personally, organising English Festival was a huge challenge for me, but it was definitely worth the while. As the timeframe of the festival clashed with the publication of LINK (and mention final essays!), I really had to manage my time well. I certainly learnt a lot more about myself during the festival. My thanks goes out to my fellow Executive Committee members and my loved ones. Without their support, I wouldn’t have pulled it off. In all, I’m more than happy about the Festival. I joined the Society because I love English, and through holding the festival, I got the chance to show it.

Elijah

Welfare Week

Welfare Week is an annual event held to express the most sincere gratitude of the Society towards members who have supported our activities. Knowing that members receive our welfare packs with satisfaction and joy, we are motivated to strive for the best in promoting the welfare of members. We hope, also, to develop a sense of belonging within members of English Society, A.A.H.K.U.S.U., so that our bond can remain everlasting. There has been a mixture of feelings involved in organizing and preparing for Welfare Week. While there was an inevitable amount of frustration when several companies rejected our sponsorship requests, there were moments that were worth cherishing too. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m more than glad that I got the chance to experience them in my first year at HKU.

Throughout the event, I have gained confidence and accrued the experience of contacting companies. Being the PIC can really help you grow as you have to make sure everything is running smoothly and have to react swiftly to unexpected situations. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m lucky I happened to be part of this and feel proud that it turned out well.

english societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate Freshmen guide

What is the difference between ENGL and LCOM? To me, ENGL and LCOM courses do have their differences. I have taken one course from each branch in Year 1 and find them both interesting in different ways. ENGL courses are about literature and the system of the language. In the “English Sounds” course, you are introduced to different accents of English speakers from different places. Other ENGL courses allow you to get more familiar with devices used in different literary works and grammar. It’s like saying “what is English” and “writings can be fun and complicated”.

Elijah

As for LCOM courses, you get to know “how” English is spoken under different contexts. Think of how you say “hi” in ten different ways. There are even theories that tell what the language and tone can imply when different wordings are used during conversations. It is kind of fun to fool someone with language.

To summarise, ENGL courses focus more on the English language in social and historical contexts, and the study of texts written in English. Creative writing courses are also offered. LCOM courses center more on the study and the use of language in the context of a multilingual and globalized society. In terms of the requirements of completing a major in either stream, students who choose to major in English Studies only need to choose from List A and List B courses (found on the School of English website), whereas Language and Communication majors will have to additionally choose courses from List C. English Studies students may choose LCOM courses to complete their major, and LCOM students are also allowed to choose both ENGL and LCOM courses, but half the credits must be from LCOM classes, and they must also complete an LCOM course in their first year in order to declare it as a major.

Christy

How to plan your studies As a BA student, I think it is important to master the universal language: English and at least one more language. Needless to say, having a good command of English is very important. Not only is it listed as an essential skill for different jobs, people will show more respect if you can speak it with accuracy and fluency. Also, given how competitive the world is today, being proficient in more than one language can increase your employability. If you aim to work in foreign companies like me, you have to get yourself well-prepared to expose to and accept different cultures. Studying another language will therefore equip yourself to face the outer world in all aspects. Friendly reminder: unless you are an extremely popular and extroverted person, try to AVOID enrolling in any course alone. It is always better to have a friend with you, so that you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be alone when you encounter any problems in your courses.

Loraine When it comes to choosing a major/minor, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to consider your future pathways and what skill set you want to have when entering the workforce. I chose Sociology as a minor aside from majoring in English Studies out of my interest in criminology and social phenomenons. On the other hand, I chose English Studies because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a beautiful language. Aside from that, practically speaking, English has been my (one and only) strength my entire life and I have a desire to possibly teach or privately tutor high school kids in the future. To me, the ideal BA degree would consist of mandatory courses (due to course requirements on fundamental basics), courses that you love because of their course material (regardless of how they may or may not be extremely difficult) and courses that you take out of curiosity (and perhaps because you think it will give you a nice GPA). Clearly, the former two should be the focus, but for me, I may consider taking up a second major that balances my interests and my GPArelated concerns. Maximize the flexibility of the BA degree and feel free to take some calculated risks. Take a look at all the available courses before deciding, too!

Shania 20

To be frank, the plan I made after reading all flyers from the faculty last summer has nothing to do with my current plan. Things can be very dramatic (especially right after the release of your first semester GPA). It is all right. You will find your strength and weakness and make some amendments to your plan with a better understanding of yourself. However, it is strongly encouraged to have an open mind and try everything first. Studying at the university can be very different from your expectation. Therefore, I took Linguistics, Chinese, Chinese History, Geography, Buddhism and Translation this year and I have decided to major in Chinese. I will keep trying new things. Plans are always ready to be changed but there must be efforts.

Rachel We all have the same amount of credits, so why will some take two majors plus one minor while others are just taking one major with loads of free electives? If you have a clear goal like me, choosing more courses from your major can equip you for your future career. But if you want to explore other possibilities, you may consider spending some credits for courses that you think you might be interested in. Maybe you’ll find a different path, who knows? In a semester, we all need to take 24-36 credits. So how many courses should you take? I took 4 courses in Semester 1 and 6 in Semester 2. My first semester was pretty boring. I only had very few classes and not a lot to do. I didn’t really know what I had learnt as the semester ends. My second semester was so dreadful compared to the first one. The assessments came one after another and I didn’t even have time for myself. I’m not sure if that’s the case for everyone, but I will probably take 5 courses next semester.

Kana

TOP TIPS 1. Try taking different courses to gain a better perspective 2. Balance the number of courses you take each semester so that it won’t overwhelm you 3. Try to take classes with someone you know

How do you study effectively? Studying and doing well academically is our ultimate responsibility as students. In my first year, I was fortunate or unfortunate, depending on how you see it, that I had no exams in the first semester but four in the second, and this called for entirely different studying strategies. One must bear in mind that studying must be done in tandem with completing assignments, group projects, attending lectures and any other aspects of university life that you have decided to devote yourself to, so time management is key. I mostly had inlecture tests and quizzes half-way through and at the end of the first semester; therefore I checked their course outlines in early September and set myself a timetable for revision and essay writing. This was rather effective because I found out that as long as I had adhered to my schedule, everything checked out like clockwork- essays were submitted on time and I did well in assessments. On the other hand, I dealt with my four finals in the second semester by doing the readings long before the lecture and writing up “revision sheets” for myself before the exams, which consisted of notes that I had thought were important. In addition, I spent all my time studying during the end of semester revision period and reviewed my revision sheets and readings that I thought were worth revisiting. These are just methods that I found useful and might not be your cup of tea. Feel free to discover your own studying strategy that works best for you because in the end, it is you who’s taking the exam, not anyone else.

John

People always say we will start getting desperate when the semester ends if we don’t work hard when it starts, and as a BA student, I have to say that IT IS UNBELIEVABLY TRUE! We do have rather light workload in the middle of the semester, but when the exam period approaches, numerous exams and essay deadlines become so overwhelming. So of course, the most ideal way to deal with all this is to start as soon as possible, compile your own notes and work on past papers (if any). But ideal scenarios only exist in dreams. I usually start things just 2-3 days beforehand. My strategy is to skim through the syllabus and identify the topics or details that I’m not confident about. I’ll use ONE day to deal with all my questions or email the professor within the day (so he/she won’t think that I’m a deadline fighter). We all know that, DEADLINES are the greatest source of motivation. This is definitely not the best way to study but it’s rather effective when it comes to the eleventh hour. You will most probably survive the assessment period with all these tactics GIVEN THAT you don’t skip too many lectures.

Kana

I’d say that I do better in ENGL literature courses than other courses, so I’ll limit the scope of my advice to that.

Felix

All literature courses require you to read selected texts, and you will be required to hand in analytical essays about these texts. It’s important to get a good understanding of both the content and the common theme(s) of the texts you read. When you do the required readings, don’t just skim through them. Simply knowing the content is not enough. Instead, ask yourself questions about the texts: How do they relate to each other? Do they have any significant differences in their main message, their styles etc.? Include these observations in your notes, and you’ll get a much better understanding of the period/ literary theme/ technique you’re learning in the course.

You should also learn how to write a decent academic essay. Your professors will expect you to present your arguments in a clear and easily-comprehensible manner, so do pay attention to the cohesion of your arguments. When you proofread, make sure every point/statement you make is well supported by elaboration and examples. It’s no use having good points if you present them in a way that is hard to understand. If you have trouble adhering to the conventions of academic writing, don’t be too stressed out. It’s perfectly normal! They don’t teach university-level essay writing in secondary school, do they? If in trouble, don’t be afraid to find CAES for advice. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just for those wanting to brush up their English. The guidance their tutors provide will definitely help you improve your writing. Stylistically, do cut out the run-on sentences and vary your sentence structures. Marking is a tedious job, so make your tutor/professor’s life easier by adding some “oomph” in your essays. Add some personal flair and don’t be afraid to include witty observations! Who knows, it may draw a chuckle from whoever’s marking your paper. They’ll be much more inclined to give you a good grade then.

Top Tips 1. Pay attention to time management by making schedules 2. Try to find a studying strategy that suits yourself 3. While doing readings, read comparatively instead of taking in each piece of reading individually 4. Adhere to the conventions of academic writing and make good use of CAES 5. Don't leave it till too late when working on assignments 6. Take deadlines seriously and don't skip lectures! 23

How is Society life? Clement

I would say it is a wonderful journey as I met people whom I had not expect to befriend, organized different events that had seemed impossible, and acquired knowledge and skills which shall be of great use in the future. All of these have given me a sense of achievement and happiness which I value deeply. I would like to say a big thank you to English Society and all my jongyaus. Without you guys, my university life would have been drastically changed. After all, I really like my version of university life now, and that’s the only thing that matters, isn’t it? To be very honest, there were times when I felt terribly distressed. For example, I had to balance my studies with Society affairs. Yet, I still managed to do it. I ultimately realized the importance of time management. Being the person-in-charge for an event was equally demanding, but my jongyaus have given me their full support and it became possible! I especially value the friendship amongst us. Some of you don’t seem to be bothered by my rants, and whenever I need help, you always have my back. Let’s promise to keep our friendship!

Shania

To summarize a year of Society life would be difficult, but I’d say it’s more fulfilling than anything else. I’ve had to set up multiple sound systems, negotiate with shop owners and companies and submit documents in person at a bank for certain financial procedures. These all sound irrelevant to “English Society” but these experiences have taught me more practical skills than I would have ever learnt had I chosen to stick to YouTube, Kpop, the occasional novel and lecture notes all year round. I also had the chance to meet a lot of very interesting, talented and passionate people from not only my own society, but from other societies too. Through inauguration ceremonies and meet-ups, joining this Society has allowed me to expand my social circle in a natural yet magical way. I’ve had the chance to meet people from my own major, people inside and outside the Faculty of Arts, even outside HKU. I’ve finally realised the world’s a big place, and many surprises will be in store for me. It’s a big step to commit to an ExCo role, but it’s a chance of a lifetime. We only live once, so what better way is there to utilize our youth than stepping out of our comfort zones and giving this unknown territory, a.k.a. society life, a shot?

Loraine

Frankly speaking, it is tough but rewarding. As I have two posts, it means that I have a relatively larger workload. Within our team, apart from our own PIC events and main responsibilities, we also help each other out with tasks like participating in inauguration ceremonies, brainstorming, proofreading, getting sponsorships and so on. Due to the seemingly never-ending Society work, as an emotional person myself, there are times I feel overwhelmed and think that everything I am doing is for naught. At times, misunderstandings occur if my fellow ExCo members and I have some differences in how we get things done. In spite of that, what comes afterwards are life-long lessons that only Society life can provide me with; I get to learn how to compromise and accept the fact that our diverse personalities make us special. Also, I realise I have been learning and growing from my actions to become a better person, someone that I am proud to be now. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank my partner-in-promotion, Kana. Even though we seem to always be staggering on the brink of anxiety and exhaustion, we still excel and manage to have the world staring at our masterpieces in awe. You are the best teammate I could ever wish for and I hope our affection for each other can last for an eternity. Thanks for everything, English Society.

John

I would say it is mostly quite peaceful and cohesive, but I would be lying had I said it were perfect. Throughout the year, we organise different events and attend all sorts of meetings and functions, so at times we do argue over certain things- generally caused by high stress and conflicting ideas. Nevertheless, we do solve these problems as a team and realise that our worst impulses are a result of our best intentions for the Society and it is never personal. Another interesting aspect of Society life is we do not take our standing order at face value, but see it as a way of organising and mobilising our attributes when concerning Society matters. For example, the Chairperson oversees the overall operation of the Society and delineates a direction we head towards, the Promotion Secretary designs all promotional material, especially our wonderful, wonderful posters, so on so forth. By virtue of this division of labour, we distribute our strengths amongst ourselves accordingly and achieve our goals effectively and efficiently. We might take this for granted, but the fact that we see eye to eye most of the time and are good friends helps a lot as well. I genuinely enjoy talking to and sharing my thoughts and personal life with my â&#x20AC;&#x153;jongyausâ&#x20AC;?, and I think the fact that we are such a close-knit group makes us a better team as well. Undoubtedly, I treasure our deep friendship a lot.

Why did you join English Society? As mentioned throughout this publication, I am a non-jupas student who did not bother going to any Orientation Camps, and I felt lost and did not know how or where to make friends in university - so what better society to join than English Society? I believe that the other freshmen who also wanted to join this society were either drawn to it due to their interest in English, or because they wanted to meet new people. I was excited to meet other like-minded individuals, so I gave it a shot.

Christy

Main Reasons: - Was uncertain about university life at HKU and unaccustomed to its culture at first - Some joined English Society due to their passion for English, but she joined so as to meet friends who shared the same ideas as she did

As I mentioned in the Meet Our ExCos part, I was really lonely at first. To be honest, I had never thought of being an ExCo of any society. My original plan was to apply for hall-residence and meet new people there. I wasn’t living very close to HKU and I had some family issues back then which made me want to escape from my home really badly. Unluckily, I failed. So, the plan changed and I joined English Society hoping to find some company. Another reason was because of English Society’s orientation camp I joined last year. It was so much fun and I enjoyed seeing how the ExCos worked together as a team. The vibes changed my mind and I signed up for this. Main Reasons: - Felt lonely at university, and had originally applied for hall residence. Was unsuccessful, but still wanted to escape her home so she had to change her plans - Joined English Society’s Orientation Camp and had lots of fun, so she decided to become an ExCo member

Tutti

You might be wondering why a guy majoring in French and Political Science is in English Society’s Executive Committee. Trust me, I ask myself the same question too sometimes. When I knew I had been accepted into the BA Programme, all I wanted to do was study and not engage in any social activities at university, but meeting Felix and Tutti at English Society’s Orientation Camp changed my mind, since they had decided beforehand that they wanted to join English Society’s Executive Committee. Basically, that was it, good oldfashioned peer pressure. Being EV appealed to me, because I wanted to meet new people and I had been in different student cabinets at secondary school, assuming roles of an external nature. So, here I am, writing this section for you. Main Reasons: - Only wanted to study and mind his own business in university originally - Met Tutti and Felix in English Society’s Orientation Camp, and they had wanted to join an Executive Committee - Joined in the end, due to peer pressure, in a positive sense, and he wanted to meet new friends and experience new things

John

Speaking of the reasons why I joined the Society, I think I did it out of curiosity. I had heard of all the “anecdotes” from my seniors in my secondary school. They described the whole experience as a wonderful journey. You got to meet friends which would back you up in your university life or even for your whole lifetime (I am certain we can do it.) Joining the Society is also an eye-opening journey. You get to organize events with your “jongyaus”. But it was certainly rewarding, for everything was done by our very own jongyaus. So, easily persuaded by my friends, I joined English Society, which was totally worth it!

Clement

Main Reasons: - Was curious about university life and had heard many stories about it from his secondary school seniors - Joined the Executive Committee to meet new friends and have an opportunity to organize events, after further persuasion

I came to HKU without any friends at first. I felt like a piece of wood floating on the sea as all other students did. We try to catch someone else just to avoid being alone. True friendship is rarely found. The Orientation Camp held by English Society gave me a taste of university life. People are nice, hilarious and smart. I had a lot of fun! Those joyful moments erased my pessimistic thoughts. Afterwards, I decided to join this society. I would like to make this place my home. Main Reasons: - Had no direction in terms of her goals of being at university - Wanted to avoid being alone and had found true friends during EngSoc’s Orientation Camp

Rachel 27

Tips for your first month at Uni

Christy:

One of my biggest regrets is not joining an Orientation Camp. I’ve heard from a lot of my friends that you won’t really see the people you meet after Freshers Week, so I thought: why bother making an effort? Oh boy I was wrong. Orientation Camps in Hong Kong work differently to the ones in other countries. A lot of people I’ve met during my time here have already made many good friends during these camps, and while I started my university life friendless and confused, they seemed to be thriving. I cannot stress how important it is to join an Orientation Camp. It might be tiring, but it’s seriously a good starting point where you can meet fellow freshmen and get tips from senior students.

Elijah:

There are quite a lot you can do in the first month. If you are striving for good grades, then you must spend time attending at least the first few lectures of all the courses that interest you. This is because online descriptions can be different from what is actually happening and you probably don’t want to bore yourself to death in the first semester if you don’t drop courses that are not a good fit in time. In terms of ECAs, I think you can join some orientation activities of various clubs and societies, meet some new friends and perhaps decide if you would like to be their member. If you live in a hall, then spend time getting used to its culture and find your position in it, like which teams you will be joining. Participating in some hall functions can help you get along with the people too. Most important of all, plan your timetable well so that you have day-offs and time to get yourself a part-time job.

Tutti:

Step out of your comfort zone is what I would say. The new environment, all the new people, and an all-new routine can be very intimidating at first but you just have to face it head on with courage. Get familiar with the environment, meet some people and try to figure out what kind of school life you want to have. During your first month, you may be lost or confused. Explore new stuff and see what you are interested in. A huge tip for you: check your mailbox frequently. There are many information related to activities, events, courses or jobs in your mailbox. I applied to a service trip thanks to the mass email and I met lots of great people there. One of them has even become my best friend. I have also signed up for a service in an animal shelter. Grab your chance to explore!

Felix:

Most of my jongyaus have already suggested joining Orientation Camps and that’s advice I second wholeheartedly. Besides meeting new friends in Orientation Camps, I’d suggest you spend some time exploring the HKU campus and the areas surrounding HKU together with your friends. HKU is pretty big and it’s easy to get disoriented during your first week at uni! So do make sure you know the general layout of the campus. Speaking of your first week at uni, here’s a tip to escape the crowds on your first day at HKU (trust me, there will be crowds!). If you’re taking the MTR, don’t get off at HKU station. Instead, get off at Sai Ying Pun and make your way to exit C. The main campus is just a short 10-minute walk from there! It sure beats getting stuck in a queue for 30 minutes. I’d also suggest that you spend some time doing research on courses. And by that, I don’t mean just seeing which introductory courses you have to take. Do make a list of courses you’re interested in, and check out the required reading for those courses on Wikipedia. It really helps you get a better understanding of what you’re in for. Moreover, do remember to make good use of the add-drop period. The add-drop period is a span of two weeks in which you can chop and change your course list. After the add-drop period passes, you can’t change the courses you have for the semester. So if the first two lectures aren’t your cup of tea, it might be a good time to reconsider your course pickings. Just remember to do it before the deadline!

p T ips 1. Join Orientation Camps to make friends ! 2. Get tips from senior students 3. Make a list of courses you like (including their required readings) 4. Make good use of the add-drop period and attend introductory courses 5. Explore the HKU campus and nearby areas 6. If you’re in a hall, join more hall functions to meet new friends 7. Schedule in day(s)-offs for part-time jobs

l a u ve n i n t A ea g ion n Cr iti tit Wr mpe Co 9 1 20

Champion A View From THe Bleachers Jessica Jiaqi Yang It was a Saturday night. She was waiting at the bus station. A thunderstorm was heading her way and the wind blew through the trees, across the streets and into her face. Such a face was not exceptionally beautiful, but it gave off a comfortable and soothing feeling to those who had gazed upon her. There was nothing special here, the eyes, nose, and the mouth all looked plain, but one could consider it a bit charming by putting them all together. Well, this was Julie, a friend I met up with every Sunday night during the loneliest period of my university life. As an audience to her story, I sometimes felt depressed and broken-hearted. Her story made me marvel at it a lot. “So you went to see her last night?” I asked her on a Sunday dinner. “Yeah, she was happy to see me.” She answered. We were sitting in an Indian restaurant having some light food. This place didn’t look so expensive from the outside, but we could only afford a Beef Korma and a dish of Kuchumber Salad. “Was she ok?” “She was happy.” She replied shortly. She looked a bit under the weather today, so I stopped talking for the rest of the meal. We just ate everything on the table and went outside. Soon after, it started to rain. “You know, she ran away again.” She finally told me at the crossroad where we would usually separate. I felt a deep sorrow well up in my heart, “That’s awful.” It was almost the end of the semester and I knew there wouldn’t be many chances left to see her. “Maybe I can walk you home,” I suggested. The shops along the street were all lit up with bright electric lamps. It was still early in the evening, people grasped their groceries and hurried home to whomever was waiting for them. Julie walked quite fast at first, but then slowed down and appeared quite at peace. “I should probably give up. You know, you can’t force anyone to come home -even if she is your sister.” She said, with sadness in her eyes. “What was her mood like?” Finally, I asked. “She loves to have me near, but she doesn’t want me to talk to her. She especially doesn’t want me to say it out loud. I mean, can you blame her? ” I shook my head. My stomach churned at the thought of her suffering. She had been such a warm and cheerful girl when I met her. Now, she fought so hard to unravel the secrets and tried to put everything into the right place. Sometimes I thought my concern for Julie was derived from my wish to escape from my own life. I was so lonely at the time that any old story had the possibility of making me cry. One that I visited often was one of Walt Whitman’s poems: “WHEN lilacs last in the door-yard bloom’d, And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night, I mourn’d--and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.

O ever-returning spring! Trinity sure to me you bring; Lilac blooming perennial, and drooping star in the west, And thought of him I love.” Reading it felt cathartic and I would use it as a means to get better. I didn’t know how Julie dealt with her sadness, but I was sure no one ever escaped pain forever, and when it came to it, we could not get better just by faking a smile under the sunshine or working twelve hours a day in front of a desk. “Julie, could you do me a favor?” I called her in the middle of one night after our last meeting at the Indian restaurant. “Sure.” “I have no place to go. It’s quite cold outside. Can I come over?” “Ok. My roommates are all asleep. So make sure you keep it quiet.” I tried to use her bed to sleep, but for the rest of the night I just lay there awake. Meanwhile, Julie was studying at her desk in the room. This was her way of coping. The next morning, Julie’s roommates had a fight with her. I seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. They complained that Julie brought a stranger to the house in the middle of the night. They complained that the lamp Julie lit to study had severely inflicted upon their quality of sleep. They said they had been bearing her for two whole days. Julie said she would never do it again. Sometimes, when we were busy mending a hole while weaving our web, another hole would appear in the shadow. Julie looked very tired. We walked out to have breakfast. “I’m sorry. They are mad at me, not you. Sorry to put you in the middle of it.” She said to me apologetically. “Don’t say that. Thank you...for letting me in last night.” We didn’t talk during breakfast. Julie ordered porridge with fried noodles. I had several dumplings. On our way to school, I thought of something and asked her, “Would you like me to help this Saturday? It is going to be the last Saturday of the semester right?” “I guess, yes. I would be so glad if you came.” This was a bus station at the mountain slope and the Sports Center was far away near the sea. The bus we were for waiting didn’t come as frequent as other buses. Julie told me she once waited for half an hour. The wind was chilly with the scent of dead leaves in the air. I hoped today things would be different for Julie. God would give her a chance, I thought. I didn’t know when I began to call for God’s help. Maybe it started when I began to face so many uncertainties all alone. Julie wasn’t alone now, for I could lend her a hand. So I thought this might be a calling from God, a mission to help her out tonight. The bus arrived. It was almost full as students all rely on this bus to reach the Sports Center. They had jerseys with various colors: crimson, jade green, yellow, and indigo… The sports gears were packed messily at the back of the bus and noises were loud. “Do you want to run? I’ve brought some comfortable outfits. We can do some exercises.” She opened her bag and pulled out a bundle of clothing. “But don’t you want me to help you?” The bus went past a lake where you could see the stars reflected clearly in the water. Then it reached a farm where the geese never slept at night. It then dashed down an abrupt slope and drove towards the narrow road along the seashore. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the destination. When we walked into the Sports Centre, the rain started to fall. The hazy scene was as if it was a scene from a horror movie.

“Is it always like this?” I asked. “Sometimes. It is beautiful, isn’t it?” The Sports Centre was large. It offered a football field, a baseball diamond and two swimming pools. The beams of the searchlight were so bright that the drizzles can be seen trembling on the courts. Julie should go to the football court where her sister was tutoring the football team. After making three turns, we met the tall back of the bleachers which loomed in the heavy rain like a monster. We went around it and Julie led me on to several steps. The light greenness of the football court was an assault on my senses. “There she is.” She pointed to the west side. I could see a dozen of players running in the wind with purple jerseys on. Two figures were standing at the edge of the court. One shorter, the other taller. The shorter one must be the coach. “She is quite tall, isn’t she? She has curly hair just like I do.” Julie murmured. Indeed. Julie’s sister was tall and slim, and reminded one of a greyhound, a breed of dog which could run fast and was adept at hunting rabbits. Julie’s sister had her long curly hair combed into a ponytail wearing a purple T-shirt, and a pair of white shorts. “She looks full of energy!” I commented and then looked at Julie; there was a cheerful smile on her face which I hadn’t seen for quite some time. The coach whistled and all the teammates gathered together at the touchline. The coach gave them some instructions, and then asked Julie’s sister to demonstrate. She displayed it with a great deal of flexibility and prowess. “She is great!” I admired. “I saw her do this last Saturday. They still haven’t got the hang of it.” She then said, “Do you know who taught her football? My father. They were so close back then.” I began to realize everything here composed a poetic scene: the light, the rain, the grass and the youths running in the wind. I thought she would bring me to meet her sister, however, after a while she dragged me to another place: a hidden court inside the woods. I had never been to this place before. She raised her head as squatting in front of her bag and a sweet smile appeared at her lips, “Thanks,” she said, “but I think it’s unnecessary for now. You know, the scene of seeing my sister feels like a dream and the dreams don’t need to turn into reality sometimes. I’m glad we can be together tonight.” Her eyes were now as bright as the stars we saw in the water’s reflection. I felt that she seemed happy now. I didn’t see this coming, but I thought if she had made the choice, I should respect it. “Ok……” She stood up and hugged me warmly saying, “I’ll race ya!” I laughed and said, “Yeah, I loved running when I was small!” So we changed our clothes and started running. The rain soon stopped and the ground went dry before we came up with the idea of splashing each other with water. As we ran, the young trees in the woods quivered their leaves and a crescent moon hung high, framed by the blue night sky. The clouds were still grey, but the wind was getting stronger so they all floated fast away. The sea was roaring ferociously beside our court. “Do you think I’ve made the right choice?” She asked me on our way back. I shrugged and said, “I think it is quite generous to give up something you want. It’s a heroic choice I think.” “No, I don’t think so. There is nothing heroic on this planet. Everyone is so precious……” “Well, then, the only thing matters is how you define the word.”

First Runner-Up The Boy and the Caterpillar Alan Huang The little boy walked down the road past rows of trees and grass. The sun was really bright with the really colourful sky. Under the sky, the trees and grasses were really nice to look at. He loved walking like this. It was not just the sky that was bright. The sunlight was like a huge lightbulb, and made the grass and trees glow like gold. He loved to look at the grasses and trees, with this gold shine and the lime of the grass. He saw all the lines on the tree bark. The air was warm and soft. It was not like a summer with thick air. He could breathe easy. With what he saw and felt, there were chirps of birds that flew. The chirps had a rhythm he always remembered. Like the flutes of nature. The scene was amazing but he did not like the sidewalk. It was not bright like the trees and grass. It was grey and rough. There was a time he fell down and his knees turned red. He wished it was not there sometimes. But it did not take away his love of the trees and grass. He looked around, taking in these great sights. There were a lot of animals around. He saw a bird pulling a worm quite a while from him. He would have to run quick to get there. So he just watched close as he could. The bird tugged with might, its head kept turning to the sky. The worm wanted to stay in the ground but it slowly came out. The boy felt sorry for the worm, so soft and squishy and slow. It could do nothing about the bird and its claws. But why did it have to be like that? He did not feel good about it. He continued to walk. A speck stood out in the sidewalk. He stopped and turned back his head. Then looked down. There was a little caterpillar on the ground. He stared down at it, memorizing what it looked like. He stared at its green-yellow coloured fur. There were some black spots on it. It was bright like the grass and flowers. He liked its colours. There was a nice mix that he would remember. When it flipped to the ground, he saw its belly. The belly seemed green and squishy. It was on its back, wriggling its legs, swaying from one side to the other. Every time it wanted to get on its back, it fell back again. Its legs tried to grasp the air like there was something to grasp. It was like trying to grab onto the invisible. It thrashed around. He looked at the branch. It seemed to have fallen from there. He did not know what caterpillars felt but he was sure it was crying. It wanted its mamma. It felt like his newborn sister. The boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs felt tired. He did not know how long he had stared at the caterpillar. He looked around. He saw some birds flying. There was a dragonfly. It was always nice to look at all these animals. But something caught him. He saw a bird chase after some moths. The moths flew away far as they could from the nasty birds. A dragonfly flew after a moth. It was like the bird and the worm. Animals were mean to each other. Many ate each other. Why did they have to do that?

Then a bird flew towards the caterpillar. The boy turned towards the caterpillar. The bird then flew away, only briefly landed. The child turned his head back to the caterpillar. Any bird or creature could come and grab it easily. A bird could catch it like that worm. Anyone might step on the insect and make it a puddle. He could not just walk away and leave it in danger. Mom and Dad always said it was best to help others. It would be good to help it then. It was better than doing nothing. It was like being Superman when he could help someone. He thought some more. It was not just good to make it safe. He could tell his mom and dad. His friends might like it. Some grown-ups told him not to be around insects but they were nice to look at. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care what the grown-ups thought. He slowly moved to the caterpillar and moved his hand. Then he stopped. It might have germs on it and it could bite him or make him itchy. But he could not leave it there. He needed to save it. But what to do? He gazed up and saw some branches and leaves. His face grew into a smile. Looking for any birds or insects, he then ran and grabbed what he just saw and walked back. As he bent to help the caterpillar he saw something. It moved slowly. It kept on trying to pull its body but a tiny drop always oozed from it. The boy looked down more. It was blood. If it made sounds, it might be groaning. It might also be crying. But, it could be dying. He had to act quick to save it. He grabbed some sticks to pick it up. The caterpillar did not want to go. It clung to the ground. Holding it felt like holding a flower. He did not want to grab it too hard and he might hurt it. It would be amazing to see it become a butterfly. What would it look like? He hoped it could survive. Why didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it want to go? What he was doing was good for the caterpillar. He kept touching the caterpillar. The caterpillar shrunk a bit. It seemed to feel fearful. It did not like him. But slowly, he pulled it off the ground and began walking around. Now he had to find a nice place. He will be a hero by protecting this critter. It would grow into a beautiful butterfly. It was best to put it somewhere safe. But where to put it? He looked around. He thought of taking it back to the tree branch. There might still be animals to come take it. He did not know where such caterpillars usually lived. He thought of leaving it in a hole in a tree. But it might still suffer. At that thought, he held the caterpillar tighter. It squirmed a bit. Then, the idea hit him. He would take the caterpillar home to look after it. He would feed it and give it a home. He would watch it grow safely into a butterfly. Then he could release it. Or he could keep it safe for most of its life. As he thought this, he opened his hands to look down at the caterpillar again. The caterpillar seemed to be in pain. The child reached out to poke the caterpillar but it flinched. It tried to move away, squirming. The child picked it up. It would be all right.

It seemed to plead for help. It writhed. Then, the caterpillar flinched. A reddish fluid seemed to be flowing from the caterpillar. The boy looked down at his sticks. His jaw dropped. He had actually touched it with the pointy end. When he held the caterpillar, he actually kept it near the pointed parts. The pointed parts had pierced it. Its blood had puddled in his hand. What could he do? How had this happened? He felt a great fire in his chest. Why didn’t he check the sticks first? What could he do now? It stopped wiggling about. Its legs no longer moved. It didn’t seem as frantic. The boy eyed it for a moment. Why wasn’t it moving? Could it be? Did he kill it? He put down the sharp stick. He carefully put a finger to the caterpillar. It flinched. He could still save it. It moved slower. The child glanced fearfully at the caterpillar. It barely flinched at all. Then it was still. It was no longer living. He failed to save it. He actually killed it by trying to save it. He clutched the sticks as hard as he could. He looked down with raging eyes. He bent the sticks and they broke with crack after crack. Then he tossed the sticks as far as he could. All he could do was bury it. He would not let other animals eat it. He looked for a place but he did not bring a shovel. He just touched around the grass. Where he felt a soft spot, he dug a hole. Then, holding the caterpillar close to his chest, he took down some leaves and wrapped it in. The sunlight was still bright but it was not fun. It was not bright to the child. It actually felt dull. There was a hoarse sound in his throat. He wept. He did not know why it happened. He wished there was tissue to wipe his eyes. He didn’t feel so well. Why did he have to go get the caterpillar? His eyes felt watery. There was a weight in his eyes. One drop fell down. There was still sunlight. He did not like it. It felt duller. The trees and graces did not feel like gold to him. He would no longer feel the same every time he walked through the forest. Something seemed to have been lost when the caterpillar stopped moving. Why did these animals have to die so easily? Why couldn’t he do anything? Why did it have to be this way? The boy slowly walked back home. What would mom and dad tell him about this? What would his friends say? Could he still help others?

Second Runner-Up Find My partner Wu Yiyang There is no doubt that the first thing I would do after waking up is to pick up my cell phone and check my unread messages. To my astonishment, there was no message from Ali, which was weird since he used to send me “Good morning!” every day. I usually see it as soon as I touch my phone. What was wrong with him? I was going to call him, but suddenly, I realized that it was yesterday that he broke up with me. We had been together for six months. For six months, there had been no quarrels and no sadness between us. He gave me many luxuries including Hermes bags, diamonds, and even a yacht. I would plan to marry him in the next month. However, when I told him my thoughts yesterday, he refused me at once without hesitance! Love without marriage being a final result is nothing. All the efforts I had made were gone! To speak frankly, I have been in love with four men so far, and all of them broke up with me when I asked them to marry me. “I will go back to my planet the day after tomorrow.” the first one said. “The app I installed just now suggested that you did not suit me.” the second one said. “Pre-marital check-ups show that if we have a kid, his/her IQ must be less than 200.” the third one said. “Get married? The worker in the Future Prediction Agency told me you would not get married! Are you crazy?” Ali said. Was I crazy? Definitely not! They are the crazy ones! I only want a husband who might not buy yachts and diamonds for me but would walk for thirty minutes through several streets to buy my favourite yogurt and sandwich. We could live in a white house with a beautiful but not large garden, have two lovely babies, and a big obedient dog. Without marriage, how could I be sure he would be loyal and responsible! Why is it so hard to achieve such a simple hope? I was filled with sadness and despair. After a while, I decided to try an app named “Find Your Partner.” It is said that the rate of successful pairing is more than 90% so I thought it was worth trying. After answering almost two hundred multiple-choice questions and paying $200, someone called me. A cyborg employee speaks, “Dear Miss Ann, we have chosen a partner for you. 98% of your preferences match. His name is Martin Latin. He is 27 years old and works for Earth Protection Institution. He comes from Mars and has no living parents. He is ready to get married. If you want to go on a date with him right now, please press 1 and pay $200 in the next five minutes. If you want to get a marriage certificate with him right now, please press 2 and pay $500 in the next five minutes. If you are dissatisfied with the results, please press 3 and pay $100 to try again.” I hung up on him. “Stupid app! I am going to fight for it, and I will be a hero!”

Editors’ Choice Heroes Ophelia Tsui They called him a hero. His face was splattered on the front page of every newspaper, his name was heard in every corner of the town, his tale was told by every man, woman and child. A legend, they said, a legend that gave his life to many that he never met. They praised him so fervently as if he was a god — a dead one. The national anthem blazed in my ears as they carried his coffin on their shoulders. I stared at the frozen image of that man I called dad. In my teary eyes, he almost seemed to move, to blink, to smile. I could almost hear his voice, calling my name, beckoning me to run into his embrace. But he didn’t. The piercing cries of sorrow and pain echoed in my ears, blending in seamlessly with the powerful tune of the nation. I knew then he would never be back. The music gradually faded away, as did the crowds. I was alone, with only my mother’s soft, pliant hand in mine. I watched as she lifted a hand to my face and stroked it softly. It was then I realised I was crying. I rubbed my sleeves against my face until all I felt was rawness and numbness. They called him a hero. I hated him. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------They called him a hero. It has been ten years since he made his sacrifice. It has been ten years since songs of praise started circling the town. It has been ten years since I lost my father. It has been ten years since they forgot about the man they called a hero. I stand before his grave, silent. I wonder what he would say if he saw me now. Would he comment on my choice of flowers? Would he talk about the suit my mother bought for me? Would he vent about the bad weather? Desperately, my eyes search the tombstone for an answer. His name looks as if it was freshly engraved on the tombstone, as if his name was still uttered like a familiar phrase, as if his name was the key to bringing me warmth and safety. They called him a hero.

I hated him then, I still hate him now.

They call me a hero. I stand before a pile of wreckage, the debris still sizzling like the undying work of the devil. I look at all these faces in front of me all smiling faces, some even clapping and cheering for me! Who would have thought? I can’t help but stand a little taller, puff out my chest a little wider with a matching smile on my face. The world seems a little lighter, the sky a little brighter as if I can do anything, even the impossible. And I did what they said was impossible. It’s just a while ago that I walked out of that smoking building, with a man tied to my back. I laid him down on the ashy ground next to the other victims I saved. They were coughing, catching their breath, gulping down the precious fresh air; but they were safe. Soon the paramedics will arrive, along with firefighters and the police, all doing their best to keep the people safe. And now, I am named a hero, just like them. Just like him. I don’t know if I hate him as much now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------They call me a hero. I stand before his grave, silent. He gave his life for people he never met before, yet he took my childhood away. He was a hero in their eyes, yet a man who didn’t deserve to be looked up to in my eyes. He was the emblem of courage to many, yet he was the object of blame to me. And now, I am the emblem of courage to many. The tears I shed rolled off my cheeks as I blinked, falling away like the hatred I carried for so long. They call me a hero. I can’t help but hate myself a little.