SOTY 22/23: Linguist (Putonghua) winner hopes to bring traditional Chinese culture to a global stage
- Diocesan Girls’ School student Wang Sui-ki explains the importance of giving back and how it can improve communication
- The 16-year-old received the Literary Star award at the China Secondary School Essay Writing Competition and helped launched a platform to support cancer patients
Wang Sui-kiWang Sui-ki, a 16-year-old Diocesan Girls’ School student, vividly recalls her experience volunteering with intellectually challenged children through the “Best Buddies Hong Kong” programme, which she described as an “emotional journey”.
“When I first spoke to one of the children, he barely responded. But by the end of the term, we could communicate effortlessly, which was incredibly rewarding.”
It was more than a weekly commitment; it was a year-long journey of growth and understanding. Sui-ki explained her approach to preparing educational materials:
“A week before each session, we’d brainstorm and design games. Initially, it was challenging, but it became a joyous process,” she said, highlighting the positive impact of these interactions on her and the children.
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Sui-ki’s commitment to social causes extends beyond her work with children. She also played a pivotal role in establishing “Benevolence Hong Kong”, an online platform dedicated to supporting breast cancer patients. Explaining the motivation behind this initiative, Sui-ki shared, “My family has experienced the challenges of cancer, and we wanted to focus specifically on breast cancer, a significant issue for women’s health.” Through “Benevolence Hong Kong”, Sui-ki and her peers aim to bring attention to this critical issue, especially within her school community.
Meanwhile, Sui-ki’s achievements in the China Secondary School Essay Writing Competition underscore her literary prowess. “The competition involved writing and impromptu speeches. I wrote about my journey in table tennis, symbolising the pursuit of dreams – a common experience for many,” she shared. Her speech in the final round, given without any prepared script, touched on societal issues and the importance of understanding and addressing youth concerns.
She put a lot of effort into becoming proficient in Putonghua: “At home, I converse in Putonghua with my mother, but for the competition, I needed to step up my game.” Sui-ki read poetry and other articles aloud in Putonghua to improve her fluency. Her essay, which won her the Literary Star award, touched on the experience of pursuing her dreams amid life’s challenges and resonated deeply with the judges and readers.
Sui-ki is this year’s Linguist (Putonghua) winner of the Student of the Year Award (SOTY). The competition is organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. The nomination period for 2024 is open until April 14.
Looking ahead, Sui-ki has a clear vision and hopes to become a teacher, saying, “I want to explore different cultures and languages and bring traditional Chinese culture to a global audience.”