SOTY 2023/24: Remarkable road to improvement for this SOTY winner

It’s hard to believe that the confident young man who effortlessly hosted such a significant event was once a struggling student who had to repeat Form One due to poor academic performance.

“In Form One, I still had the mindset that, just like in primary school, I could pass without much effort. I thought I could get by easily, but secondary school was completely different,” Ivan admitted.

He described himself as careless, frequently skipping assignments, and needing teacher intervention for behavioural issues. “Back then, my grades were terrible, with ten subjects on my report card marked as failed.”

SOTY 2023/24: First runner-up Linguist’s love of English literature

Ivan’s transformation began when he repeated Form One. That was the year he met Ms Tong, a Chinese teacher who was also an advisor for the Mandarin Club and the Student Ambassadors.

“Ms Tong saw me chatting in class and noticed I spoke Mandarin quite well. She thought I had potential, so she gave me a chance,” Ivan said.

“Even though I wasn’t a typical ‘good student’, she was still willing to let me learn and grow. That was a turning point I truly value.”

Under Tong’s encouragement, Ivan began participating in the clubs she advised, eventually rising to lead both groups as captain of the Student Ambassadors and president of the Mandarin Club.

“As a student ambassador, our main responsibility was to promote the school externally, share what life at Ying Wa is like, and help outsiders better understand our community,” Ivan explained.

As the captain of the Student Ambassadors, Ivan led a diverse team and spearheaded various projects and activities that empowered collective impact.

He worked to foster a culture of collaboration, cultural exchange, and community engagement among the team. By taking the initiative in joint-school exchange programmes and leading the team in both external and internal school activities, Ivan inspired his peers to bond with one another and embrace their unique talents. “The goal is to help them become well-rounded, eloquent, and exemplary students,” he said.

One of Ivan’s core philosophies is captured in his personal motto, “empowering through unity.” He believes that only through teamwork can they create a positive overall impression of the school. His role as captain wasn’t just about leading; it was about empowering others to grow and make an impact together.

Looking back on his academic journey, Ivan feels grateful for the experience of repeating Form One. “If I hadn’t repeated that year and instead continued on without learning a big lesson, I think I would have faced an even more devastating failure during the public exams. It would have been overwhelming,” he said.

“Repeating gave me the chance to start again and meet new classmates, growing into who I am today.”

Ivan’s remarkable turnaround earned him the Best Improvement award at the latest Student of the Year Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The award recognises students who have demonstrated significant academic and personal growth.

These experiences have also shaped Ivan’s aspiration to become a teacher. “Teachers played such an important role in my growth, giving me opportunities and support,” Ivan said.

“I want to be a Chinese teacher in the future, to help students who feel lost just like I once did, and inspire them to overcome their difficulties through my own experiences.”