6 years ago, when I was still a freshman, I put Shaw College first in the college preference indication. The major reason was that I heard the college life is super interesting, and you could have a good time here. To me, it is the truth. During my 6 years at Shaw College, I took a lot of leadership positions in our renowned “4 Major Activities”, including O Camp, Shawlane, Shaw Founder’s Day etc. I met a lot of people who were also enthusiastic about college activities and dedicated to creating a more joyful college environment, and most importantly, they became my lifelong friends.
It sounds a little bit cliché, but to me, the most important element of Shaw College, is the people. This place is boiling with humanity which you can feel since the first day you join the college via O Camp, and that connection does not end after that. People here are just more than happy to help and show you the way to have a fruitful college experience. I would say the people at Shaw College make it so special to me.
However, life is never a smooth ride. COVID-19 hit the world during my second year. It was a difficult time for me, and for all of us, especially when we had the ambitions to organize student activity, that was a heavy blow. Still, we found our way and we successfully held the first in-person O Camp in 2021 summer. That was the most unforgettable experience and a memory that would store in my mind for years, as we navigated through the storm and completed a once-in-a-lifetime mission.
Therefore, I think the most important quality to be the recipient of the Shaw College Gold Medal, is resilience. Especially when we are living in an era of uncertainty, we face a lot of challenges in our daily lives. What is important is to show your resilience, that you are brave to face the challenges ahead and able to learn from the experience. This is significant when you are building your character and image as you grow up. Therefore, I hereby wish all our Shaw College students can overcome all the obstacles with the bravest minds as I always believe “chance favours the prepared mind”.