'My best advice to you...'

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Compiled by Mabel Sieh
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Compiled by Mabel Sieh |
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At the start of this new year, it is a good idea to reflect on what we can all learn from the past. So, in this issue, we asked our Student of the Year advisory-board experts to answer this question: "If you were able to travel back in time, what advice would you want to give to your 16-year-old self?"


Robin Hu
Chief executive of SCMP Group

"When I was 16 I had no sense of a grand future for myself. That's how it should be at that age. What you need most is conviction, optimism and the audacity to just 'do it'. Time is limited; have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

"The most important capital you will have is your social capital. Spend time to develop friendship at every stage of your life; at the end of the day, your success has more to do with your ability to help others than your natural intelligence."


Jay H. Walder
Chief executive of MTR Corporation

"Life is not a straight-line journey from beginning to end. Instead, the roads we walk are filled with twists and turns.

"The choices you make now are only about which path to take for the next part of your journey; you can always change direction if you wish at a later stage.

"Follow your passions: don't put limits on yourself. Ask yourself, 'What interests me the most?'. Then think about all the paths where the answer might take you."


Paul Zimmerman
District councillor and chief executive of Designing Hong Kong

"Don't worry about your decision - believe in what you have decided as your study and interest, and pour all your effort and confidence in it without a second thought or regret.

"It is better to make a decision than to not make one. Once you are on the road you can always make adjustments.

"No field is better than the one you are attracted to, or are enthusiastic about."


Allan Zeman
Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group and Ocean Park Corporation

"At 16, I was [delivering newspapers] before school. It was hard work getting up early, but the money was worth it. I felt so independent being able to buy what I wanted. It helped me understand the value of money and rewards of hard work, [and] to make the most of my limited spare time.

"The most important thing is to be passionate about what you want to do with your life, especially when you're young. That's how you discover what you are good at."


Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges
Chief executive of Hong Kong Jockey Club

"When I was 16, I had dreams of becoming a professional footballer; I did and led a team before graduating. I could never have imagined I'd be making Hong Kong my home and running not only one of the world's leading sports operators, but also one of its largest charitable benefactors.

"My advice is, 'Don't be afraid to dream big, or limit your dreams to what seems achievable. Anything is possible if you've the determination to be the best in whatever you do'."


You might also like:

- The Student of the Year Awards are almost upon us. We asked our junior reporters what they would look for if they were part of the judging panel

- Prof Cheng Kai-ming of HKU and Dr Kim Mak of the Hong Kong Jockey Club talk about the qualities necessary for this year’s winners in the Linguist and Community Contributor categories

- Tiso Ho of Hong Kong Arts Festival and Prof Chung Pak-kwong of Baptist University reveals what they feel are needed qualities for this year’s winners

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