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CHUNG Hoi Suen, Kitty

Went on Exchange to University of Guelph in Canada

Abraham Maslow once said, "in any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." When it came to deciding whether to participate in the Student Exchange Program, I made the best decision ever – stepping forward.

Studying abroad was my dream that had never changed since my childhood, and it came true. The academic curriculum was one of the reasons that made the University of Guelph an appealing host institution to me. The institution delivered a wide variety of subjects, and courses were led by accomplished professors and lecturers. In spite of the large class size, compelling ways had been developed to engage students in the process of thinking and problem solving. Besides, the institution adopted distance-education in some components of the courses, which was a new experience to me. The emphasis on self-directed learning had left a long-lasting impact on me; that is to say, I am more motivated than ever to devote time to studying outside the classroom after returning to Lingnan University.

Before departure, little did I know how far I could actually push my limits. Fear of uncertainty almost held me back, but I managed to overcome it bit by bit. Looking back at my time as an exchange student in Canada, I could not be more thankful for the amazing opportunity to learn and grow in any aspects of life. Challenges were what made life interesting. They could be small like being locked out of the townhouse, and big like traveling solo from one city to another. It was always fascinating to meet kind people from all over the world, as well as taking a deep dive into the local culture. Despite not being a sportsperson, I enjoyed trying different winter sports, such as ice hockey, figure skating, and skiing. During the holidays, I got to experience the stunning nature of Canada, including Niagara Falls, Columbia Icefield and Yellowknife Aurora. The extreme cold made everything even more special.

I made a right choice to participate in the Student Exchange Programme. It would have been a deep regret if I had not taken this bold step forward!

HUNG Tsun Sing

Went on Exchange to Calvin College in the USA

My semester abroad in the United States was an intriguing journey. As a student studying English, I always longed for staying in an English-speaking country, where I could immerse myself totally in my best-loved language. Not only I could practice my English with my native English-speaking friends, but also acquire more in-depth knowledge in linguistics and language-teaching to complement my undergraduate studies at Lingnan.

At the beginning, I was a newcomer unfamiliar with everything in the college and town, and knew nobody at all. The days during the first few weeks were the most challenging to me as I had to handle everything by myself. It was my first time that neither my family nor my friends were in my vicinity. Despite a little struggle and hesitation, I managed to step out of my comfort zone and took the initiatives to befriend other foreign students and staff in the college. After encountering all kinds of challenges along the way, no matter they were expected or not, now I would perceive myself as a tougher and more independent person. Every time when I look back at my semester at Calvin College, I am always surprised by all the attempts I bravely made there.

Besides academic pursuit, I joined a variety of activities to make my exchange semester more fruitful and meaningful. For instance, I participated in a Service-Learning project there which aimed at helping immigrants learn English as a second language (ESL). I never imagined that one day I would teach English in the United States as well as exchange pedagogical ideas with other ESL tutors. I truly found this overseas experience rewarding and useful for my future career.

Student Exchange Programme (SEP) is not merely an academic-related programme or just a graduation requirement for Contemporary English Studies in Lingnan. More importantly, it is one of the best learning experiences that will help us enrich ourselves, explore foreign cultures and, of course, grow and mature fast. Grasp your chance and start your own journey. We would love to hear your own story!

Bachelor of Liberal Arts (Hons) in Global Development and Sustainability