Read our students' stories that start from the CUHK and go further beyond.
“Taking care of himself physically has surely been a challenge, but it is even harder to stay true to why he took up boccia in the first place despite all the hardships.”
「照顧身體固然是一大難題，學習堅守初心更是得來不易的學問。」
Programme: We are CUHKers II 我們都是中大人 II
Every tough task begins with a unique purpose. But while some endeavours go in a direction that points to a single goal - just like those of Adam Wong and Saville Chan, which are to tell well-crafted stories cinematically - some people’s journeys are not defined by the endgame, but by the many milestones achieved on the way. That is the story of Max Wong, an Hong Kong athlete who brought home a silver medal in the mixed pairs BC4 Boccia event at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Previously an intern teacher, Casey now makes use of his teaching experience and computer science knowledge from his major studies to develop curricula for primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, Max has long suffered from weakness in his limbs. To increase and maintain muscular resilience and slow down the rate of deterioration of his muscles, he took up the sport of boccia at the suggestion of his physiotherapist. Initially, he zeroed in on one purpose, which was to strengthen his physique. To win awards in competitions, let alone to join international games, was unthinkable for him. When his coach encouraged him to take part in competitions, he didn’t take it seriously. But he realised for the first time he had the potential to compete in the Paralympics when he debuted at the BISFed 2017 Seville World Open, in which he emerged as a dark horse and won a gold medal.
Throughout Max’s athletic career, taking care of himself physically has surely been challenging, but it is even harder to stay true to why he took up boccia in the first place despite all the hardships. In 2016, he had the opportunity to participate in the Rio Paralympics, but only as a reserve player. At the time, he was under pressure from having to look for a full-time job, having just graduated from CUHK. All these made him contemplate quitting his sport. Yet he managed to persevere. All his efforts bore fruits a year later, when he achieved a milestone in the Seville World Open. In retrospect, Max says boccia has taught him the importance of persistence, even when giving up seems to be an easier option.
Apart from pursuing his athletic goals, Max also devotes himself to education. Having overcome various physical challenges and achieved an incredible feat at the Paralympics, Max believes his story could be an inspiration to his students. Interestingly though, not many of his students knew about his second identity as an athlete, and so they were surprised to see a familiar face taken to the Paralympic podium. The modest teacher explains that he prefers getting his job done quietly without talking about his athletic career.
Having won at the Paralympics, Enders decided he should embark on a new journey in his career and rekindle his passion for education.
每個人的初心都是獨一無二的。黃修平和陳心遙一直延續的初心，在於用電影說好每個故事；而黃君恒的初心，卻是不斷成就一個又一個的夢想。於東京2020殘疾人奧運會硬地滾球混合BC4級雙人賽中，為香港奪得一面銀牌的黃君恒在滾球場外，當過實習教師，現時更結合教學經驗與大學主修計算機科學的知識，為本地的大、中、小學研發教材與編寫教案。
自小患有肌肉萎縮症的黃君恒，四肢較易乏力，為了保持肌肉耐力和減慢衰退速度，他在物理治療師的建議下接觸硬地滾球。最初只想透過運動強身健體、鍛鍊肌肉，未有想過得獎甚至登上世界舞台。黃君恒笑指，在教練鼓勵下出賽的心態實屬「玩吓」，直至在2017年西班牙西維爾世界硬地滾球公開賽迎中「爆冷」奪金後，才真正意識到自己在這項運動中有能力問鼎奧運大賽。
黃君恒回憶中的運動員生涯，照顧身體固然是一大難題，學習堅守初心更是得來不易的學問。在2016年的里約殘奥會，他被安排以後備球員的身份參與，當時他畢業在即面臨求職壓力，差點兒想棄運動員的身份，但咬實牙關堅持了這一仗後，在一年後的西班牙公開賽中迎來其中一個生涯高峰。他指硬地滾球讓他深切體會到「放棄縱然容易，仍然需要堅持」的道理。
在體育路上不斷耕耘的同時，黃君恒還有個「教學夢」。因為先天條件與人不同，曾經登上殘奥會頒獎台，再從事教育工作，黃君恒深信希望自己的故事能夠對學生的成長帶來裨益。他笑稱，在殘奥會得獎後，曾被他任教過的學生都很驚訝地發現昔日的老師竟然還有另一個身份，習慣低調的他解釋這是因為自己喜歡默默完成工作，很少主動對外提起自己是運動員。得獎過後，黃君恒認為是時候進入人生另一個階段，追尋事業，再度燃起初心。
