Rachel Chuang (Sociology, Year 4) was awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarship. She plans to become a primary school teacher and to offer assistance to ethnic minority groups. 

With excellent academic performance and outstanding service to society, Rachel has won a number of scholarships at HKBU. She applied for the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarship three times and was eventually awarded the recognition this year, adding to her excitement. Rachel said the questions put forward by the selection panel at the interview were very challenging and encompassed a variety of areas, from the length of Tsing Ma Bridge to personal development and her dream.

Rachel credited her win to honesty. She said that after taking part in HKBU’s M.A.I.L. project, she found that younger children are better inspired by their teachers. Also, through her active participation in social services, many of which were catered to ethnic minorities, she realised that they often lack social support. Therefore, she plans to be a primary school teacher, with a focus on nurturing ethnic minority children. Rachel said, “When the panel of the Scholarship heard about my dream, they asked a lot of related questions, such as why I don’t choose to be a secondary school teacher or university professor. If I did not have a real plan, I would not have been able to answer such questions with supporting details.”

Rachel will go to the Netherlands on a six-month exchange programme to broaden her horizons. To achieve her dream step by step, she plans to enter Postgraduate Diploma of Education programme after she graduates.