Dorothy Yim, St. Paul’s Convent School

Isn’t it unmistakable that changes happen regardless of whether or not my attitudes alter? Doesn’t the technology advance and progress on its own? How could it not be true that the globe warms itself up? Discriminations and stereotypes are none of my business; Misunderstandings and prejudice will never affect me…
Sitting still, waiting with patience, listening attentively… were what I considered the criteria to become a successful leader. Those were what I’ve always been practising, but absolutely not what I should have been doing. And it's ThinkSeries Leadership Programme that has made me realized this. It's the theme of the year "Be the Change" which has proven me wrong.
Providing us with the opportunities to work with charity organizations, the programme has enlightened me and diverted my attention and concern towards the underprivileged and neglected in the society. Co-organizing activities with Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service was an entirely new and rewarding experience for me. Not only have I developed a stronger sense of awareness towards those who require assistance, I have also learnt from those I met during my service, irrespective of their races, religious beliefs or social statuses. Responding to my own dreams with persistence and vivacity was but one of the lessons my service target – a group of Nepalese boys under 12, all passionate about playing football – has taught me.
Producing flashcards for Nepalese families was an idea initiated by leaders from my group of four, and with togetherness, we have switched this dream into reality. From designing to translating, from formatting to printing, my team members and I have paid tremendous effort in reaching the seemingly-impossible-to-reach star. The knowledge and insight that this process has brought us is beyond what words can adequately convey. Being flexible and embracing changes, be it concerning one’s personality and attitudes, be it related to external circumstantial factors, is vital for all capable-leader-wannabes. Despite that several barriers have hindered us on our voyage, we, the dynamic and exuberant generation, were able to overcome impediments and had our hard work paid off. Written on the hundred sets of handy flashcards we made, which consist of wordings related to local food and culture, facilities, as well as common phrases for daily usage, are the Nepali language, English, Chinese and Cantonese pronunciation of words. The flashcards are useful for the newly immigrated Nepalese families in communicating with locals. Through making such educational tools for people of ethnic minorities, we have taken one step further in helping them integrate into this multi-cultural society.
Apart from serving the community, we leaders were also responsible for the whole ThinkSeries Charity Showcase 2012, from designing tee-shirts to booking the venue, from logistics management to contacting the presses. There was once when I thought that this mission would be impossible; there were times when hopelessness drew me to an absolute frustration, when immense pressure and guilt overrode me, when the scarcity of time defeated me… and the story went on. But every time when I imagine the joy and sense of satisfaction the Grand Finale would bring us, I felt like bringing a child to this wondrous world, and this was where my motivation to work came from.
Contacting presses has been no easy task for me, an introvert. Apart from my reluctance to speak to strangers, my tendency of striving-for-perfection-in-an-overly-extreme-manner has resulted in the procrastination of the sending of press releases before the Grand Finale, causing no press to publish it before our event. The “cruel” fact that all presses have turned down our invitations to our showcase has also upset other leaders, which made me felt terribly guilty. Nevertheless, all of them have been very supportive and the failures that I encountered endured were, to my utmost surprise, significant in serving as a foil to the happiness and freshness we receive when seeing our first post-event press release and group photo on Wen Wei Po. My role as the leader of the press team has helped me see beyond my inadequacies, and assisted me as I began to identify my potentials and strengths, which I am going to further develop and hone. Starting is what makes all the difference. An ordinary can become the extraordinary if only one strived with his courage and embrace changes he wishes to see. Personally I have taken the first step to become a more confident and courageous person when I welcomed the job of phoning and speaking to editors and reporters from presses, and I believe more changes regarding my personality are yet to come.
While the Finale marks the end of this year’s programme, I believe it isn’t an ending point. Rather, I’d like to view it as a watershed, one that separates the modern from the out-dated. I was determined to start a new page in life. The charity showcase served as a platform for us young leaders to display vibrancy and exuberance, which are often intertwined with youthfulness. It was where principals, teachers and parents acknowledged us, where we shone on stage and turned our dreams into reality, and where our capabilities and abilities were evident. Despite that not every single person who showed up would be able to respond to our endeavours with great enthusiasm and a firm will to solicit community involvement, none of us will ever be discouraged. “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant”, I am hopeful and with faith that the seeds we sow on the audience’s hearts will sprout one day.
Thank you, ThinkSeries 2012, for without the memories you bring, my youth-hood shall never be complete. The precious moments of collaborating with my fellow teammates will certainly stay fresh in my mind for a very long time, if not a lifetime. I feel beyond blessed to have been admitted to this year’s programme and I take pride in those I met and worked with here, all of whom have been, are, and always will be, outstanding and talented in different fields.
Changes do happen regardless of the alteration in one’s attitudes, but it is crystal-clear that positive changes in our personalities can bring about a myriad of optimistic impacts. Discriminations, stereotypes, misunderstandings and prejudice are all topics we come across in our everyday life – by expressing our concern to the underprivileged, it is possible that we can free the needy from their everyday afflictions once and for all.
Youngsters of today are often considered as the uncaring and cold generation. It seems as if we’re all indifferent towards social issues. But this is not the case. To continue lighting the world and make it shine with justice and harmony requires more than the 18 of us paying time and effort. You, dear readers, can be the catalysts in contributing to the diminishing of discriminations, stereotypes, misunderstandings and prejudice. Please note that it is impossible to spell “youth” without “you”.