2024 Second Quarter Reflections (Part 1)
The second quarter of 2024 was a period of transition — bidding farewell to the city of Hong Kong, a second home for the past 7.5 years. Yet, with life stage transitions and longer term aspirations, I have come to realize that it is time to move on, and I feel grateful for the friendships, challenges, and growth that the city blessed me with. “Cities have become the place where people go in their twenties to try on different identities. Then, once they know who they are, they leave.”, wrote David Brooks in the book “The Social Animal.” I’m still halfway in cultivating this identity, but Hong Kong has blessed me with perspective — it is a city with strong character, and I am immensely grateful for this leg of the journey. I divide my second quarter reflection into 2 parts: the first part recollects time spent in Hong Kong, and the second part follows with time spent in Taiwan.
Why Hong Kong?
During my first year as an international student in HKUST, I was asked the question a lot. Back then, I gave slightly vague answers that I did not have full conviction of: “Hong Kong has a multi-cultural environment, it is Asia’s finance hub, and I look forward to HKUST’s curriculum (more practical training and taught in English)”.
Years went by quickly, and as I asked myself the question “Why Hong Kong?” 7.5 years later, I could respond with more concrete answers. Hong Kong granted me (1) a Greater China perspective, (2) abundant practical training and opportunities as an undergrad, and (3) diverse encounters in a multi-faceted society.
(1) Greater China perspective: Working side by side with Hong Kong locals and Chinese classmates/ colleagues, I absorbed cultural dynamics and built an open-minded perspective through camaraderie in sports teams, classrooms, and the workplace. Perspective is built from appreciating their merits — diligent working ethics and competitive drive (China); efficiency and multi-cultural openness (HK) while acknowledging their limitations — materialistic and superficial mindsets (for certain individuals). “You will meet people with different values and upbringings, and through reflection and engagement, you will ultimately construct your own and find yourself.”, said ******.
(2) Abundant practical training as a student: 3 internships in different fields (Technology startup, Asset management investment research, Global Markets sales and trading) exposed me to the different facets of finance, and Hong Kong provides abundant opportunities for undergraduates in the field.
(3) Diverse encounters in a multi-faceted society: I’ve met extremely kind and welcoming individuals (Mentors, international classmates, locals) — whose selfless sharing and helpful guidance greatly astounded me during the first encounter. They warmth kindled a lighthouse inside the heart, reminding us to pay it forward when we could. I’ve also encountered “the dark side of human nature”, not to be elaborated, but it also granted perspective and taught memorable lessons. That’s the painful part of growth, but shapes perspective, nonetheless.
Work Reflections
After graduation, I spent nearly 4 years in a big organization, and was blessed with guidance and mentorship from a supportive team — yet it was time to move on. “Youngsters nowadays start their careers in big organizations. I see them as graduate schools for work, introducing disciplines, routines, and systems, the details and numbers that matter, the people who can be relied upon. Yet, if your big organization does not provide you with opportunities to take initiative and make a difference, you will soon earn the intimacy of a smaller group. Move on, having finished your graduate internship.”, said Charles Handy. I gathered some of my thoughts in these first years of work, as follows:
§ Importance of mentorship and peer relationships: “Sometimes you need to lean onto someone, sometimes you can be the shoulder for others to learn on. Pay it forward.” They help you are giving out today could be the help that you one day receive from others.
§ Your reputation is built steadily with time and maintained carefully until the last moment…until retirement.
§ Consistency and persistence of work discipline shines through.
§ 好聚好散: “It is important to leave with good terms with the team, and I think you did well with that.”, said A***.
§ Importance of the first manager: “They say that the first manager makes an lasting impact to one’s career. It subtly shapes working ethics, communication style, and interpersonal relationships.” T*** taught me about taking responsibility, attention to detail, and stepping up. She demonstrated to me the two facets of leadership — being an assertive leader while showing care and empathy towards individuals.
§ You own your career: Personal growth by putting into extra work, pivoting your career path, voicing out for yourself, connecting with mentors. It takes time, proactive effort, and resilience to figure it out and weather storms. “There is no longer a thing as a secure job. You take care of your career — the training you will need, planning for the next move, pensions, and medical care.”, wrote Charles Handy.
Farewells with Hong Kong
“For me to grow, I must release my grip on this present, well-known trapeze bar and move to the new one.” The second quarter of 2024, I bid farewell to old friends and familiar rituals in Hong Kong. Looking back, Hong Kong was a sea of unknown for me in 2016 — I navigated the currents of Cantonese, the fast pace of the city, the academic environment at HKUST, and the liberty of university and independence.
I was grateful to catch up with old pals who shared a portfolio of memories since university. I realized that enduring friendships are crafted through a rich portfolio of joys and sorrows, or if mutual hobbies keep both bounded together. I recalled sharing the news of my departure with D****, a friend whom I’ve met since the first year of University. We’ve shared ups and downs from our first summer internship together at Cyberport, academic endeavors in selecting University majors, and worked in the same professional field. We always had many mutual conversations in our academics and professional endeavors, but after these common stages are over, I found that what bounded us together was our mutual appreciation of history and arts. D**** enjoys water paintings while I love Chinese ink paintings, and we’ve both been avid learners of our craft. I enjoyed listening to her talk about dynamics about outdoor sketches, her classes at ateliers, capturing natural landscapes for her water paintings. I shared my inspirations from Chinese exhibitions, my beginner’s observation when practicing Chinese ink paintings, and the connections between Chinese calligraphy and Chinese ink paintings. Academic and work settings are temporary stages that transcend with time, but mutual passions and values are what that bounds us in the long term.
Tram Party in Hong Kong
The 2-hour tram party was too short to say goodbye to the past 7.5 years in Hong Kong, but it was a nice farewell to the brilliant lights and hectic passersby of the city. I am extremely grateful for all the friendships along the way since my first year here in university. Just as **** said, as internationals, “We are all thinking about when to leave the city — we each have our time.” In discussing with ****** her transition into business studies in Hong Kong, she said, “Each stage has its challenges — whenever we cross one milestone, we have to get prepared for the next mountains to conquer.” We each get on and off at different stations in life, but I am grateful to have shared a beautiful ride.
MBCT Mindfulness Course
Full reflections shared in another entry
In my last meditation course, the instructor ******* ended the practice with “How may I bring a kind awareness to the rest of the day, the next phases of my life?”
§ How am I feeling? Be aware of your attention quality and emotions — and how they could impact your actions and decisions. Take a step back and gain a better perspective of your emotional states so that you have more agency of yourself.
§ Am I reacting or responding? Take a 3-step breathing practice or simply slow down. Give yourself some space between the difficult situation and your reaction — sit with the difficult emotion for a while and slow down. We can respond more skillfully to different situations once we are more conscious of our situation and decisions; not reacting immediately that could lead to regretful afterthoughts.
§ Is this a nourishing or depleting activity — and is it influenced by my energy, attitude, or scheduling? Be conscious of your decisions — whether activities committed may become nourishing or depleting due to your energy, attitude, and scheduling of the day.
Travels in China
I travelled to a few cities in China after bidding farewell to Hong Kong. The travelogues are shared in different blog entries:
