This year, I returned to New Asia College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong as a mentor in the Mentorship Programme. More than a decade has passed since I graduated in 2012, yet walking back onto campus still feels familiar and different at the same time. During my student years, I received support, guidance, and encouragement from professors, seniors, and alumni. Now, it feels meaningful to give back and to walk alongside younger students who may be feeling uncertain about their direction in life, stressed about academic expectations, or anxious about the future.
The Academic Code of New Asia College states: “While pursuing knowledge, also learn how to cultivate your moral character. The two goals are to be achieved as an integrated whole.” This principle influenced me greatly when I was a student and continues to shape my life today. Learning is not simply about gaining qualifications or technical skills, and being a good person is not merely about following rules. The goal is to allow knowledge and character to grow together. A meaningful life comes from aligning what we know, how we think, and who we choose to be. This is one of the most valuable insights I hope mentees will take with them.
However, becoming a mentor has been more challenging than I initially imagined. Many students today seem to lack a sense of hunger, motivation, or direction. Some are studying fields that do not reflect their interests. Others feel limited by academic requirements, which narrow their perspective on what is possible. Many do not fully realize how many opportunities exist around them. Scholarships, overseas exchange programs, internships, alumni support, cultural activities, and mentorship networks are widely available, yet often remain unused. The resources are present, but the drive to explore and take initiative is weaker than it could be. I understand that this generation faces new pressures, including uncertainty and a fear of making mistakes. Yet, personal growth requires curiosity, active questioning, and the willingness to try.
One aspect that inspires me is the long-standing culture of the Mentorship Programme. Many mentors have contributed for twenty years or more, offering their time, stories, and encouragement. This is a form of informal education that helps students understand life beyond textbooks. Mentorship is not a formal teacher-student relationship. It is a friendship built on trust, time, sincerity, and shared experience. Much of what we pass on is not technical knowledge. It is perspective, judgment, values, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions.
For mentees to get the most value, it is important to be proactive. Initiate conversations. Ask questions, even if they feel uncertain or incomplete. Share your concerns and goals. Meet your mentor at least once each semester. Explore the many opportunities that the college environment offers. University is one of the rare stages of life where knowledge, freedom, connection, and support are available in such abundance.
For mentors, we can support mentees by sharing our personal experiences honestly, including our struggles and mistakes. We can create shared experiences such as workplace visits, hikes, museum trips, cultural events, or exploring historical areas. These activities provide natural opportunities to talk about identity, purpose, career choices, and the process of becoming oneself.
In the end, mentorship is not about providing fixed answers. It is about walking with someone as they learn to find their own answers. It is not about shaping a mentee into a particular version of success. It is about helping them recognize that they have choices, resources, and the ability to grow.
If mentoring can help even one student feel more confident, more grounded, and more willing to take responsibility for their life and future, then the effort is worth it. The spirit of New Asia College lives on when we learn, grow, and support one another.
May we continue to walk this journey together.
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