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Few weeks ago, a colleague forwarded me a newsclip showing that one of the athletes representing Hong Kong in this year’s World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand (4-6 November) is our alumnus, Ferdinand Tsang (Nickname, Fer). I first met Fer in September during my installation ceremony and Fer attended the ceremony in the capacity of the President of our College Alumni Association. Since I was busy during the ceremony, apart from knowing that he was a graduate of Business School, I did not have time to get to know him more. I was very curious to know how did Fer become one of the fastest mountain runners in Hong Kong. Thankful that before he left for the race in Thailand, he returned to our weekly Runner Force training, and I managed to ask Fer about his story.    

Fer first came in touch with long-distance running when he joined our Runner Force training in his year 1. The College initiated this extracurricular activity in 2013 with the goals to enhance physical fitness and provide an opportunity for students, staff, and alumni in connecting with one another. In fact, Fer was one of the first batch of students joining Runner Force. Fer enjoyed running together with other people. He soon found out that with setting goals in running and appropriate training, he was able to run faster and longer. Later, when he began to obtain prizes in open competitions, he realized his own potentials in long-distance running. Moreover, through engaging young people with problem of drug addiction in long-distance running, Fer realized that running could help people not only to build physical fitness, but also psychological fitness (for example, confidence, discipline, perseverance, resilience), thereby enabling people in overcoming their behavioral problems. After graduation, Fer eventually became a professional runner, and he also started a business with other like-minded friends in providing training in long-distance running. Since he was greatly enriched through activities and support of the College, he took up the role as President of the Alumni Association so as to give back to the College.  

Fer’s story reminded me that our time at the University is the golden time for us to probe what our passions and potentials are, be it in academics or extracurricular activities. If we work hard on our passions and potentials, we may reach heights that we may never dream of. And no matter how far we go, remember our roots. 

Fer, we are proud of you. Brothers and sisters, we are all behind you, add oil!!