Saturday, 21 March 2026
“Hard work without prayer is aimless, prayer without hard work is fruitless.”
Each morning that we are given by God is not merely a beginning of everyday life, but also a symbol of new hope. To reflect on our own experience from yesterday and strengthen our faith in tomorrow, it is right, good, and just for us to thank our Creator for the many blessings He has been bestowing and continues to bestow on each and every one of us.
We are also reminded that what brings us together as one, in solidarity, is prayer. And because of God, we have the blessing to pray together as a family in this Catholic school, Shung Tak, as a family of Shungtakians.
We therefore hope that the thoughts and sharing from teachers and students on this website can resonate with the readers as they take these messages for their daily reflection in life.
May God continue to bless each and every Shungtakian.
In Lord,
RME Committee
“Choose” or “Love”, both words guide us in the same direction
Good morning, everyone.
In the movie Dangerous Minds, the main character, Ms. Johnson, who is a high school teacher, asks her students what the most powerful verb in the world is. In your opinion, what is the most powerful verb in the world? As students of a Catholic school, some of you may immediately think of the word “love”. Would Ms. Johnson’s students give the same answer?
One student responds that the most powerful verb is “choose”. She explains, “You can always choose something. That’s the difference between owning your life and being afraid.” In many ways, she’s right. We make choices constantly: we choose how to commute to school, we choose which movie to watch with our friends, we choose which Spotify playlist to listen to. Choosing has become so natural – so constant – that we barely notice it.
However, this month’s theme reminds us that choices are not guaranteed for everyone. When we choose what to have for lunch, there are people who struggle to put food on the table. When we choose not to pay attention in class, there are children whose schools have been destroyed by war. When we choose to complain about having to stand here to listen to sharing and announcements, there are people who long for the simple ability to see, to hear, or to stand on their own feet.
These reminders reveal what Ms. Johnson’s student meant: choice gives us ownership over our lives, but not everyone has that privilege. Those with fewer choices often feel vulnerable, insecure, or even hopeless.
Whether you believe the most powerful verb is “choose” or “love”, both words guide us in the same direction. They remind us that we can always choose kindness, choose compassion, and choose to spread love through simple, everyday actions. Here are a few examples:
In school, you can choose to include a classmate who often sits alone; choose to support service programmes that help people in our community; or even choose to reduce waste in the canteen so that food resources are valued.
At home, you can choose to donate clothes, books, and toys you no longer use; choose to help your family save resources; or choose to avoid unnecessary consumption.
In the community, you can choose to give up your seat on public transport; choose to support charity activities like food banks; choose to acknowledge and thank workers like cleaners and street sweepers who may have to work long hours for modest pay.
For those of you who want to go the extra mile, it would be good to develop your global awareness. The world is deeply connected, and people in different countries face different challenges. When we stay informed about what is happening around the world, we become more alert to the needs of others, and more aware of the meaningful ways we can help. Global awareness helps us see that our choices, no matter how small, can have an impact beyond our own community.
Above all, one simple yet powerful way we can support those who are suffering is to keep them in our prayers. Prayer does not require wealth or status, only compassion.
Ms Kwan HC