Brian Chiu

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE

There is a saying in Korean that goes along the line of, “If a fisherman catches a lot of fish and wants them all to survive, he puts a bigger fish in with them, so they keep moving really fast to escape from the big fish.” This essentially means that, by escaping from the dangers, the fish don’t just survive, they thrive.

Our alumnus, Brian Chiu, who graduated in 2018, was once faced with similar challenges. Perhaps not life or death but when he was in S4, he was forced to take a gap year from school to recover from a serious medical condition that affected his schooling. The challenges he faced as he tried to reach his goals were immense, but they also brought the opportunity for growth and honed his strength in overcoming adversity. These times were surely a test of Brian’s resilience, but they were also a time that strengthened his resolve in the face of challenges, tempering him for the journey ahead.

In the article that follows, Brian shares how his determination ultimately brought him triumph as he embraced the challenges, worked tirelessly to achieve goals, and is ultimately thriving in life.

Big Fish, Little Fish

“Do you want to be a little fish to be chased and eaten by the bigger fish? Or do you just want to be the one that can survive and swim joyfully every day of your life in the sea?” This is the question I invite every Shungtakian to ponder.

I’m Brian Chiu, once a fellow Shungtakian like you. Thanks to what I learned during my time at this school, I’ve successfully entered my dream profession in the video game industry and have even been awarded a full scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Games Development in the UK. I’d like to share my journey so that you, too, can one day swim joyfully in the ‘sea’ we call society.

Becoming a video game developer has always been my dream job. To achieve this, I focused my studies on computer science. I may not have been the top student, but I consistently aimed for the scores needed to enter a bachelor’s programme that would bring me closer to my goal.

My DSE results for my ‘Best 5 Subjects’ totalled only 17 points. While this score wasn’t competitive for most universities, I was very fortunate to be offered a space in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Information and Communications Technology at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong. Unlike many traditional programmes, this degree emphasises practical skills and employment prospects, and it includes two game development modules, which was a key factor in my decision.

Opportunities in game development are scarce in Hong Kong, leading to intense competition for the few positions available. After graduation, I was fortunate to be recruited by a healthcare technology company, where I worked as a game designer, creating gamified training for the elderly.

While searching for my first job, I also applied for a master’s degree scholarship offered by my school. The application process included a challenging half-hour interview with five judges, conducted entirely in English. Thanks to my confidence in the English Language and communication skills I developed at Shung Tak, I was able to stand out among the candidates. I was ultimately awarded the scholarship and will be studying in the UK for my Master’s in Games Development.

As you can see, I may not have been traditionally successful in academia, but by striving for improvement I have still achieved my dream. I hope my story helps you realise that what you learn now can benefit you in unexpected ways.

Whether you are a big fish or a little fish, you can still roam the ocean joyfully. So, I ask all Shungtakians again – especially those grappling with motivation in their studies – “Do you want to become a little fish? Or do you simply want to swim joyfully in the sea?”