Hello, I am Brian, the awardee of the Hong Kong 10 Outstanding University Students 2023. I studied at Tauranga Boys College (TBC) in New Zealand before returning to Hong Kong to pursue higher education. During my time there, I laid my foundation and gained self-confidence.
When I first went to New Zealand, I felt very confused. At TBC, I learnt a lot of new subjects that I had not learnt before. It was quite difficult for me because I didn’t have any foundation in these subjects and I am not a native English speaker. I felt inferior compared to the locals. I felt scared when I had to study these subjects in English. At first, I couldn’t even understand what the teachers were saying. I couldn’t understand their accents, which made me confused.
Fortunately, I got good teachers who would spend time with me and help me understand the main points. For example, in my psychology class, whenever I couldn’t understand any of the points, my teacher was always willing to take the time to explain them to me. He would try to explain in simple words and phrases to make it easier for me to understand.
My host parents also helped me a lot. My host mum used to be an English teacher at TBC, so she is very good at teaching English. Luckily, whenever I talk to her, she teaches me new vocabulary and corrects my grammar mistakes. She helps me improve my English every day. My host father has also been very supportive. He often buys things to encourage me. He is also a good cook. He cooked really well and I enjoyed it a lot.
With everyone’s support, encouragement and hard work, I finally achieved over 80 excellent credits in the NCEA LV3 exam. It’s a pretty good result that confirms all my hard work. I feel quite happy about it because it shows that I have lived up to the people who helped me.
In addition to academic success, TBC offered many practical skills and opportunities. For example, the Business course would really teach you how to write a business proposal, and if you really want to experience what it’s like to run a business, the teacher would guide you through writing a funding proposal. In such a supportive environment, I was able to run my company, a social enterprise that works with young artists, supporting them to further their development in the arts. With this innovative idea and the company’s proven track record, I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020.
TBC has nurtured me in many ways and helped me develop. I am delighted to have received my secondary education at TBC. I highly recommend anyone interested in studying in New Zealand to consider studying at this lovely school.
