Lo Tak Sum, Agnes (’71)

Revisiting Ying Wa after 30 years

After being away from Hong Kong for 30 years, I was thankful that I could join the Heritage Tour and visit the new campus of Ying Wa Girls’ School on November 2, 2024. Having been busy at different life stages has prevented me from visiting Hong Kong earlier. After my divorce, I went back to my studies and qualified as a psychotherapist. I was thankful that the Lord healed me. I wanted to help others through walking with them in their distress, and enabling them to heal and be free from mental burdens. I used to be the caregiver of my aging parents. Now they have passed away and I am also retired. It’s a time to reminisce about the fruits of my life and do things that I enjoy doing, such as connecting with old friends, visiting my mother school and my hometown, Hong Kong.

Innovation and Fond Memories

I have seen pictures and videos of the new campus before, but that cannot be compared with visiting the school in person. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by Mr Francis Kwan, the school principal, and other staff. As we started the tour from the main entrance, I saw the sign of “Praise the Lord” in front of a tree in the courtyard, welcoming me. It exactly echoed how I feel in my relationship with God! I was amazed by the magnificent, innovative architectural design of the new campus. At the same time, fond memories were brought back when I saw the artifacts displayed inside the 1926 Heritage Block. I was also fascinated by the creative photographic presentation of our school history. As I walked along the Timeline Wall on top of the grand steps, I was able to view photographs of different major school events. With every step, my vision would reach a different angle of this 3-D installation, and the stationary photographs came alive, like I was flipping through a huge photo album. This was such a unique experience!

Sitting at the old school desk in a Form 6 classroom brought back memories of my school days as an innocent teenager: how I was being shaped by caring teachers and grew up together with friends treating each other with a pure heart! A sense of gratitude swelled as I saw the numerous bricks engraved with names of individuals or groups who have come together to display the community spirit. It’s a community of love perpetuating the love we have received to the next generation.

A Christian Education

I was impressed by the love and sacrifice of the principals, especially the missionaries. Through reading their journals, I learnt that they received a very humble salary. They devoted their lives to promoting women’s education through their ministries in education. Their contribution to society was far-reaching and they lived a fruitful life in inspiring the younger generations. Through their efforts, young women were given the opportunity not just to study, but also be nurtured in their body and soul, and be equipped to flourish socially and spiritually. They will then be able to live their lives to their best potentials.

I was an atheist when I was a student at Ying Wa. I wasn’t interested in attending the morning assemblies, but I remember how the Rev Lee Ching Chee exhorted us to serve others and in return, we would be rewarded. I am now a devoted Christian, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to study at Ying Wa where I have been shaped and nurtured with good values. I am proud to be a Ying Wa girl.