3
Life is a Beauty
FEB 2015
UMP
大學廣場
P
rofessionalism.
Having met and moved by many devoted locals sharing the same passion and
persistence in helping others while realizing the environmental constraints, Professor Lau decided
to provide professional training to local postgraduate students in school counselling rather than
providing frontline counselling service. He began to work with the Faculty of Teacher Education of Sichuan
Normal University in offering training programmes for students ranging from basic counselling concepts,
post-trauma stress management workshop, self-exploration group to comprehensive school guidance
programmes in the past 7 years. “Limited my capacity may be,“ says Professor Lau. “I still hope I can expend
my effort in providing professional training to local students who would continue to serve there. Now many of
the graduates are working in various primary schools, secondary schools and universities in Sichuan or even
other provinces. Tears came out from my eyes every time I presented my concluding remarks of the training
because I saw hope in them.”
P
ersistence.
Not only does Professor Lau sees hope in his students, his students also see hope in
him. Since 2008, he persisted to visit Sichuan twice every year, one for professional training and
one for pastoral care. “Students told me they felt energized to see me because many people came
in 2008 but I am the very few that persisted,” he says.
P
assion.
He enjoyed making time to visit students. He has recently made his 15th visit – this time to
attend the wedding of his students. “I know a lot of people in Sichuan now,” he giggles. “I was even
called Yeh Yeh (grandpa) there!” Joy and satisfaction beamed across his face. He cherishes the
warm and trusting relationship with the local students who see him as a teacher, a friend or even a family
member. The care Professor Lau has learned and received from his own teachers in the CUHK has fueled
him to give the same love and care to his students now.
P
ay it Forward.
For Professor Lau, life education is not confined in the classroom or constrained by
geographical boundary. “I teach my students to learn to help others like how I have been doing to
them,” he says. “At the same time, they have to teach their own students to help those around them.
Pay it forward – that’s it!”
Professor Lau’s own hope story
On 12th May 2008, Sichuan Earthquake
took place and caused tens of thousands
of casualties. Feeling deeply saddened like
many Hong Kong people, Professor Lau
hoped he could contribute with his expertise
in counselling. At the end of May, he went to
Sichuan with Professor Hau Kit Tai.
Upon arrival, they were hamstrung by
various limitations despite their passion to
help. “At first, I felt heavy-hearted after I had
a counselling session with a S.4 student
because I knew that I would be staying for
a few days only so I would not be able to
provide long-term follow-up counselling
service to clients like her,” he sighs. In spite
of the constraints, he insisted on offering help with his expertise and he wondered how he could help most effectively.
Fortunately, his hope was soon ignited by a local master student in psychology who volunteered to assist him in running a
workshop on stress management for a group of secondary school students. This successful experience with the workshop
inspires him on the direction of his work in Sichuan.
