YESTERDAY
written by JASMIN SIN
edited by VIRGINIA BIFFEN
artwork by JAMIE SOO
After leaving Sha Tin College in 1996, Alan Leung studied in Australia and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Accounting at Monash University. Upon his return to Hong Kong, he began his career in various global accounting firms, specializing in financial statement audits for clients in numerous industries. Working with several financial institutions like Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank, UBS Swiss Bank, and Invesco, he currently holds a Certified Public Accountant’s license and for the past twelve years, he has been working on internal audits covering the Asia Pacific Region on behalf of Citibank.
What was a regular day at school like for you?
I lived right next to the school so usually, I was the last one to get in, but I remember getting through the school day was pretty easy because all my friends were there. Nothing too difficult. I remember almost every day after school, even though I lived right next to school, I would go all the way to Mong Kok with a couple of my friends to just look at computer equipment and remote control car accessories. We were really into those things back then, and every day after school it was about going out and coming home before dinner.
Are you in contact with any of your other previous classmates? And if so, what's it like seeing how their lives have changed since you were in school?
I’m still in touch with many of my friends from Sha Tin College. It’s very interesting because everybody turned out to be different from what you’d expect. In school, you have some people that are really good at maths, really good at English or acting, science, etc. But then a lot of the time they end up doing something completely different. Two or three of them actually became doctors, I would never have imagined that! Some of them manage their own businesses, some are in accounting, architecture, law, and so forth. I think it’s just fantastic how everyone was able to fulfill their dreams, to do something they are really passionate about. My high school days were not easy. There were lots of things to endure, a lot of pressure, class, and piles of homework. But really it's just the start of, not even the start, of the real thing. It’s really just getting you prepared in terms of how you think, how you want to explore the world, and an opportunity to get to know people. To know people that will really matter and enable you to grow up with them. It's really good seeing how everybody turned out and watching them remain passionate about what they do.
What was your favourite subject in school?
Probably Economics and PE. I really liked sports and I was on the basketball team. But, Economics was really interesting and at the same time, it wasn’t that hard, for me at least. I really enjoyed maths too, I got a lot of help from my dad so I was able to do pretty well in the subject. I remember to design and communications as well. You had to do a lot of drawings in 3D. We didn’t have any 3D printers or computers at the time, so everything had to be drawn by hand. We had some introductory IT courses where students had the opportunity to make some simple sketches on the computer, but those were really basic.
Who was your favourite teacher at STC, and why?
I still remember Mr. Service, who was my PE teacher. Actually, me and my wife, because we were in the same house, Armstrong, so we have a lot of common friends from high school. My favurite teacher was Mr. Service, PE was fun. I remember Mr. Higgins as well, he was my math teacher and he was really good.
You mentioned before that you met your wife at Sha Tin College. How did you two meet and get together as a couple?
We actually went to different universities in different countries after we left Sha Tin College. It was after we came back to Hong Kong, separately. Through gatherings like Sha Tin College reunions, we got to see each other again. Somehow, in a new environment, both working, starting new jobs, starting a career, and coming back to Hong Kong from overseas, we met each other. I guess there were a lot of common things we picked up. Since we both went to the same school and had overseas experience, we had very similar backgrounds and a lot of mutual friends. So we started to see more of each other and that’s how we got together.
What is your fondest memory from your time at Sha Tin College?
The friendship. Yes, the things we learnt were useful. They helped me develop how I think and how I want to explore my future. But I think the interaction was the key aspect. The biggest thing I learnt was how to interact with people from school. I was really shy before, but having a group of friends that you can interact comfortably with, talk about your dreams with, what you wanna do when you grow up, and be able to keep in touch with them — I think that was the greatest thing I gained from my time at Sha Tin College. Just the friendship, the interactions, learning how to interact with people and how to stay friends.
Do grades really matter in the long run?
The grades, honestly, I don't think mattered that much. When I was applying for my job, I don’t think they cared too much about them. Most of the time, interviewers want to see the person. What are your aspirations? How do you communicate? Are you able to communicate in a way that enables you to work with other people? You could be really good at working by yourself, but you will never be able to successfully complete a job if you aren’t able to work with others, because jobs are all about collaboration. So, highlight your communication qualities, show that you’re able to represent yourself, have your own thinking, be able to act as a team player, and be able to lead and take initiative when the situation calls for it. I think the grades don’t matter too much when applying for jobs, as long as you try your best and don't do too badly.
What would your advice be to current Sha Tin College students?
My advice to current students is to make the most of the time you have. Take advantage of this protective environment to learn as much as possible, to explore your interests, to build up your friends and your social network. These will be very helpful when you get into university and as you start your career. Don’t be afraid to try different things, don’t be afraid of people telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. Try to develop your own thinking, try to figure out what you’re good at and explore things that you haven’t before. Don’t be afraid of new things. At the end of the day, after you graduate, after university, you’ll look back and realise high school was a piece of cake. So don’t get too hung up on your current stress. Once you get through it, you’ll realise it was really nothing in the long run.