Vibrant U life in the “mystery box”
Marcelino Cheung Ho-chai
HKMU is like a mystery box. If you are willing to take one step forward and check what's in there, you'll discover something very interesting.
Marcelino Cheung Ho-chai
Year 4, Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Language Studies and Translation
“Hello everyone! I'm Marcelino Cheung Ho-chai, a Year 4 student in Language Studies and Translation.” On first impression, Marcelino came across as gentle and polite, with a blushing smile. It was hard to imagine him as the active, energetic Student Ambassador he is known to be and an enthusiastic participant in university events. “I also joined the HKMU taekwondo team, and I'm a taekwondo coach, too!” he beams.
Back in Secondary 3, Marcelino had a class teacher from Korea, who did not know Chinese. That was when Marcelino first attempted to be a translator. “Whenever my teacher needed to attend meetings and assemblies, I translated the Chinese into English for him,” he reminisces. “That experience aroused my interest in translation. After graduating from secondary school, I decided to study translation and chose the Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Language Studies and Translation programme offered by the then OUHK.”
Marcelino focused on his studies in his first year at university and was rewarded with good grades. As a result, he received an email from the University inviting outstanding students to apply for the Student Ambassador programme. Interested students were required to submit an application video. Marcelino wanted to give it a try. “I made a short video with shots taken in different scenes, in which I introduced my personal characteristics and interests. Fortunately, I was selected,” he says.
The new role gave him a fresh start, broadening his horizons and pushing him to learn more. “Through the Student Ambassador programme, I've played various roles in different university events, such as master of ceremonies, student helper and even project officer. These experiences have helped me develop a lot of soft skills, including interpersonal skills,” says Marcelino. “But most importantly, I've made friends with my fellow Student Ambassadors. We even formed a WhatsApp group named 'SA Foodie' to go shopping and food hunting together,” he adds with a broad smile.
As a Student Ambassador, Marcelino has participated in several study tours organised by the Student Affairs Office (SAO), including tours to New Zealand and the other parts of the Greater Bay Area. He has also become motivated to jump at all sorts of learning opportunities that become available. He is particularly impressed with the summer school he attended at Yonsei University in Korea via the SAO's Global Learning Scheme. “There I met a taekwondo lecturer, who invited me and an exchange student from Seattle to be teaching assistants. Therefore, I had the opportunity to join many classes and meet a lot of teachers. I also made a dance video with another exchange student from the United States to compete in a talent show held by the University!” he laughs.
Marcelino's four-year university journey is nearing the end. Through his three years as a Student Ambassador and his active participation in campus activities, he has developed a strong bond with HKMU. “I think HKMU is like a mystery box. If you are willing to take one step forward and check what's in there, you'll discover something very interesting,” he concludes. After graduating from the University, he hopes to stay connected with his alma mater and share his experience with his fellow students, passing on the spirit of HKMU Student Ambassadors.
