From introvert to extrovert:
Yan Wong shares how she reinvents herself
“I had loads of chances to perform in front of crowds, but I turned them down because I didn't feel confident enough,”
says Yan Wong, who describes herself as an introvert, shy and not good at expressing herself in the past. Upon entering university, she made up her mind to stop lying low and volunteered for the Student Ambassador (SA) programme at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU). She threw herself into photography, videography and hosting duties, relished the process – and unexpectedly discovered a different side to herself.
Stepping from shadows into spotlight
The first brave step marked the beginning of her transformation. In her second year, Yan mustered up her courage to sign up for the MU Student Ambassador programme, which attracted nearly 150 applicants. After several rounds of selection and interviews, she emerged successful. Training in public speaking, hosting and event planning proved a rare challenge for her. Prone to “social anxiety”, she was unaccustomed to speaking before an audience and once considered withdrawing, but every time she completed an event successfully, she felt an immense sense of fulfilment.
Each opportunity boosted Yan's confidence and nudged her out of the wings and into the spotlight. She remembers one gig at the HKMU Career Fair when the mic went haywire and echoed like mad. It completely threw her off. “I was so gutted afterwards, I just knew I could've done better.” The Student Affairs Office (SAO) staff encouraged her to have another crack. Although she had only been handed the Chinese script at first, their encouragement gave her the push she needed to host in English for the very first time, and it went off without a hitch. “That's when it hit me: if I'm willing to have a go, I can actually pull it off.”
Finding joy onstage and offstage
“Seize every opportunity and do my very best.” This has been Yan's deepest insight since becoming an SA. The variety of ambassadorial activities allowed her to showcase her talents in different settings. A keen videographer, she explains: “The SAO staff spotted my camera kit and got me to shoot and edit the events. I was even told to let loose with ideas and come up with my own video angles and storylines.”
In her third year as an SA, she and a friend voluntarily devised an event proposal, organising and planning a themed seminar. Many young people feel uncertain about the future; as someone fascinated by the YouTuber industry, Yan invited the popular online content creation team “Pomato” to speak at Tai Kwun in Central. Under the theme “Embrace the Ordinary, Pursue the Extraordinary”, the event was meant to inspire students to explore themselves and seek broader possibilities.
Having gone from an introvert to a full-blown extrovert, Yan suddenly found herself with a whole circle of friends – proof that her transformation really paid off. Looking back, she reflects: “Signing up as an SA was the best thing I ever did. People often reckon MU life is a bit dull without halls or proper 'U-Life', but once you throw yourself into campus activities, you meet students from every department. Suddenly university feels a lot more exciting, and you naturally start to feel at home.”
Last year, she joined a study tour to Vietnam and Singapore with fellow SAs, visiting Jardine Schindler's factory in Vietnam and Google's office in Singapore. Alongside enriching her overseas learning, it deepened friendships.
A lover of animals, Yan regularly volunteers with the Hong Kong SPCA. She also collaborated with nine other MU students in the SAO's “Me&U Community Caring Programme”, producing a video on pet abandonment. “Shooting solo is one thing, but working with a team's a whole different kettle of fish. Everyone's got their own ideas. If you don't chat things through and show a bit of respect, you'll never end up with something that pleases everyone,” she says.
During her time at MU, Yan has become more proactive and cheerful; she enjoys participating in activities and savours the joy of communication. Stepping outside her comfort zone, she discovered that, rather than working in isolation, she hopes her future career will involve interacting with people. Studying for the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Food Testing Science at MU, she has also applied to be a theme-park guide. “I'm up for trying new things and tackling whatever comes my way. Down the line, I'd love to dive into food development or the more creative side of food, chatting with all sorts of people and letting my imagination run wild.”
Yan Wong
