Christian Service News
Issue 60 (July 2008)
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Blessed to know HKCS: A Mainland Social Work Graduate's Sharing
- Social Work Master Program students from Peking University
During my freshman year, nearly everyone in my class, like me, had no idea what a social worker was like at all. Our greatest concern was to change our major, as we had no confidence in social work. Our minds were constantly occupied by a sense of lost and unease. While we were going through this period of confusion and anxiety, our instructor suddenly brought us good news: A group of seasoned social workers from Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS) were coming to give us lectures on social work!
That was the first time we met genuine social workers. There was the humorous Mr. Wong Man Sing, the kind and friendly Miss Lam HowYuk, the serious and stern Mr. Kwok Wai Keung, the lively and warm Miss Yeung Yin and many others. Each instructor brought us an abundant dose of energy. The lessons on social work were like timely spring rain that fell on the heart soil of all the classmates, causing the concepts of social work to take root in our hearts. Ever since then, many of my classmates began to envision themselves becoming outstanding social workers some day.
When the challenging practicum year started in the second semester of our third year, Mr. Yu Tat Kwong and Mr. Charm Man Yung were sent to provide supervision to part of the practicum students. Here in the mainland, student social workers often encountered the inability to put their professional knowledge into practice due to incomplete social work regulations and structure. Mr. Yu helped us overcome our emotional setbacks and harmonized our relationship with the practical units. He taught us how to grab hold of every opportunity under such circumstances.
The most comforting thing was the fact that we were able to achieve significant professional performance during our practicum. Our professional ability was elevated and the metamorphosis was complete. The social worker seeds sown by HKCS four years ago will be harvested soon. I will show my appreciation to all my teachers from HKCS by working hard at my post as social worker.