“Speak for those that can not speak for themselves”
Proverbs 31:8
Voice from the Congregation
About this blog series:
We believe that the gospel is to shape not just our so-called ‘spiritual’ lives but every part of life including our work. As such, we want to hear from members of our congregation as to how the gospel speaks to their different vocational contexts. In this blog we’re looking at the life of a university student.
Most of us who have been at Watermark for a while would know Dorcas. She started coming to Watermark when she was in middle school, but she has now transitioned into university! She recently finished her second year of Speech & Hearing Therapy at the University of Hong Kong.
Dorcas in the middle in light blue
Coming to HKU
“Transitioning to HKU was not hard”, says Dorcas. “I had been on campus quite often when I was in high school because the food in the canteens was cheap and good.” Initially Dorcas didn’t think about studying at the university that was a stone’s throw away from her high school, she wanted to study abroad instead. She had applied to study neuroscience at various universities but her class teacher suggested she should consider Speech and Hearing Therapy. “My teacher knew I liked kids and talking so perhaps that is why she suggested me to study Speech and Hearing”. Dorcas still wanted to have the option to study in Hong Kong so she decided to apply for this program at HKU.
“It is actually quite amazing how I got in. I had applied for other uni’s in Hong Kong as well, but I was not free to go to the interviews and I did not really want to travel all the way. HKU was not too far from where I was, so when my friend called me a day before the interview to ask me if I had prepared, I decided I would put some time into it. When I went to the group interview it was really fun. We had to write a plan for communicating with people that had a language disorder, like dementia. I liked the collaborative effort and the direct help we could give to people.” This experience made her realise that her teacher’s suggestion might not have been a bad one!
Not long after, Dorcas found herself at HKU. However, all her classes were moved online two months after the start of her university life due to the social unrest and Covid-19 subsequently. Looking back at these past two years, she would say that they were challenging but fruitful. “In some ways it was easier to meet with people, as some people wanted to be reached out to. While it was harder to meet new people, it was easier to stay in touch with old friends.” However, Dorcas was still able to meet some new friends.
God Created Universities
University is very different from high school in which you are with the same people throughout your classes. At uni you meet many different people, they come and go. “I think God created university for people to come to know about Him. Students tend to be reflective and want to exchange ideas so people can be more open to hear the gospel. I also think that God wants us to be academically equipped and to give us a purpose in life. I am learning that I would like to reach out to families and kids so I want to be professionally prepared. University gives you a place to find out more about your personal skillset and you can also find out what kind of mission you are interested in.
The Importance of Communicating
Dorcas found her purpose in her field of study. I am studying more about communication and I realise how important it is for people to feel included. Her degree helps her to counsel and give encouragement to those that she is helping. She wants to integrate them in a community by giving them tools to speak. “Expression is very important. Without the ability to express yourself, you could easily fall into depression. We need to be heard and cared for and I would love to provide this to kids and the elderly”. I want their voices to be able to be heard.
Her studies help Dorcas to be more amazed of God: While people may have problems communicating, they are always able to communicate with God. “It is so special when we know that we can always come to a Father that hears you without any cost. Speech and Hearing Therapy makes me happy I could pray.
Outer Appearance
While university is a free space, it can also be a place where unhelpful ideas and theories can be expressed and where relationships between people can become very transactional. Dorcas gives the example of group projects. Many people are looking for group partners that are responsible and would guarantee a good grade for projects. It is quite saddening as this attitude is very different from God’s outpouring love.
Furthermore, Dorcas sees on campus how people tend to praise creation rather than our Creator. People strive to find success, fame and beauty in the wrong places. She sees how many students are searching up the latest beauty bloggers so that they can alter their appearance to the extent that they care more about external beauty instead of inner beauty.
A Shelter for the Weak
At the same time it is also a place of God’s redemption and restoration. “There are many fellowships on campus. God is sending out many believers to non-believers to witness of who He is. Many of my friends also are reaching out to different people.”
One way in which Dorcas sees how God is revealing Himself to university students is by reminding them of their own weakness. It may sound strange, but there are a lot of people that are working really hard to get a good grade, yet may not get what they desire. I think God is using this to reveal himself. Moreover, students are also faced with much injustice and they are not always able to change this. I think these are moments when we realise our need for God; our need for a higher power in which we can find shelter.
Dorcas has seen God work in the people she has interacted with. “I recently had a conversation with someone that does not know God about the purpose of life. My christian friends and I all shared what we believed our life purpose was. He admired this and mentioned that he had no idea what he was really living for. Dorcas has seen people soften up to the gospel but realises she needs a lot of patience and hopes to one day see them come to faith.
Hope for HKU
So what are Dorcas’ hopes and dreams for HKU? She is aware of the changes that are coming to the university campus, yet she prays it will continue to be a space of unity and freedom. “I hope there will always be a group of christians on this campus that can show love to people in uni.”