Yes, there is still work to do in the summer break
Yes, there is still work to do in the summer break
Sunday, 5 July 2009
I realise that this may be difficult for many people to understand, but this week (which marked the approximate mid-point of the summer break) has been a very busy period of work at the College. Even leaving aside the extensive maintenance programs that are underway, we have been preparing for the imminent start of construction of our new auditorium, we have been receiving late recommendations for enrolments from some National Committees, dealing with consultative documents, and closing off accounts for the end of the financial year.
On Thursday, I fulfilled a promise to address the Peninsula South Rotary Club on the United World Colleges movement. This was an most enjoyable and very stimulating time of sharing ideals and visions, and made me realise yet again how similar are the service goals of UWCs and Rotary International. For those who are interested, a compressed copy of my presentation (in clickable Quicktime format) can be downloaded HERE (6.3 MB). (You will need to right-click to download the file - if you try and view it on screen you will not be able to move beyond the first animation).
Yesterday afternoon I attended the farewell afternoon tea for the Hong Kong students who have been selected to enter overseas UWCs in September this year. This was a great occasion, organised (as it is each year) by the HK UWC Graduates’ Organisation and held in Graduate House on the campus of Hong Kong University. In addition to the new students, many recent (and not-so-recent) graduates came to share their thoughts and advice, something was appreciated not only by the new students but the parents of the new students who also attended.
I was pleased to deliver a short address, and it was wonderful to see the excited faces of the students again, all of whom looked considerably more relaxed than the previous time I met with them, which was during their interviews in my office! The students are destined to have some profound, life-changing experiences over the next two years, and it is a joy and privilege to be part of a process that provides such sensational opportunities for these young men and women.
A small gallery of 15 images of the farewell afternoon tea can be seen HERE.