The dragon boat powered through the waves only when the crew stroked in perfect time. The football captain rallied teammates after a missed goal. Swimmers rapidly adjusted their breathing amid high waves along the HKUST coastline.
Such examples of diligence, teamwork, and resilience were on full display at the HKUST 35A Sports Day on October 10.
Held as part of the 35th anniversary celebrations, three signature events—the HKUST Soaring Dragon Boat Regatta, the HKUST Green Gathering: Soccer Festival, and the HKUST Discovery Swim—highlighted how whole-person education at HKUST extends beyond lecture halls and into the realm of competitive sports.
Balancing Commitments
The HKUST Soaring Dragon Boat Regatta was particularly noteworthy for its emphasis on teamwork, physical and mental coordination, and sheer determination over the 200-meter races.
The Regatta presented a memorable challenge to Aggie LEUNG, a Year 2 student in Environmental Management and Technology. Having represented Hong Kong in tchoukball, she joined students from the volleyball, judo, and cheerleading teams to form a dragon boat crew, trying out this famed Hong Kong water sport for the first time just before Sports Day.
With little time to prepare, the dragon boaters had to quickly learn the basics of synchronized strokes, prompting Aggie to reflect on what diligence means.
“What sport teaches you is persistence. Your body doesn’t lie. If you put in the time and effort, you get the rewards,” she said.
That same persistence extends beyond sport for students like Aggie. While at HKUST, she has not only tried to start a women’s tchoukball team, but she has also developed a keen interest in the Investment Circle, a student organization for finance enthusiasts keen to enrich their industry knowledge and expand their networks.
Balancing sport, her interest in investment, and her commitment to her major requires the same mental synchronization as dragon boating, and should impress job recruiters.
Encouragement Breeds Success
The HKUST Green Gathering: Soccer Festival was as much about forming friendships as about playing football and, of course, scoring goals. The men’s football teams, made up of students, staff, and alumni from both the Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses, faced off in a hard-fought match.
For Jackie LEONG, a Year 4 civil engineering student and the HKUST team captain, the game was as much about communication as technical ability. With new players who hadn’t played together before still building rapport on the pitch, the HKUST team struggled to convert chances into goals in the first half.
But as captain, Jackie was well aware that understanding each other was vital for the team. He knew a good leader encouraged teammates after missed opportunities, rather than just shouting instructions.
“You have to understand your teammates’ perspectives if they’re going to respond to your ideas,” he said.
This lesson extends to his major, engineering, where, as Jackie knows well, solving problems requires listening to various people and coordinating efforts to achieve common goals.
Adapting to the Unexpected
For Jeffrey LING, a Year 3 Information Systems student, the 35A Sports Day was only his second open-water swimming experience. Unlike in a pool, sea conditions are less predictable. During the HKUST Discovery Swim—an 800-meter swim along the stunning HKUST waterfront that made history as HKUST’s first open-water swim—waves disrupted his breathing and pushed him off course, leaving him gulping seawater. To continue, he had to steady his mind, take deeper breaths, and adapt to the changing conditions.
His regular swim training leading up to the 35A Sports Day reinforced this resilience. During demanding training sets of ten 100-meter freestyle laps in the pool, fatigue often set in halfway through, challenging his ability to maintain technique and pace. But overcoming hurdles is the preparation needed for life.
“Once you have faced challenges, you're more likely to dive in instead of running away,” he reflected. Such a mindset helps him stay focused during long study sessions as a civil engineer. Looking ahead, he hopes to apply the same determination to adapt, reset, and plow on throughout his career.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Prof. LEUNG Pak-Wo, Dean of Students, highlighted that education at HKUST extends beyond academic achievements.
“Through sport, students learn to persevere when progress is difficult, work with people from diverse backgrounds, and take responsibility for one another. These experiences help them develop not only as students and athletes, but also as individuals prepared to navigate challenges and contribute to society,” he said.
In addition, Prof. Bert SHI, Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, said sport matched well with the spirit of HKUST’s 35th anniversary celebrations.
“What better way to bring HKUST’s 35th anniversary theme, ‘Where Miracles Happen,’ to life than through sport? When people come together in friendly competition, they motivate one another to surpass their limits. This event was a wonderful reflection of the Graduate School’s commitment to connecting disciplines and communities and to celebrating the courage and effort that make breakthroughs possible,” he said.
Co-organized by the Dean of Students’ Office and HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, the 35A Sports Day—and other similar occasions—hold a torch to HKUST’s commitment to whole-person education and its dedication to nurturing students who grow not only in knowledge and ability but in character and leadership.
