Oustanding Alumni - Mr Hung Ming Lung Aslan

I still remember my first visit to the EdUHK campus. The taxi driver, misled by incorrect directions, stopped at the end of the driveway. After stepping out, I walked back up the slope toward Block D when suddenly a large swarm of unidentified butterflies flew toward me. That sky filled with butterflies was a sight I had never witnessed before in my life.
Later, when I shared this experience with my classmates, they all dismissed it as a fabrication.
This extraordinary scene somehow perfectly encapsulated my university years. During that time, beyond my studies, I seemed to have ventured down several seemingly futile paths that others avoided.

Fresh into university, drawing courage from some unknown wellspring, I boldly stepped into the role of department student representative. This self-imposed responsibility connected me deeply with the department and kindled my interest in its development and curriculum. In my second year, my creative writing assignment fortunately caught Dr Wong Leung-wo's attention. In the years that followed, he personally guided my writing journey and invited me to join the literary society—marking the beginning of my path as a writer. I continued learning and writing, gradually earning several literary awards that affirmed my direction. During my senior years, I had the privilege of participating in teaching research with several professors who encouraged me to consider curriculum development from a more holistic perspective.

After graduation, these seeds remained firmly rooted within me. I often wondered whether I could balance both teaching and writing in my career. In this field, some excel at writing, while others at teaching. I deeply hoped to master both.
So I persisted with my writing, publishing my poetry collection last year, and am currently preparing a collection of essays. Beyond my own work, I began promoting literature in secondary schools, encouraging students in their creative endeavours. Many have since won literary awards in their age category. It brings me joy to witness how literature offers them achievement and validation, perhaps creating subtle yet meaningful shifts in their lives. I've also worked to bridge schools, establishing an inter-school network with colleagues from various institutions to create a writing platform welcoming submissions from all Hong Kong secondary students. In recent years, I've had the privilege of giving talks at numerous schools, sharing my perspectives on teaching and writing.

To this day, I continue to contemplate how I might do more, hoping that my modest efforts can help nurture a culture of literary appreciation.

Fortunately, I saw that swarm of butterflies that day.