Becoming Your Own Light

Ms Wong Man-yi Vanessa, Graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Language Studies 2012/13

I am currently practising as a Barrister-at-law, working at 18LC in Hong Kong. I have the opportunity to travel to other cities to give lectures to students from Chinese Mainland, Central Asia, and Europe. It is always a privilege to learn and grow through these experiences.

Before reading law, I studied Language Studies at The Hong Kong Institute of Education and later Comparative Literature at The University of Hong Kong. My path was not a straight one, but every step taught me something important. While studying literature, I began to understand more clearly that I wanted to equip myself to protect those in need and contribute to society in a more direct way.

The journey has not always been easy. There were times when others did not fully understand what I was doing or why I chose this path. But over time, I learned that not everyone needs to understand your journey. The most important thing is to stay true to yourself, listen carefully, and think independently. Not all comments are genuine. We need to keep moving forward with courage and faith.

Reflecting on my journey, the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language Studies programme provided a strong foundation. It equipped me with robust communication skills rooted in language proficiency, while my study of comparative literature fostered deep critical thinking. This background has stood me in excellent stead.

One of my favourite authors, the Japanese nature photographer and explorer Michio Hoshino, wrote in The Traveling Tree (「旅をする木」): “Everyone is on a journey in their lives... in pursuit of the light of existence.” I hope you will remember that you are never limited by labels or expectations. Each of us can become our own light—and shine in our own way.
 

Serving as team coach for the University of Amsterdam at the Frits Kalshoven International Humanitarian Law Competition (Netherlands and Belgian Red Cross)

Serving as Presiding Judge for the International Criminal Court Moot Competition (China National Round) 

Lecture on Legal Drafting at the Hunan Normal University