A Miscommunication Relay Race

Ng Tsz Yan, Cheryl (4A)

It’s Sports Day again, so I thought I’d share what happened between my friend and me recently. It was our school’s annual Sports Day, and the energy on the field was as lively as a festival. Everyone was either cheering or preparing for their events. My friends and I had been selected to represent our class in the relay race, which was one of the most anticipated events. With our strong friendship, we thought we would have no problem working together. We were very confident—maybe even overconfident—thinking it would be easy to win. But little did we know, this race wasn’t just about testing our speed, but also our communication and teamwork.

As we all thought we had the race in the bag, we didn’t practice at all. On the day of the race, the whistle blew, and the race began. The first runner from our class sprinted off as fast as lightning, smoothly passing the baton to my friend, Amelia. Everything was going great so far. As the third runner—my other friend, Hazel—started to approach me, we hadn’t communicated beforehand on how and when to pass the baton. I misjudged her speed and stretched my hand out too early. Hazel passed me the baton as quickly as she could since she saw me. In a split second, the baton tumbled to the ground like a rock falling off a cliff. I quickly picked it up, but the damage was done; it was too late. The gap between the other teams and us widened, and we went from taking the lead to falling behind. As a result, we placed fourth out of eight teams. It wasn’t too bad, but if we had communicated well, we could have been the winners. This doesn’t mean I only care about winning, though. I know safety comes first, friendship comes second, and competition comes last. Still, I think it’s a shame we could have done better since I know we are capable of it.

After the race, I felt the disappointment hanging in the air, but there was an unspoken tension between me and Hazel. I knew it wasn’t fully my fault since the rest of us had agreed not to practice, but I couldn’t help but feel it was because I reached out to take the baton too early. I felt very bad since the first two runners had done so well. Deep in my thoughts, Amelia decided to break the tension because we all knew Hazel was also blaming herself. Amelia said that it was all our fault; what happened had happened, so we should leave it behind and look forward, making sure not to repeat it the next time we had a relay race.

On the way home, I really thought about what Amelia said; it was an eye-opener for me. I realized that just because we have known each other for a long time, are close, and have a strong bond doesn’t mean we work together naturally. The problem wasn’t the baton but the lack of communication between the four of us. I learned that having a good friendship doesn’t automatically mean good teamwork. As the saying goes, 'A car can’t run without fuel.’ It’s the same situation: a team can’t function without good communication. We didn’t discuss the baton pass, and we didn’t give clear signals throughout the time we had before the race. Instead of working like a synchronized machine, we all acted individually. Our teamwork was like a puzzle with missing pieces—being incomplete.

This year, Sports Day was a memorable experience for me. It made me reflect on many things in life, not only related to the relay race. We may have lost the chance to win, but we gained something more valuable. To me, teamwork is like a chain; your entire effort falls apart if you’re not in sync and don’t communicate. Moreover, if we get another chance to compete in the relay race, we will surely communicate more clearly and practice beforehand. Clear communication is the foundation of success. Moving forward, I will apply this meaningful lesson not just to Sports Day, but also to daily situations. Thinking back to the day before Sports Day, I never thought this incident would happen between my friends and me. I’ve learned a lot from this experience, and I hope everyone reading this can learn from what I’ve shared and avoid making the same mistakes I did.

Introducing the English Movie Club

Lau Chun Yee, Charlie (4B)

Good morning, Principal, teachers and fellow students,

As the president of the English Movie Club, I’m excited to stand before you today to share a great opportunity to improve your English language and enrich your school experience in a truly unique way – joining the English Movie Club. Have you ever found yourself deeply moved by a film? Perhaps you’ve laughed, cried or even felt inspired to make a change in your life? Movies have a powerful ability to connect us to stories, cultures and ideas. If you want to enhance your language and communication skills, our club is the perfect place for you.

You may wonder what the movie club does. To commence with, one of our main activities is organizing film festivals. We will invite guest speakers including filmmakers and industry professionals to our school. You’ll know more about the selections from different genres and cultures. Also, we will hold a variety of events during the festival, such as filmmaking workshops. You’ll have the chance to create a short film and engage in discussions about the plots and characters with fellow club members.

Additionally, we will hold movie screening sessions. We will showcase some popular films and trailers. Imagine spending an afternoon watching films from a selected director. This not only gives you a great opportunity to appreciate filmmaking, but also helps you understand what the messages are delivered through the films.

Now, let’s talk about the benefits of joining the English Movie Club. First, being a part of our club can definitely enhance your language skills. By watching films in English, you will learn new words, phrases and rich expressions, which are important for you to enhance the abilities of listening and speaking. These skills are valuable not just for academic learning, but also for your future life.

Secondly, the club fosters critical thinking. You will learn to analyze themes, commenting on plots and characters. You can participate in post-viewing discussion, which will not only help you articulate your thoughts clearly but also make informed decisions in your daily life.

The chance to join us is wonderful. If you are interested in discussing movies from different angles or want to enhance your language skills, please join our club by signing your name on the flyer stapled to the notice board. I hope to see you at our next club meeting! Thank you!

A Letter of Advice

Liu Wing Sum, Summer (4C)

Dear M.J.,

I have received your letter. I understand your frustration over your parents' reaction to your wish of owning a tablet. In today's fast-paced world, owning a tablet could certainly be more efficient in handling your daily tasks. However, it is understandable that your parents might have some worries when it comes to letting you own one, and therefore, giving you a harsh answer that destroys your mood. On the other hand, there are some ways that could persuade them into changing their mind.

Firstly, communication is the key to a better understanding of each other. You could try to explain to your parents about why you think there's a need to have a tablet, and how it is beneficial to your studies and self-learning. A tablet has a lot of functions, with just a tap and a swipe, you can erase your notes or switch to different information access. It is a very convenient and light-weighted gadget that you can easily carry anywhere. You can get access to unlimited information with just a simple search. For instance, you can search up information that you aren't familiar with for homework, projects or even out of curiosity. This enhances self-learning and takes way less time than going through books and newspapers like the old-fashioned way. Moreover, why don't you try to explain to them about why a tablet could be a great help in your studies in the long run? You could easily get access to the notes that you have jotted down in the past semesters. It is way more helpful than to go through piles of books filled with dust just to find your notes. Telling your parents about these benefits might lead to a shift in their mind into a careful consideration of getting you one perhaps. Why not give it a shot?

Secondly, understand your parents' perspective and worries. To begin with, your parents might have a lot of worries when it comes to that decision. They might think it is unnecessary since you have already had books and notes from your teachers. It would just be a waste of money. Moreover, they might be mistaken about your intentions in getting a tablet since they might consider this electronic device to be a source of entertainment and a distraction to your studies. This might be the main reason for them to reject this proposal of yours. Your parents might think that you are going to get distracted by the many advertisements of video games or YouTube videos while you are supposed to do your work or study. Although this may not be your intention, it doesn't mean they are wrong for having these thoughts either. Addressing their concerns and providing reassurance to them may help them understand your needs and intentions and lessen their concerns.

Although sharing your thoughts and wishes might seem frustrating to you since you might think they won't react the way we wanted. It is crucial to communicate with them about your needs, letting them know that having a tablet for you might not be such a bad decision after all.

Communicating with your parents not only enhances your connection and understanding of one another, but also reduces the negative energy in the house. It might not work on the first try, but it is definitely worth a try to at least persuade them and change their perspective.

Hope this advice could help you in getting your chance to own a tablet for your studies. Take care!

Best regards,
Summer

A Letter to Your Future Self

Lau Wing Ching (4D)

Dear Arely,

How are you Arely? Have you met your goals? I am currently writing this letter to you because of my school’s 30th anniversary. As part of the celebration, a time capsule will be placed in the school garden. That’s why I am writing to you, my future self, hoping that you have become the ideal version of yourself.

I vividly remember that one particular biology lesson which Ms Chan ignited us with an intriguing experiment. Ms. Chan led an exciting biology experiment in class that sparked my interest in the subject. Her clear explanations and engaging teaching style made the material come alive, helping me see how important teachers are in shaping students' futures. This experience inspired me to consider becoming a teacher myself, as I now understand the positive impact a dedicated educator can have.

Recently, while talking with my friends about our future plans, we discussed how much our teachers influenced us. I remember Ms. Hui, who didn’t scold me when I failed a test. Instead, she offered her support and guidance, which really helped me. Her caring approach encouraged me to help my classmates, and it showed me that I had a passion for teaching. As my friends shared their thoughts, they told me that they see me as a good teacher. This made me think: after ten years in this field, am I truly a good teacher? The journey has its challenges, but I’m committed to becoming the kind of educator who inspires students, just like the teachers who inspired me. My goal is to ignite a love for learning in my students, just as Ms. Chan and Ms. Hui did for me.

In ten years, I envision myself standing in front of a classroom, sharing knowledge and fostering a love for learning. I hope to create a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas, and pursue their interests. My goal is to be the kind of teacher who not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures curiosity and resilience in my students.

Wishing you the very best!

Best regards,
Arely