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It's September

Writer's picture: Peter K F Cheung SBSPeter K F Cheung SBS
  1. FADE IN.


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY


  4. PETER is reading a mail on phone screen with the caption: The beginning of a new academic year.


  5. PETER (V.O.): It's a communication from the Dean of Harvard Kennedy School.


  6. Pausing.


  7. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been included in the School's alumni network since 2003 . I always enjoy reading the positive and inspiring communications.


  8. Reading.


  9. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Through teaching, research and engagement with practitioners, the School aims to make public policy and leadership better.


  10. Reading.


  11. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, there's now a virtual Kennedy School. It isn't a replication of the in-person learning experience, but a creative way to achieve the education mission.


  12. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's interesting. How would it be like?


  13. Reading.


  14. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The Dean assures that all will have an exceptional learning experience this fall.


  15. Recalling.


  16. Act 2


  17. INT. SITTING ROOM - CONTINUOUS


  18. FLASHBACK


  19. INT. HOME - DAY (Late August, early 1960s)


  20. Peter (6-12) is working hard on a workbook.


  21. PETER (V.O.): Sept 1 is approaching. I always do all my summer-holiday homework at the end of August.


  22. Pausing.


  23. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Although it's tough, I always complete them.


  24. END FLASHBACK


  25. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That was one of the reasons I wasn't admitted to Hong Kong University after matriculation.


  26. Recalling.


  27. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I was working part-time to support myself. I didn't have the money to pay for overseas examinations, not to mention studying overseas.


  28. Recalling.


  29. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Then, the principal of the secondary school I worked with from 1973-1974 enlightened me about the London U external degree programme.


  30. Recalling.


  31. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having satisfied the entrance requirements, I was registered as an External Student of London U's BA in Philosophy in Autumn 1976.


  32. Pausing.


  33. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): What I got from London U was a booklet of titles of books and articles to read. The next thing I needed to do was to sit the degree examinations in 1981.


  34. Pausing.


  35. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So from 1976-1981, I bought all the relevant philosophy books that I could buy. I read them and tried to discern the knowledge system. I practised answering past degree examination questions.


  36. Pausing.


  37. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Throughout my 5 years of self-study, I was looking forward to sitting the degree examinations. They were the only opportunities I could "interact" with somebody about what I had learned.


  38. FLASHBACK


  39. INT. HOME - NIGHT (1981)


  40. Returning home, Peter sees a thick letter from London U.


  41. PETER (V.O.): Could this be the external degree examinations results?


  42. Opening the envelop solemnly, Peter begins to read.


  43. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, the papers list all those External Students who have passed London U's external degree programmes. Let me find the part on BA in Philosophy.


  44. Reading.


  45. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Oh, I couldn't find my name in the Pass List. Oh, some get honours.


  46. Peter reads the few names in the 3rd-class honours section.


  47. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): They've learned well. I should have studied smarter.


  48. Peter begins to read the very few names in the 2nd-class lower-division honours section.


  49. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Is that me? Cheung Kam fai?


  50. Pausing.


  51. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Really? Can I believe my eyes?


  52. RETURN TO PRESENT


  53. Act 3


  54. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In a split second, I've become a university graduate. It's still one of the happiest moments of my life.


  55. Pausing.


  56. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That was how I learned without any in-person learning experience.


  57. Recalling.


  58. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's why when I became an Internal Students at HKU and London U, I just focused on studying, learning the most from professors.


  59. Recalling.


  60. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Having interacted with Harvard Kennedy School professors in the Senior Executive Fellows program in fall 2003, I've become very confident in public policy and leadership matters.


  61. Pausing.


  62. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I did apply what I had learned in public sector governance especially when I became the first lawyer-director of Hong Kong, China's Intellectual Property Department.


  63. Pausing.


  64. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And now, as a Council Member of HKUST, I'll continue to deliver value particularly in its governance.


  65. Checking diary.


  66. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've meetings on HKUST matters in coming weeks.


  67. Pausing.


  68. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): For non-tertiary education in Hong Kong, China, Sept 1 has been the commencement date of the Autumn semester.


  69. Peter surfs the web.


  70. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): This year, Harvard's new academic year begins on Sept 2, while HKUST on Sept 7.


  71. Reflecting.


  72. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's September again.


  73. FADE OUT.


  74. THE END


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