“I first joined this school during the year of its 5th anniversary,” Principal Eva Hsu of Fukien Secondary School Affiliated School (FSSAS) says when sharing her vision in creating the school’s 15th-anniversary film “Echoes of Love – Our Journey of Growth”. “Over the past decade, my colleagues and I have witnessed its changes and growth. The school is like fertile soil that nurtures individuals of diverse backgrounds. Regardless the length of stay, teachers, students and parents can experience personal development and growth.”
A primary school version of a performing arts academy
“Education in the 21st century aims to nurture creativity, communication skills, critical thinking and teamwork – all of which are embodied in filmmaking.” Principal Eva humorously remarks that FSSAS is akin to a primary school version of a performing arts academy. The students are passionate about a wide array of performing arts projects, and the school is 100% supportive of students’ active participation. “Flashmobs are common within our campus. Every day, you may see someone playing the flute or strumming a guitar in different corners. Some of these performances are arranged by the students, while others are organised with the help of our teachers. It is similar to strolling down a street in Europe, where suddenly someone starts performing, inviting pedestrians to pause and revel in the moment.” At FSSAS, values education classes also take the form of children’s plays, all “homemade” by the school and students’ participation is strongly encouraged. For summer assignments, students would step into the role of KOLs, sharing their research findings through video presentations on topics of personal interest. Whether it is public speaking, singing or theatrical performances, they are always well-prepared, never faltering. Much to Principal Eva’s delightful surprise, despite there were only two lead roles available among a number of background roles, over 200 students signed up for audition for the 15th-annivesary film.
Success achieved by joint efforts of the school and the parents
During the school’s 5th anniversary, FSSAS showcased the creative and performance talents of both teachers and students in a musical production that not only embodied the school’s educational values but also allowed students to fully explore their passion for the performing arts. It received high praise from the audience, be it school stakeholders or not. Faced with high expectations from the previous success and pandemic concerns, Principal Eva decided to bring in new ideas for the 15th-anniversary celebration and kick-start preparations for the film “Echoes of Love – Our Journey of Growth”. Initially planned as a simple, homemade production, the project took an unexpected turn, and transformed into a collaboration akin to assembling heroes in “The Avengers”. One of the parents, who is a former assistant director to a renowned local filmmaker, agreed to take on the director role for the school’s anniversary film. Leveraging his connections, he brought in assistant directors, art directors, as well as hair and makeup stylists. In the film’s final phases, a fortuitous encounter at an event led to engaging an alumnus, who owns a company specialising in dubbing background music for American films, to score the film. Furthermore, musical director Tom Chan, an expert in writing Cantonese musical songs, also agreed to compose the theme song. As the school often offers their facilities for filming, they have built connections with production teams and professionals, who have contributed immensely in bringing in talented and professional actors for the project. With the combined efforts of plenty, “Echoes of Love – Our Journey of Growth” was successfully brought to life as a film that not only embodies the core values of FSSAS, but also serves as a valuable reference of life education for students and professional development for teachers in other schools. Principal Eva is extremely pleased with the outcome of the 15th-anniversary film. “What truly touched me was our ability to dream big, dream crazy and make it possible.”
The script of “Echoes of Love – Our Journey of Growth” was written by Miss Pam, the school’s arts coordinator, who gathered stories from students, parents and teachers to weave the narrative. The plot centres on three main arcs. It follows the journey of a well-behaved elder sister who has always excelled academically. After a lapse in judgement, she learns from her mistake, seeks to make amends and receives encouragement from her teacher. Witnessing her daughter’s growth, the angry mother eventually calms down and stands by her side as they face challenges together. Principal Eva believes that while the narrative unfolds smoothly, reality presents a different picture: “In today’s world, guiding students to admit their mistakes is not easy for teachers, and it is even harder for parents to accept their children’s wrongdoings. Children have their pride, and the world they live in leaves no room for mistakes. While many advocate for more encouragement and less criticism, it is essential to point out children’s mistakes in the right manner to provide them with the opportunity to grow. There is a common misunderstanding that children cannot be scolded. In fact, education is about encouraging children to face their mistakes head-on. It is with much regret to say that almost all parents are unwilling to acknowledge their children’s faults, which leads to shutting out others’ opinions, ultimately hindering their children’s chances to learn and grow.”
Looking at the story from another perspective, a young teacher, driven by a sense of mission towards education, adeptly handles students’ mistakes while also revealing how to balance work and life. Principal Eva believes that teachers can resonate with this narrative because all of them have gone through similar stages, providing an opportunity for introspection into their own teaching careers. Seasoned teachers, when reflecting on their early days, can also show more understanding towards young teachers. “People often say that teachers are the engineers of the human soul. If a teacher’s daily routine revolves solely around opening textbooks and delivering lectures, where is the soul in that? While we all stress the importance of lifelong learning, many adults seem to forget this once they step out of the school environment. Their days fall into a pattern of work and home, with little to no reflection on what truly makes a fulfilling life. In the field of education, our goal is not to support children only, but also to help parents grow, as parental growth directly brightens their children’s journey of development.”
Director Tom Chan generously composed the theme song
The theme song “The Essential Lesson of Growth” from “Echoes of Love – Our Journey of Growth” was composed by Tom Chan, the director of Hong Kong’s first long-running musical, “Our Journal of Springtime the Musical”. Tom, renowned for his mastery of Cantonese lyricism, has overseen all aspects of his previous musical productions, taking on the roles of composer, lyricist, scriptwriter, producer and director. When the idea of filming a school anniversary film arose, Principal Eva promptly invited her friend, Tom, to compose the theme song. After watching “Echoes of Love – Our Journey of Growth” and understanding Principal Eva’s vision, Tom promptly composed “The Essential Lesson of Growth”. Principal Eva shares a few deeply stirring lyrics, “Time subtly shifts your role from a young boy to a teacher” and “With greater power comes greater responsibilities, it will not be a simple journey”. These lines paint a vivid portrait of a teacher’s evolution from a novice to a seasoned professional, revealing the internal struggles and weight of responsibilities that come with the teaching profession, beyond mere love for students and a sense of duty to education. The line “Everyone has tasted despair and fear, found themselves at an impasse without the courage to break free” speaks to a shared human experience – students, teachers or parents all confront difficulties. Instead of yielding to despair and fear, it is better to “approach obstacles from a fresh angle”. Principal Eva shares, “When these lines are woven together, they beautifully encapsulate the true essence of education.”
“Tom can fully articulate the core values of the entire film, going beyond just the movie itself to address our views on students’ growth and even on life.” Principal Eva highly praises the significance of the song, stating that it extends far beyond being simply a film’s theme song, “Someone once asked me what I hope to leave behind in this world. I feel incredibly lucky to have led a school in my lifetime. With the help of others, a film was created about the school and a heartfelt theme song was composed. It is truly perfect, and I have no regrets.”
Teaching is not the same as parenting
Many parents believe that educators, armed with teaching strategies tailored for children of different ages and personalities, have an advantage in parenting. However, Principal Eva’s first words on parenting were: “I must admit that I do not know how to teach my children.” She agrees that professional education training does make one more sensitive to children’s growth needs and strengths, enabling a quicker discernment of effective teaching methods. Nevertheless, parents are not just academic instructors; they are their children’s life mentors, who should walk hand in hand with them along the long journey of growth – a responsibility that differs significantly from that of a teacher. “I have watched my eldest son transform from a lively and happy child into a very serious one,” Principal Eva candidly admits. “Perhaps I was too strict. If I could start over again, I would not have used the same method to teach him. Instead, I would hope to preserve more of his positive traits. As first-time parents, we did not know how to express ourselves or communicate with our child, let alone understand that he is an independent individual. Now in his 20s, he has turned the tables on us, even stricter on us than we ever were on him. There is nothing we can do but accept it.” She emphasises that proper parenting includes respecting children’s growth while guiding them towards a fulfilling path.
Principal Eva places great emphasis on cultivating a sense of responsibility in her children. While many parents consider aspects like bedtime routines, afterschool activities or homework to be their own responsibilities, she advocates for her children to take ownership of their choices. “Many parents struggle to accept that because they do not want their children to make mistakes,” Principal Eva remarks. She refrains from scolding her children for their mistakes, as she believes the consequences they suffer are already valuable lessons for them. “When children are scolded afterwards, they may not fully grasp the impact of their mistakes, often fearing parental reprimand more than the actual consequences of their actions. Many parents believe that scolding loudly or punishing their children will prevent them from repeating the same mistakes. However, the fear of making mistakes and facing immediate consequences is a powerful form of punishment. Imposing further punishments may only overshadow their mistakes. Children cannot learn and grow effectively in such situations. Drawing from my own experiences of mischief during my school days, I have learnt to carefully consider the consequences before doing anything. If I make a mistake, I take responsibility for it, just like how I teach my children.”
Principal Eva has been a standout athlete since childhood. Besides sports that involve racquets, she has dabbled in almost every other sport. Starting Taekwondo training around the age of 12, she progressed to obtain a black belt. She then delved into combat Taekwondo, achieving
significant success and eventually securing a spot on the Hong Kong Taekwondo team. She had won numerous awards throughout her journey, from local competitions to international championships. However, a serious injury during practice – a torn cruciate ligament – made her shift towards a new goal of becoming a teacher, prompting her retirement from competitive athletics. Carrying the spirit of an athlete, Principal Eva approaches education with unwavering determination. Regardless of the challenges she faces in her teaching career, she never gives up easily. She believes that sports play a crucial role in shaping children’s personalities: “Athletes are bound to face setbacks, and these are the pivotal moments for personal growth, offering excellent training for the body, mind and will. I encourage children to try any sport they like, as long as they enjoy it. The key is not to give up easily – also known as the spirit of sportsmanship. The Paris Olympics this year showcased many moments that captured the spirit. One remarkable moment was when the national badminton player He Bingjiao stood on the podium, accepting her silver medal while holding the Spanish flag badge – a tribute to Carolina Marín, the Spanish player who had to withdraw due to a knee injury. This act exemplified the grace among athletes. Sports are not just about winning or losing; they embody the values of humanity and sportsmanship. It is often parents who lack this sportsmanship – something that is worth our reflection.”
