Bulletin Spring‧Summer, 2008

A Surprise Mentor When Chang Chui-ling, a fresh graduate of the Department of English, collected the notification letter of the Mentor Programme, the College staff who handed it to her smiled and said, 'Wow, your mentor is a heavyweight.' As soon as Chui-ling opened the letter, she realized why. Her mentor is the chief executive of the Consumer Council— Ms. Connie Lau Yin-hing (      , right), a choice she described as 'unexpected'. Connie invited Chui-ling to a press conference at the Consumer Council after their first meeting. Chui-ling was excited to be able to sit among reporters and observe how they worked behind the scenes. The Consumer Council is charged with the responsibility of monitoring a wide variety of business activities. As its chief executive, Connie is naturally an expert on various practices in the commercial sector. Chui-ling has learned much from her in this regard. But more importantly, she is impressed by Connie's perseverance and enthusiasm for work. 'I was once asked in a written test for a job to write about the leader you most admire. Without thinking, I wrote about Connie. In our "profit-driven" society, it's impossible to imbue a small organization like the Consumer Council with such strong credibility and authority without huge determination and a sense of mission.' Chui-ling remembered that she once asked Connie, 'Aren't you tired of working for the same organization for decades?' Connie replied, 'I learn something new every day and keep finding fun in my job.' Chui-ling is motivated by Connie's enthusiasm for work. 'Fresh out of college, rookies like us usually hold junior positions and are often assigned trivial tasks. Some people detest it. But I've learned from Connie the importance of looking on the bright side of your job.' Chui-ling found the programme rewarding and hope that it will be expanded so that more students can enjoy the support of a mentor as they journey through life. below To give its students new perspectives, the College often pairs them up with mentors from fields different from their own. In 2007–08 there were 98 mentees and 70 mentors. Mentorship Programmes   15