Kindling The Sparks Of Next Generation
Varied professional experiences form varied insights over education, as well as exclusive vision and mission. Kenny Lam (Fellow 2021-22), former business analyst at McKinsey & Company and co-founder of Boundless (NGO), shared his vision——inspires our students.
Achieving education equity is the shared vision that assembles plentiful Fellows and builds the community of leaders in Teach For Hong Kong. We strive to assist disadvantaged students by breaking down barriers of socioeconomic background to empower youngsters with both practical and ideological support.
Besides, our Fellows conceive their unique missions to persuade the shared value in various means. For instance, Fellows with psychology background tend to increase emotional or social support; those with administration experience seek improvement on cementing authentic connections between youngsters and the society or even advance in public policy. Varied professional experiences form various insights over education and exclusive vision and mission. Kenny Lam (Fellow 2021-22), former Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company and co-founder of Boundless (NGO), shared his vision——inspire our students.
Working with prestigious companies in McKinsey, Kenny was exposed to the rule of the top layer of society. It provoked him to ponder his value and position in society. Kenny occasionally watched the movie Soul with his colleagues in this particular moment. Hence, a spark lighted up his heart——make your life worth it. Kenny began to figure out the ultimate meaning of work and life. To realize the answer, Kenny decided to become an all-rounded leader. Being an educator is an essential milestone for him to understand the other side of society. Kenny regarded it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I won’t have a chance to do this later.” He asserted.
Kenny persists in lighting students’ sparks as to how he aspired. “We all have our own ‘spark’.” Kenny mentioned, “That’s how I teach the individual students, trying to kindle their ‘spark’ one by one and trying different methods after another.” Believing in the special gift of students, he deems that an educator is required to understand the background and genuine needs of each student instead of simply applying new education technology, which seems advantageous to the general student without considering the applicability. “Are we closing the gaps among students?” Kenny questioned.
Standing in the frontline of education, Kenny witnesses the education inequity every day in the classroom, like students who live alone at this young age, and those who spend hours after school to do part-time and leave no time to study. “I never imagined this could happen to students in Hong Kong, which is quite different from my own learning experience” said Kenny. Apart from inequity, Kenny also witnesses the impact that education made on young people. Due to his business background, Kenny recognizes he can bring a diverse worldview and push students to envision beyond the campus. “Ultimately education is about telling them the world is huge.” he said, “They need to explore it by themselves.”.
“I think it takes different sectors’ resources to change education and society.” Kenny mentioned he probably wouldn’t stay in frontline education after Fellowship, even though he could do more. Instead, he endeavors to aid young students with his skills. Worked at Central for a couple of years, Kenny is equipped with the expertise and mindset of being a successful analyst entirely. “I am still keen to devote myself to the technology or business sector to bring connections and resources back for students.” Kenny used to deem technology as the key to efficiency and convenience. Nonetheless, after being a Fellow for a few months, he realized Ed Tech should not just be about how fancy the technology is, but rather about understanding the users' true demands. “It is crucial to understand how I can utilize technology to fill in the gap and improve teaching and learning experience.” Kenny recognizes education technology is entailed to be human-centric, and this is exactly how an educator should be.
Our Fellows are leaders who guide the development of young talents. “When I was in McKinsey, the problems I helped to solve were at a higher corporate level. I did solve the problem, but I wasn't sure how I contributed my expertise to society.” Kenny discovers that unlike functional connection in the general workplace where people are replaceable by position, education is about the connection between people. We aspire, to encourage, and innovate each other. Educators are meant to be inspiring leaders, not indifferent workers captivated on campus.
Although it might be just one spark, an educator still lights up numerous dreams of students. Direct influence is initiated to the underprivileged students in society by a piecemeal approach. Together with our perpetual effort, every talent will be well nurtured despite one's background, building a positive upward spiral in society, and creating prosperity and hope for the future. “I still have much time in my life and career, and I have always wanted to be an educator.” Kenny lives his wish by being the students’ mentor inside and outside of the classroom. Undoubtedly, he actually participates in students' lives. The heart of passion is going to keep burning and light up every spark in a student. “Never say no” said Kenny. Each tiny step is a potential propellant for young people on their life journey, thus don’t refuse any possibilities.