給同學和校友的信

各位同學、校友：

近日校園裏，每天都可見到畢業學生與家人愉快合照的情境，一方面為同學們的成就歡欣，另一方面惦記著最近幾宗不幸事件中牽涉到的城大學生、交流生、校友，以及他們的家人、同學和同事，深感惋惜，心情沉痛。

年青人成長途中遇到困難，是常態。想起自己年輕時，亦遇到過不少挫折和困難，也會有孤獨和情緒低落的時刻。現在回想起來，深明人生好比馬拉松，一時的順境或逆境，不能亦不足以決定終身。事實上，我們更應從挫折中磨練出韌性、從孤獨中體驗宇宙的奧妙和人生的無限。

誠然，有些問題最終未必能夠完滿解決，有些挫折甚至會令人十分沮喪，導致有些人一時靈智窒礙，嘗試以傷害自己的方式來解決問題。我們理解他們的困擾，卻不會同意、亦不能接受這種讓人痛心的想法和做法。生命可貴，只要活着，人生有無盡的可能性；一旦失去，就什麼都沒有了。傷害自己既不能解決問題，更令親人和關愛我們的人傷痛。

我們愛惜每一位年輕學子、城大校友，並希望每一個人都能珍惜生命。遇到困難或困擾，可與家人、老師和朋友傾訴；遇到挫折和失敗，應直面以對，迎難而上，將其視為歷練。路是靠自己走出來的，無論高低起伏，只要不輕言放棄，勇敢直行，一定可走出屬於自己的一片陽光道。

學期末已至，考試亦快到來，同學們必然會感到功課的壓力，再加上近期香港社會面對的躁動，令人心不安寧。在此為同學們鼓勁加油，並希望同學們在克盡己力的同時，如遇到困難，要接受自己，給自己機會，也給關愛你們的家人和朋友一個機會。風雨同路，我們將互相扶持，共同前行。

努力未必能得到想要的成果，但只要克盡己力，堅持不懈，必然會有收穫。當我們跨越阻礙、挫折後回望，就會發現人生美好、多姿多彩，正如風雨過後天空中顯現的彩虹。

春華秋實正當年，請大家保重，以免父母親朋擔心。

郭  位
校長及大學傑出教授

 2014年11月27日

Letter to Students and Alumni

Dear students and alumni,

I was delighted to see so many graduating students having fun taking pictures with their relatives and friends over the last few days at CityU. This is a glorious time of the year, with campus blooming with colour.

But recent tragic incidents concerning a CityU student, exchange student and alumnus, and their families, classmates and colleagues have left all of us deeply upset. I would like to use this opportunity to send out once again our best regards to all of those affected by these very sad incidents.

Everyone faces difficulties in life, but young people are especially vulnerable. I had my share of setbacks and difficulties when I was a young man, low-ebb periods of loneliness. Looking back, I have come to understand that life is like a marathon. It cannot and will not be determined by momentary ups and downs. Instead, for those periods when we feel lonely, we have to develop the stamina to see us through setbacks, learn to appreciate the mysterious wonders of our universe and the infinite possibilities which life holds for us.

We may not be able to solve problems fully, and setbacks may prove so depressing for some people that they might attempt to hurt themselves as a way out. Of course, we empathise with people who are feeling down, but, as a community of friends and colleagues, of peers and supporters, we can’t acquiesce to nor accept self-destruction as a solution. Life is too precious. There are infinite possibilities as long as we live. Without life, there is nothing. Hurting oneself will not solve anything; it will bring only pain to our loved ones.

Every young student and alumnus is dear to us; and we expect everyone to treasure life.  If you are experiencing difficulties or perplexing situations, talk to your friends, go and see your teachers, find time to be with your family. Try to see setbacks as opportunities for development and growth. Each of us charts our own path, but whether our paths are smooth or bumpy, we will get there as long as we never give up.

As the semester draws to its end, the days before the Christmas vacations can be especially difficult. Pressure of exams mixed with the recent social upheavals in Hong Kong might prove overly stressful for some of us. So make sure you are fair to yourself. Give yourself and your family and friends a fair opportunity. Rain or shine, we are in this together.

While we may not always get what we hope for, we will achieve something as long as we persevere and try our best. Years later, when we look back over our eventful lives, we will realise that life is beautiful and colourful, like a rainbow after the rain.

Life evolves and revolves. I offer my best wishes to you all and hope you will take good care of yourselves and your families, friends and loved ones.
 

Way Kuo
President and University Distinguished Professor
 
27 November 2014