Newsletter No. 407

12 No. 407, 19.11.2012 馬悅君 心理學三年級 你以優異成績入讀中大，隨後屢獲獎項，旺盛的學習動力是從何而 來的？ 從小到大，讀書都是我的興趣之一。讀書學到許多東西，過程中還有其 他得着，例如結識到朋友。坦白說，我是傷殘人士，跑步等活動量高的 運動，我做不到，讀書好像是唯一我比較能勝任的事。即使身體傷殘， 也可以有發揮的地方。我慶幸自己能上學，上學是生活意義的一部分， 雖然寫字慢些，聽書比較傷神，有時很疲累，但既然有機會，好應該珍 惜，這是驅動我繼續的力量。當然，成績好會比較開心，考得差不會開 心嘛！我會盡力，但如果體力應付不了，我不會迫自己。 聽說你一直鍾情於中大，那是個怎樣的故事？ 在中大很自由，我喜歡這裏的環境。聯招報考大學，我填的第一、第二、 第三，以及較後次序的志願，都是中大學科，這樣等於把進入其他大學 的門戶關上，正常來說，不會有學生這樣填報的。但我真的很想升讀中 大。2008年中五會考之後參加中大暑期課程，接觸生物科技和社會科 學學科，感覺既充實又開心。升大學後與中學的師長和同學聚會，他們 都覺得我一如以往般開朗愉快，而且還多了一份自信。我說上學一整 天，其實挺疲累的。他們說即使累，也看得出我是歡天喜地的累。 心理學有何吸引你？ 心理學令我最感興趣的範疇是傷殘人士在人生各階段會遭遇哪些心理 關口，以及如何面對。我希望集中研究肢體傷殘，例如我患的肌肉萎縮 症，患者到底可以怎樣面對不斷變差的身體狀況？世界上有許多學者研 究相關課題，但當中傷殘人士或許不多，在這方面我至少有第一身的經 驗，好像作為一名普通的傷殘人士在人生各階段如青少年或成年的轉 變。我希望多作這方面的研究，藉此消減社會上的一些歧視。 你怎樣看從獲中大錄取開始有關你的報道？ 有些報道把我描述得很特別，我不介意提到我是傷殘人士，我甚至想 讓人知道。但其實我也只是個普通學生。許多人問我，讀書辛苦嗎？我 會說：「早上八時半的課，每位同學都覺得睏倦吧。」這是真的嘛。我 會因為坐太久而腰部覺得辛苦，這也是真的。我想帶出的信息是，我很 樂意跟人分享自己的經歷，也很想其他人明白，我不是有甚麼特別的地 方，我和其他人是一樣的。 可以說說你在課外鑽研的範疇嗎？ 我一直對生物科技有濃厚興趣，閒時也愛讀建築學的書，因為我另一 個研究興趣是無障礙通道設計。我也熱愛寫作，課餘為美國一個肌肉 萎縮症協會編寫網誌。有同學問我，你對其他科目那麼投入，那心理學 的位置呢？我覺得有何不可？升大學的其中一項得着，是讓我有許多渠 道接觸不同的專家、學科和資料，從中得到不同的啟發。如果可以，我 還希望參加海外交流計劃，甚至上莊，多些參與校園活動。 中大依山而建，校園設施能否切合你和其他輪椅人士的需要？ 我住在宿舍，平日會乘搭大學的復康巴士，司機很細心周到。我也試過 自己開電動輪椅上山下山，中大校園設計比較細心，行人路每隔一段便 設有斜道，非常方便。至於課室、圖書館和宿舍設施，大致上還可以。 Photos of Ma Yuet-kwan Gloria in this issue are by Keith Hiro 中文大學社會科學院院長榮譽錄2010 – 11 CUHK Faculty of Social Science Dean’s List 2010–11 美亞香港獎學金2010 – 11 Chartis Hong Kong Scholarships 2010–11 尤德爵士紀念基金殘疾學生獎學金2010 – 11, 2011 – 12 Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships for Disabled Students 2010–11, 2011–12 I · CARE博群計劃最優秀研究獎2012 I·CARE Programme’s Best Research Award 2012 馬悅君網誌 Gloria Ma’s blog: transitions.mda.org/profile/gloria-ma Ma Yuet-kwan Gloria , Psychology, Year 3 You were admitted to CUHK with outstanding A-Level results, and received several academic awards in a couple of years. How do you keep up your passion for learning? When I was little, I was already very interested in studying. It brought me knowledge, and I made many friends during the course of learning. To be honest, I couldn’t take part in rigorous sport, like running, which requires a high level of mobility. To concentrate on studying seemed the most suitable task for me. Although I have a disability, there are things I can still do. I’m grateful that I can continue my studies at a university; it gives meaning to my life. It doesn’t matter if I write slowly, and sometimes I can’t concentrate in class because of feeling tired. What matters most is that I’ve got this opportunity. I need to cherish my years as an undergraduate student, and this is what gets me going. Of course, I feel happy if I get good results. Nobody would think the contrary. I’ll try to do my best academically. But when I feel exhausted, I won’t push myself too hard. CUHK appealed to you even a long time ago. Can you tell us about that? I love its liberal atmosphere and its environment. From my first to my last priorities on the JUPAS application form, I had listed only CUHK programmes. Normally, no student would do that because it means doors to the other universities will be closed to you. But it was my dream to become a CUHK student. In 2008, after I sat for the HKCEE examinations, I joined the CUHK Summer Institute and took biotechnology and social science modules. It was a delightful experience. On one occasion when I met my secondary school teachers and classmates after entering CUHK, they told me they could sense that I was as joyous as before, but there was something more—confidence. I told them I had just had a busy day and was feeling tired, but they said that they could tell from the expression on my face that I was really enjoying my life here. Why do you find psychology fascinating? In psychology, there is a stream focusing on the transition of people with disabilities during their different life stages, and how one can cope with them. My research interest is on people who are physically disabled, e.g., patients like me suffering from muscular dystrophy, etc. My health condition will degenerate progressively, so how do I cope with it? I know many scholars worldwide are studying this topic; I wonder how many of them are handicapped. I have at least first-hand experience to count on. Besides, I need to face other challenges when growing up, to transit from an ordinary adolescent to a more mature adult. I hope I can devote more time to research in this area and eradicate discriminations that physically disabled people encounter. How do you feel about the press coverage about you being admitted to CUHK? In some media reports, they tend to describe me as an extraordinary person. In fact, I am just an ordinary student. It’s my wish to share my experience with more people. Many people ask, ‘Do you feel tired in class?’ I’ll say, ‘When the class is scheduled for 8:30 am, everyone feels sleepy, not only me.’ That’s true. My back aches when I sit for too long. That’s also true. In my sharing, I want to bring out one message—I don’t mind disclosing details about my disability, and I hope others understand that I am really nothing special. I am just like anyone else. What are your other interests? I like books on biotechnology very much. I also like architecture because I always want to know more about barrier-free access design. In my leisure, I write blog posts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s website in the US. Some of my friends are curious and ask why I have so many diverse interests, and query the place of psychology to me. I think that’s OK. One of the merits of coming to university is you are able to meet people with different expertise and explore various disciplines and be inspired. If possible, I also want to join exchange programmes and participate in student committees. CUHK was built on a hilly terrain. Do you find its facilities for people with disabilities adequate for the wheelchair bound? I live in a student hostel and I ride on the rehabus to classes. The driver is very attentive and friendly. Sometimes, I’ll go uphill or downhill in my power wheelchair. The CUHK campus is carefully designed and there are ramps between short distances so that we can get on and off the pavement easily. The facilities of classrooms, libraries and hostels are fairly good.