From Education to Art Jam

Final-year student TSE Ching Ching has spent much of her time at university on typical student pursuits such as studying Liberal Studies in the faculty of Education, participating in part-time jobs and internships, and travelling with friends, but for the last two years she has also been co-managing an Art Jam business in Tsim Sha Tsui. Art Jam allows customers to spend time painting an item, a concept which, according to Ching Ching, "creates a platform for people to express themselves in making art pieces and...painting and drawing freely." The business is open regularly during evenings and weekends for people who want to come in and draw, and also plans team-building activities for large corporations such as HSBC.

The experience has offered Ching Ching some unexpected insights into her Education degree. From her point of view, in the classroom the teacher typically holds the power and is the one making demands. With Art Jam, the opposite is true. "You are the one who serves others," she says of the business.  "Clients and customers are always the ones who hold the power and give commands. You have to learn to listen more, be more considerate and try to have better communication." These skills have helped Ching Ching to see more from her students' perspectives, and have also made her a tougher negotiator. 

While it has certainly been challenging to run a small business as a full-time student, Ching Ching expressed her belief that one should never say no to opportunities. There is no opportunity cost to trying new things during one's student years, so for her and for others, this is the time to try everything and find out what you like or dislike. As a student at Morningside, Ching Ching is especially glad that life at a small College allows her to keep in touch with close friends even when she is busy. Although she does not yet have post-graduation plans, Ching Ching sees endless possibilities in the future. "I can be a teacher for sure," she says. "I can keep the Art Jam business...Or, I can work in [a] bank, communications, or whatever. I can do it."