It is done! Congratulations to the 14 storytellers of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information who completed the epic journey we call Going Overseas For Advanced Reporting (GO-FAR) in Hong Kong. The journey culminated in the book launch of their works, titled “Crossroads” at The Star Loft.
The GO-FAR 2026 team: Letitia Chen, Ruth Chai, Jasel Poh, Yan Ning Foo, Jermaine Fok, Gwenneth Teo, Megan Wee, Shafiq Guee, Alexa Denise Uy, Savanna Tai, Kim Xuan Koh, Elsa Tan, Christine Lim, Brina Lai.
Professor Jack Qiu, Chair of WKWSCI, was our guest of honour today, and he also accompanied us during the HK leg of the trip to provide his guidance and advice. Thank you to all the WKWSCI faculty, Shinnyo-en Foundation team, friends and families who visited our launch. Also kumsiah velly much to my fellow instructors Samuel He and Lydia Cheng.
Here’s the original draft of my speech at today’s launch:
The older people in this room will remember the 1990s.
The world was a very different place.
People read print newspapers.
The Internet was very slow and bare.
We went to movies every weekend.
Hong Kong culture was our culture.
Stephen Chow movies dominated.
Cantopop. Four Heavenly Kings. Dim Sum.
Today, we read news online.
Many people don’t read that much.
HK is no longer a pop culture factory.
China and Korea dominate movies, TV, food, music.
Gen AI happened.
AI microdramas.
CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE.
Many writers say they have been wiped out by AI.
But anyone can write an article.
Were they storytellers?
STORYTELLING
Storytelling is not sitting around coming up with a story.
The story has to happen to someone.
It must be worth telling.
It must be told to us.
Then we reshape the story with our WORDS, our LENSES, our FEELINGS, our PERSPECTIVES.
When we hear and tell a great story, we CHANGE.
CHANGE our worldview, our philosophy, our actions.
Then we begin to live differently, to CHANGE OUR LIFE.
This book is called CROSSROADS, but it’s also a CHRONICLE OF CHANGES.
Our students went to Hong Kong to cover a city that is always changing.
Along the way, they have changed too.
In journalism, it is impossible to remain who you are.
You learn HOW THINGS NEVER STAY THE SAME.
You learn HOW HUMANS KEEP DOING THE SAME THINGS.
We LOVE, we FIGHT, we CRY, we TRY, we SURVIVE, we HOPE.
The journalist soaks it all in.
Asks questions.
Wrestles with the topic.
Then tells the story in his or her way.
Our students have frozen time with their words, image and videos.
They have also embedded their sweat and tears into these works.
As the world changes again, this GO-FAR book and the GO-FAR videos will keep telling you the stories our students heard and decided to retell.
Of the changes of HK the city, of their PEOPLE, their CULTURE, their LANDSCAPE.
But do know, this book is also about the transformation of our STUDENTS into great STORYTELLERS.
The GO-FAR journey has changed their lives.
Their GO-FAR stories will change yours.
Thank you.