But my epiphany came before that. It was when a moot judge drilled me on a point I thought nobody would notice. But I had no argument left in my pocket. I was frustrated, because I saw it coming and chose to ignore it.

Then comes the difficult choice. I could go home and drown in the humiliation of defeat. Or I could grit my teeth, ignore the pain and learn the lesson. This time I chose the uncomfortable way.

The ethos of following one’s heart often leads pampered snowflakes like myself to find excuses for our mediocrity - “if my parents were law firm partners; if I had more time…” HKU has empowered me with the privilege to believe in that a big slice of that mediocrity is surmountable with grit and effort. Whenever my brain tells me to cave in, I say “one more minute”. One minute, compounded over and over, it’s something. Grit and determination have given me the sparkle in my eyes in whatever I do.