Fion Shum
Faculty of Education
BSc(ACD) 2026
Fion Shum (BSc(ACD) 2026) graduated with First Class Honours in BSc Applied Child Development from HKU’s Faculty of Education. A retired flight attendant, she returned to academia four years ago after completing a Higher Diploma, driven by a passion for early childhood education and SEN intervention. She chose HKU to deepen her professional foundation. Now a part-time research assistant at HKU and a private tutor, she applies evidence-based methods to support children with diverse needs. Her HKU journey has been intellectually rewarding, sharpening her expertise and expanding her worldview.
Most valuable lesson from your time at HKU?
At HKU, age is nothing but a number on a forgotten form. What truly matters is the hunger for knowledge, the courage to begin again, and the joy of learning what I love. Through my HKU journey, I came to understand that equity begins when we stop counting years and start counting wonders.
HKU taught me that development is not only for children, despite the name of my programme; it is for life. As I studied Applied Child Development, I found myself undergoing a transformation of my own. I rewired my brain, rebuilt my confidence, and expanded my sense of possibility. In many ways, Applied Child Development became applied self-development. The degree may be only a paper certificate, but the transformation it represents is permanent.
Having grown up in a neighbourhood right next to Fudan University, I felt my childhood dream of studying on that campus rekindled when I participated in its summer exchange programme alongside 900 peers from 53 countries. Serving as a student ambassador on Alumni Day, I led heritage tours and had the privilege of meeting inspiring senior alumni who shared their HKU stories, deepening my connection to the university. Applying my SEN knowledge as a private tutor and research assistant has brought my learning to life. These experiences showed me that my transformation was not only academic, but also deeply personal.
The most important thing I discovered about myself during my time at HKU is...
"Neuroplasticity"