Principal’s Message 校長的話 2025 – 2026
Be Strong
From “Walking on Water” to being Strong
Over the past year, during ceremonies and gatherings, our school has focused on Matthew 14:25–33: “Jesus walked on the water, Peter stepped out in faith and attempted to walk on the water, but sank because of fear, and was finally lifted up by the Lord.”
Peter’s experience offers a valuable lesson for us all. “Strengthen your faith, achieve the extraordinary, walk on water.” This was not only the theme for the entire year at school but also the mindset we hoped everyone at Ming Yin would cultivate.
This year’s message continues the theme of “walking on water”, drawn from Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This verse teaches us that to hold on to Jesus’ hand in the storm and walk on water, we must have faith.
I believe every Ming Yin student long to be like Peter, walking on the water with great ambitions and objectives. However, when faced with difficulties and storms, fear often emerges. Joshua, as Moses’ successor, carried the immense responsibility of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. His fear before the people and foreign nations was only natural.
God did not say: “I give you infinite wisdom and power, or vast armies, so you need not fear.” Instead, God said to him: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” He also reminded him: “The Lord your God will be with you.”
God grants people the ability to walk on water not by demanding that they find their own way, but by being with them and walking alongside them. That is why we can have faith and strength to walk upon the waters.
Strong in Weakness : The Life Story of Alumna Dr. Gloria Ma
I would like to share the life story of our alumna, Dr. Gloria Ma. From her youth, she excelled academically: three A grades in the A-Levels, admission to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, multiple scholarships, a doctorate, the founding of a charitable organisation, and she even sponsors the Ming Yin Scholarships.
Dr Ma appears to embody the “model of success,” lacking neither qualifications, reputation, nor financial security. Undoubtedly, she worked hard and overcame many difficulties, but one might also say she was “fortunate” enough to walk on water and achieve the extraordinary.
In reality, however, she was “disadvantaged” from birth: suffering from Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, which left her weaker in her body, lungs, and stamina. She often felt unwell, and her strength meant she could only attend school for four days a week. Her hands were so weak that even writing was painful, and her mother had to accompany her daily to school.
At the end of her first year in secondary school, she underwent major surgery. She is physically weak, but her mind remained focused on her studies and examinations. After resting and regaining some strength, she sat for her examinations, working very hard within the same time constraints as her classmates. Despite her physical hardships, she gave her utmost effort.
As she advanced to higher grades, the amount of homework and writing increased, making the burden heavier. But she never gave up. She felt tired easily, but she persisted. She would do some homework, rest, then do more until she had finished everything. She always submitted her homework on time. She couldn’t study for long hours, so she listened very carefully in class.
She endured both the HKCEE and A-Levels. During her crucial A-Level year, she caught a cold. For most, this would mean a few days of rest, perhaps even without medicine. For her, with weak lungs, it turned into a serious illness, leaving her coughing and unable to attend school. Even medication left her weakened. Yet she persisted in studying for the examinations.
She took the A-Level exams while unwell. The consecutive long papers left her utterly exhausted. She nearly collapsed during the last examination, but with her strong will, she finished. Behind her 3A results were years of not fearing difficulties, facing challenges bravely, and working with perseverance and courage.
She valued learning and had clear goals, so she did her best and never gave up until she completed every task. She once said: “Only I can decide my DNA.” Though her DNA placed many restrictions upon her, she chose to challenge them, working harder with greater determination, ultimately transcending her limitations.
For most people, achieving what Dr Ma did is already quite a challenge; for her, it was an even greater one. While many of us give up easily when faced with difficulties, she faced storm after storm and still kept going on the water.
Be Strong through Diligence and Perseverance
To walk on water, diligence and perseverance are essential. In late July 2025, ten of our students participated in a five-day Outward-Bound camp. They supported each other through challenges such as carrying heavy loads up mountains, cooking in the wild, crossing waters at night, enduring sun and rain, and confronting insects and wildlife. They willingly “sought hardship” to push their limits and learn perseverance, diligence, and problem-solving.
Throughout the camp, our students demonstrated dedication, learning from every task. They faced discomfort and challenges. With endurance, cooperation, and resilience, they did their best to complete the journey. They uncovered not only their shortcomings but also their own strengths, which deserve praise.
We live in a world of material abundance, and sometimes we forget that walking on water and achieving the extraordinary is not an easy or light path. It demands constant discipline and training. This outward-bound experience was an excellent opportunity to realise that we can achieve far more than we imagine.
And when fear arises, we are not alone — we have our companions, and above all, we have God. Therefore, as we begin this new academic year, let us be strong and courageous, for God has promised us: wherever we go, He will be with us.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Principal Chan Mei Yi
1st September 2025
Be Strong 剛強壯膽
從「行在水面上」到剛強壯膽
過去一年，學校在不同的典禮、聚會，圍繞【馬太福音】十四章25至33節：「耶穌行在水面上，彼得因信下水，嘗試行在水面上，又因懼怕而下沈，最終被主扶起。」
用彼得的經歷作分享：「鍛煉信心，成就非凡，行在水面上」除了是銘賢書院全年主題，亦是學校希望學生培養的態度。
今年的經文，是延續「行在水面上」，來自約書亞記一章9節：
「我豈沒有吩咐你嗎？你當剛強壯膽！不要懼怕，也不要驚惶，因為你無論往哪裡去，耶和華你的神必與你同在。」這節經文幫助人要擁有在風浪中緊握耶穌的手，行在水面上的信心。
我相信每一位銘賢人都想好像彼得，行在水面上，有遠大的志向、目標，然而面對難題、風浪，難免會怕，約書亞作為摩西的繼任者，肩負帶領以色列民到上帝所賜之迦南美地的重任，面對眾百姓、外邦人，害怕也正常。
上帝不是說：「我賜你百般智慧能力，賜你千軍萬馬，所以不用怕」，而是對跟他說：「不要懼怕，也不要驚惶」，更提醒他：「耶和華必與你同在。」
上帝賜人「行在水面上」的能力，不是叫人自己想辦法，而是與人同在同行，所以人得以有信心，有能力，行在水面之上。
因軟弱顯剛強：校友馬悅君博士的生命故事
想分享本校校友，馬悅君的生命故事。馬校友是一位博士，從小到大，成績名列前茅，高考3A，入讀中大，屢獲校內外獎學金，完成博士學位，還創辦慈善團體，更是銘賢獎學金贊助人。
馬博士，看似典型的「人生勝利組」，學歷、名譽、金錢一無所缺，當然，她必定很努力，跨越過很多難關，但也必定很幸運，才能行在水面上，成就非凡。
但事實上，她在出生時已「輸」給大家：自幼患有「先天性進行性肌肉萎縮症」，令她的肌肉、心肺與體力都較一般人虛弱，身體長期不適，易於疲累，體力僅能應付4天上課，由於雙手無力，連寫字也吃力，需要媽媽天天到校陪伴照顧。
中一期末，她動了場大手術，術後身體虛弱，卻心繫學習，準備考試，堅持休養身體後，參加考試，她的測考時間跟其他同學一樣，寫得很急很辛苦。但哪怕身體情況影響學習，仍盡力做好。
年級愈高，功課量、字數要求愈多，對她來說，是愈來愈吃力。不過她沒放棄，儘管寫一會功課便消耗大量體力，很疲累，她卻寧願做一會，休息一會再做，堅持完成功課，從不欠交。身體沒法長時間溫習，每溫習一兩小時需休息，她上課便特別認真。
馬悅君校友經歷會考、高考兩次公開考試。備試高考的關鍵時期，她患上感冒。對大家來說，這是吃藥，好好休息一兩天，甚至可以不藥而癒的小病。但對心肺功能特別弱的她來說，則是大病一場，感冒對她的肺部影響很大，症狀遲遲未見好轉，嚴重咳嗽致無法上學，吃藥後身體虛弱，考試壓力很大，都無阻她堅持溫習。
她帶病高考，連續多日的長時間考試讓她體力透支，考到最後一科時，險些暈倒，全靠意志力支撐下來，完成考試。考出3A佳績的背後，是多年來不怕困難，迎難而上，堅持努力。
她重視學習，目標清晰，所以勤奮學習，盡力、堅持完成每件事，希望盡己所能，做到最好，搏盡無悔。她說：「只有自己能決定自己的DNA。」DNA對她加諸諸多限制，但她勇於挑戰，決定更努力、更堅毅，終突破限制。
平常人要成就如馬博士的非凡，都困難重重，她更是難上加難。我們遇到困難，難免怨天尤人，覺得放棄比努力輕鬆，她卻久經風浪，行在水面上。
以勤勞與堅毅得以剛強
要行在水面上，培養勤勞、堅毅必不可少，今年7月底，有10位中三銘賢人參與5日4夜的外展訓練，與其他同學互相扶持，在5天的旅程中，跨越負重爬山、野營煮食、夜行渡海、日曬雨淋、蛇蟲鼠蟻等挑戰，不惜「攞苦黎辛」，為的是突破自我，學習堅毅、勤勞、解難。
同學們投入訓練，在不同的活動中願意付出、學習，對於種種辛苦、不便、不適應，以忍耐、合作、堅持不放棄的態度，盡全力完成整個旅程，認識自己不足之餘，懂得欣賞自己的努力，值得嘉許。
人們生活在物質過盛的幸福裡，有時候會因此遺忘，行在水面上，成就非凡不會是一件輕鬆愉快的事，而是需要持續緞煉，這次活動，是很好的學習機會，讓人發現自己可以做到超乎想像的事。
害怕的時候，人除了有同伴，還有上帝，所以，迎接新學年，不要懼怕，也不要驚惶，因為上帝答應過我們，無論我們往哪裡去，祂必與我們同在。
「我豈沒有吩咐你嗎？你當剛強壯膽！不要懼怕，也不要驚惶，因為你無論往哪裡去，耶和華你的神必與你同在。」 (約書亞記一章9節)
陳美儀校長
二零二五年九月一日
