Year 12 student Benson Geng-Wang has eagerly embarked on a Round Square journey to broaden his horizons with an immersive experience in Hong Kong. Spending two weeks at the prestigious St. Paul’s Co-Educational College (SPCC), he has enthusiastically embraced the city’s vibrant culture and rich traditions, igniting his passion for global exploration and cultural understanding.
B enson believes that the “Round Square network enables schools to connect and share valuable insights into each other's operations”. “The trip to Hong Kong was particularly exciting for me, as I have been raised in New Zealand since I was young, and I wanted to see what school and life would be like back to my origins,” he explains. On arrival, Benson was warmly welcomed by his exchange student host, Jason Au, alongside two of his SPCC classmates, as well as the SPCC Round Square Director, Chan Kai On. He quickly integrated into Hong Kong's diverse culture. The bustling streets and lively crowds presented a stark contrast to his “serene hometown in New Zealand, making the experience both unique and unreal”. Reflecting on his explorations in the busy market district of Mong Kok, Benson explains “this is something I would never see in New Zealand”. “Going on this Round Square journey is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
“It’s amazing to witness such cultural diversity,” he adds. On his first day, Benson woke at 5am, nervous and excited to navigate the MTR, a metro transportation system that joins the city, and a bus to the school nestled in the hills. His exchange kicked off confidently, as Benson introduced himself and Christ’s College during the morning assembly. Joining his allocated class, 5i, Benson was initially met with curious stares that soon turned into friendly exchanges as he eagerly embraced the learning environment. “The students shared their insight into the function of the school,” Benson explains. “Unlike Christ’s College, they begin each school day with a student-led assembly by a group called the N33, who controls the lighting, presenting, and streaming, as the hall cannot fit all the year groups, meaning one year group would have to stay in their homeroom classes and watch the assembly online.” The assembly features the Lord’s Prayer , hymns, and notices from the prefects. The school is overseen by two student boards, the prefects and the student union. The prefects maintain discipline, such as ensuring no
phone usage in class, while the student union, named ‘Elleni’ this year, consists of eight students who organise student activities, such as the talent quest and the Combined Christmas Prom. As Jason was a member of the student union, Benson was able to work with the group and explore the leadership style during his SPCC stay. Like Christ’s College, school starts at 8.10am and finishes at 3.45pm. During his visit, Benson participated in a variety of activities, including Round Square Day, where students set up booths to showcase their contributions to Round Square IDEALS, such as teaching younger students aviation or volunteering in hospitals. He also competed in the interclass A-grade basketball competition, where his class claimed the title, and enjoyed the entertaining talent quest, where students organised performances in choral, musical, or dance groups, with the most popular acts winning votes. In the classroom, Benson attended the same subjects as his host, Jason, and was pleased to find they shared similar academic interests. Despite the overlap in subjects, Benson found the International Baccalaureate
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