LAU Ka Ho 劉家豪

After graduating with a degree in actuarial science, I began my part-time MAICS study. When I first started, I posed myself two questions: “Why am I studying this?” and “What exactly am I studying?”—hoping that by the time I left, I could find the answers. Two years later, looking back on the decision to enroll, perhaps it was simply for being “cool” or just trying to be unique. Yet the MAICS program really is quite “cool,” in that different courses try to challenge the boundaries between mainstream and non-mainstream, and to critique the struggles between the center and the margins. My sense of "coolness" is not only because I chose a less conventional path, but more importantly, because MAICS gave me the confidence not to stick to the so‑called “normalcy” that society celebrates. After all, as Dayo Wong titled his 2014 stand‑up show, not being a bit “crazy” is what’s truly abnormal. What cultural studies is meant to study is never a question with a unanimous answer. For me, after completing the MAICS program, what sticks with me is Raymond Williams’ line: “Culture is ordinary.” Mundane life in Hong Kong is always filled with hustle and bustle, leaving us too busy to notice that we, as a collective, are creating our own culture. Whether it’s us rushing under the visible Lion Rock in real life, or us yapping randomly on LIHKG or Threads, we are collectively writing the story of Hong Kong. Joining the MAICS programme in an age charactised by anxiety over disappearing culture might seem paradoxical. Yet I think, as long as everyone continues living in the city in our own ways, culture will not die.

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WANG Ziyan 王梓妍

I am very grateful for the one year of study at MAICS, and I thank all the teachers for teaching and responding to us beyond my expectations. At MAICS, we have been able to dive deep into our existing interests, to engage with topics we have never known before, to respond to our own puzzles, and to build new perspectives. Knowledge and methodology show us how to perceive the grand and look at the mundane and the subaltern, and to inquire into the construction behind every common sense. Talking about man, nature, and society, we learn to follow our heart to criticize with certainty, but also to hesitate, to listen to the real you and me. How should I evaluate this journey? Is it just a pure and abundant intellectual time? But the friends I have met, the vivid days and nights, the campus and the city I have touched, have already happened and written unique grain. I have long forgotten what kind of expectation I had when I first came here, but only the preciousness of what I have experienced will remain, and perhaps settle in my temperament, and turn into the courage to look outward and the calmness to face everything. I wish everyone will have their own story in MAICS.

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DUAN Jiaqi 段家琦

After working for a year following my Bachelor's degree, I chose to pursue a Master's. Receiving the admission offer from ICS felt like a reprieve from intensive and repetitive labour. Gradually, I came to realize that instead of calculating the significance of a degree in relation to employment, it is the process itself that matters more. I see this year as a place to explore curiosity and possibilities, looking forward to unfolding myself to the greatest extent and engaging with various courses and topics. Here, knowledge no longer hangs large and bright in the sacred halls of academia; instead, the process of building knowledge comes from exploring our everyday life, whether it’s reflecting on the culture and politics behind a glass of milk, or observing the diverse folk ecology flourishing in the borderlands between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The so-called “subjective” experience from the ground is important. In a year where I was encouraged to follow my curiosity to learn and reflect, I seem to have briefly broken away from the competitive and efficiency-oriented social game and rebuilt my confidence in a gentle way. The greatest thing I took away from ICS is the belief that somewhere there is a space that can accommodate these diverse, idealistic, yet grounded lifestyles. It always encourages me to turn my ideas into actions, to reflect on and even challenge the dominant common beliefs with my own participation and curiosity.

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WU Guohao 吳國豪

I am very grateful and so lucky to have spent a precious year at ICS. ICS has provided me, as a member of the minorities, with the opportunity to be "seen" and to tell my own story. The experiences like confusions, fears, and traumas of minority groups can all find expression here. Most importantly, as these experiences of marginalized groups begin to manifest in our classroom discussions, many biases and discriminations are being gradually deconstructed in our exchanges. This emphasizes the power of communication and connection with each other. Instead of implicit avoidance, facing these seemingly regressive emotions is the beginning of solving problems. Furthermore, I am deeply grateful to have met wonderful teachers here, such as Janet, Meiting, and Kaming. They patiently guide students, encourage them to express themselves, make mistakes, and most importantly, their personalities, experiences, and works are unforgettable, allowing me to feel that in this era already criticized for its indifference, there are still people who sincerely engage with the world around them and intervene in society through their actions. I still remember vividly the humility, sincerity, and earnestness in the preface written by Peng Lijun about her research on the Cultural Revolution. I feel that the existence of these teachers gives me hope for this world. Perhaps as time passes, the knowledge learned may fade, but as long as in times of hardship, I can still recall the alternative perspective of viewing the world that I learned at ICS, remember the anticipation every time I got off at the university, isn't that a way to affirm and heal myself?

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WU Jiaxin 吳嘉欣

Before studying at ICS, I had many questions about myself and society. However, at the end of this short journey, I actually left ICS with more questions. Perhaps what I have learned from ICS is that I have gradually stopped looking for the only answer and solution to many of my questions. As a student who had working experience before, I treasure the time I spent back on campus at ICS. When I decided to apply for a Master's programme two years ago, I struggled with whether or not I should continue choosing the field of arts and humanities, but I still followed my heart and came to ICS. And now, when I look back after graduation, I find that I received more than I had expected. I finally had the opportunity to study what I was really interested in, and to try something I didn't think I was good at before. Although the future and the reality are still full of uncertainty, I don't seem to be so afraid anymore.

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