A Life Combining Culture, Sports and Science

Wushu can be seen as a unique blend of martial arts sport that brings together traditional culture and contemporary sportsmanship. Year 1 HKU student Jada Nicole He adds one more element: Science. Jada is an elite athlete representing the Hong Kong Wushu team who joined HKU through the Top Athlete Direct Admission Scheme and is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree.

She comes from a culture of martial arts, as both her parents were Wushu athletes. “You could say that it runs in my blood,” she says, remembering how from a young age, she was introduced to the wide world of Wushu – all the various forms and schools – and was captivated by the art itself. It was a constant presence in her life as she grew up, and although her parents enrolled her in a range of other extracurricular activities like ballet, piano, drawing, and others – she felt her real passion was for Wushu. By her final three years of secondary school, she was already a “full-time student-athlete”, juggling her Wushu training with her academic responsibilities.

But it was a gruelling time. At school, she was enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program but had opted for the two-year path instead of the three-year one, which would have given her more breathing space to manage her various obligations. She persevered through the demanding schedule, but the pressure she lived through was intense and there were moments of tears and the temptation to quit. She recalls that at these near breaking-points, her father reminded her that “There can be many great sportsmen, but there can only be one world champion”. This served as a constant source of motivation, pushing her to strive for excellence and aspire to be among the best.

Reflecting on this, she notes, “The time management skills I learned from that period in my life will definitely help me face and persevere through challenges in my upcoming years at HKU.” Currently, a typical day involves attending classes in the morning and training in the afternoon. The university’s flexible class schedule lets her schedule her training around her academic commitments. “For example, if I have a morning class and my afternoon is free, I will train later in the day. Conversely, if I have an afternoon class, I’ll schedule my training for the evening,” she says. Balancing academics, athletics, and personal life has always had its challenges, but she feels that “as long as I plan and manage my time wisely, I find this way of living and learning quite manageable.”

Jada chose HKU because she believed that in addition to being a leading university in the world, it will provide her with the adaptability needed to accommodate her academic pursuits and her sports training demands. “I am studying in the Faculty of Science at the moment, and I aspire to eventually focus particularly on Molecular Sciences and Biotechnology.”

Her reasons for choosing this area of specialisation can, once again, be traced back to an experience involving her parents. “I would often go to the market with them and observe the different food choices the other customers would make. “One interesting phenomenon that I observed is that customers tended to prefer imported scented grapes from Japan over local fruits from Hong Kong,” she recalls. She found this intriguing and led her to question other aspects of biotechnology: Are genetically modified foods necessarily more popular? And if so, are they safe and do they have any side effects for customers?

Building on this heightened sense of awareness regarding nutrition and its impact on physical performance, she envisions a career in the healthcare industry, specifically focusing on developing products for athletes through the use of biotechnology. “As an elite athlete training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, I have always prioritised my health and well-being. My aim is to develop my own nutritional snacks brand for athletes to help them improve their athletic performances,” she says.

Being a resident at St. John’s College has also had a profound effect on her. “I’m a proud St. Johnian!” she laughs. “I believe that what the College’s community has to offer will enable me to discover more of my personal potential. I‘m really looking forward to taking part in various clubs and teams within the College, using these as opportunities to connect with a wide range of people and learn from their perspectives.”

“Success” is a “big word” for Jada, and upon reflection, prefers to define it as: “When you flourish and excel in your passion.” She says her father always reminded her that she can be whatever she wants, but very few make it to the top. In response, Jada says, “His words inspire me and I strive to find my passions and dedicate myself to them in order to achieve my goals.”

Both her parents have always been her role models: “I feel like I don’t express my gratitude towards them enough. They have continually encouraged me to strive for excellence while supporting my decisions.”

One final piece of advice: “Life is full of successes and setbacks, embrace them with optimism and gratitude, and always believe in yourself!”