The Hill recently honored two alumni who enrolled at the School from great distances and went on to attain leadership positions in their respective countries. The recipients of The Hill's Sixth Form Leadership Awards for 2009 were Bernard Chan, Hill Class of '83, a business and government leader in Hong Kong, and, posthumously, Sir Barry Cross Sheen, Hill Class of '37, who was a highly regarded, decorated British naval officer and judge who presided over the Admiralty Court of the High Court of England and Wales. Mr. Chan traveled from Hong Kong to accept the 11th annual award and Sir Barry's son, Dr. Adrian Sheen, traveled from Australia with family members to acknowledge the honor. The ceremony occurred in Hill's Center For The Arts.
In introducing both recipients, Headmaster David R. Dougherty noted that both gentlemen achieved their leadership stature through hard work accompanied by "the joyfulness that comes from hard work well done." He thanked both Mr. Chan and Dr. Sheen for coming to The Hill for the occasion, adding, "We are honored that they feel so honored by this award that they have traveled so far to accept it."
In recent years, the Doughertys visited with the Chans as well as the Sheens in their home countries during trips abroad to visit worldwide Hill alumni.
Marty Previtte, president of Hill's sixth form (senior class) and a student headed to University of North Carolina at Wilmington, introduced Mr. Chan. Mary-Grace Reeder, vice president of the sixth form, who will attend Wellesley, introduced Dr. Sheen and offered a short biography of his father, Sir Barry.
PERSISTENCE, OPTIMISM ALONG THE JOURNEY
Mr. Chan shared a brief history of his life's journey from the time he arrived as a fourth former (sophomore) at The Hill School. "It was an adjustment to make," he noted with what would prove to be his charming, self-deprecating humor. He stated, for example, that while he was not very good at athletics, he did become a team manager for a number of varsity sports. He also recalled that one of his mathematics teachers chided him for not taking the highest-level math courses available; the teacher assumed that Bernard – as an Asian student -- naturally should excel in math (which was not one of the young man's strongest subjects).
Soon after matriculating at Pomona College in California, young Bernard learned that he was very sick with a condition that would, over the next few years, require several surgeries. In order to graduate with his class, Bernard needed to find a major that would allow him to study independently and attain the required number of credits while studying (and recuperating) off campus. While he bucked the trend for Asian students, he selected studio art – a marked deviation from his intended major of economics.
Despite that rather unusual choice, Bernard began working for an insurance company and then, in 1997 in Hong Kong, he ran for and attained a seat in Parliament. Ironically, one of his first official assignments was to find a new logo for that government body – one that would represent Hong Kong well, and one that would be endorsed unanimously by all 60 members of Parliament. He was selected for this task because he was the only member of Parliament with an art background.
Bernard said he learned an early lesson in how to manage potential political conflicts through this process: He hired a designer and asked for a variety of possible logos. "I picked one that was outstanding, and one that I knew that everyone would hate, then I presented those two options to Parliament as the only two designs, so that everyone would agree on the best choice…." he said.
He later told the audience that, while he was in college, doctors had said he would be very sick for the rest of his life and never able to exert himself physically. "It took me about 10 years to get over that mindset," Mr. Chan said, "but I decided never to give up – and now I work out about two hours each day. I do take medicine every day, but I decided not to pay too much attention to what those doctors told me."
WORDS OF ADVICE
If asked whether it was The Hill School that prepared him for all of his life's work and successes, Mr. Chan said he would have to reply that he does not know. "I do know that the time you spend here will be worth it later," he said. "I do know that without the education I gained here, I would not be the same person I am now.
"The education you get at The Hill School should not be to train you to get a better job, but to be a better person," he emphasized.
"My advice is that you should not expect others to give you the answers – here, or in college, or wherever you are. You must find the answers for yourself. You have the ingredients; Hill has given you ingredients. The question is, do you have the will?
"Never underestimate any opportunity given to you," he continued. "Also, remember that all the things I have done were not necessarily my first choices. The important thing is to make the best out of whatever you become involved with, wherever, whether or not it was your first choice."
Mr. Chan noted that Hill's campus is "amazing -- with far, far better facilities than when I was here.
"What I most remember about The Hill are the friendships," he said, adding that "after 26 years, I miss the school," although he is in touch with many Hill friends through Facebook. He recalled the lasting bonds he formed with faculty members including Thomas Ruth, Jim Finn, Rick Borger, Mike Pentz, Bob Parker, Harry Price, and Mark Nelson, to name just a few.
"One of these days, you too will fully understand what I mean when I say these things about The Hill School," Mr. Chan concluded.