On 17th December 2018, Mr. Ching, our vice principal, gave us a message about brotherhood that countered any narratives excusing bullying on campus. Using the recent public sharing of our famous alumnus Stephen Chan (陳志雲), Mr. Ching highlighted that SFXC has always been a school of brotherhood and the inclusive culture here had long been established. Though bullying was not a widespread phenomenon in SFXC, Mr. Ching was highly critical of any minor forms of bullying, including repeated tricks and hurtful teasing that could place our fellow Xaverians under tremendous stress. He understood that most of our students didn’t engage in acts of bullying intentionally. They did what they did mostly out of impulses for fun rather than malevolent intents. Still, Mr. Ching urged us to control our actions. We were entitled to our own opinions towards others, but we should be mature enough to control ourselves not to act out thoughts that could harm others.
Mr. Ching concluded his message using Grace Vanderwaal’s award winning song ‘Clay’ to encourage anyone who felt hurt by bullying remarks and tricks. Let’s not give in to our immature impulses and carry on our long tradition of being a school of brotherhood.
“Clay” - by Grace Vanderwaal
You see a girl in the hallway And then you whisper to your friend "Who is she anyway?" You forgot what she looks like in like a day But your words don't hurt me I will be OK 'Cause you don't hurt me
I won't mold to Your silly words I won't live inside your world 'Cause your punches and your names All your jokes and stupid games They don't work No, they don't hurt Watch them just go right through me Because they mean nothing to me I'm not clay
Try to change my shape But, baby, I'm not clay Sorry, not today 'Cause, baby, I'm not
Your silly words I won't live inside your world 'Cause your punches and your names All your jokes and stupid games They don't work No, they don't hurt Watch them just go right through me Because they mean nothing to me I'm not clay