My name is Peirui Liu, you can call me Patrick. 

I was born in Shanghai. When I was twelve years old, my parents took me to immigrate to Hong Kong. I grew up in a loving and harmonious small family. My mother is diligent, thrifty, and kind housewife, while my father is stable, hardworking and energetic business owner. During holidays, my parents often took me on domestic or overseas trips, which provided me with a conducive environment for growth. These experiences allowed me to explore the world, feel their love, and develop a healthy mindset and values, shaping my perspective on life. I firmly believe that one should "travel a thousand miles and read ten thousand books" to achieve an extraordinary life.

The warm and loving family atmosphere, combined with the quality education I received at schools such as Shanghai Ang Li Kindergarten, Shanghai Experimental School East Campus during my elementary years, and Kiangsu & Chekiang Primary School after we moved to Hong Kong, laid a strong foundation for my mental well-being. I am loved by my classmates & teachers for my friendliness, confidence, sociability, strong curiosity and exploration spirit. 

One of my another strength is the ability to adapt well to new environments, and be able to summarize new insights and growth experiences from the new environment. This also benefits from my strong curiosity and broad interest in things. When I was in elementary school, I actively participated in the school's Youth Writers Club. I loved reading detective novels and developed a strong interest in mathematics, astronomy, natural science and other subjects. I often do some small science experiments, such as soaking eggs in vinegar, magnetic polarity testing, etc. Later, I faced the first challenge in the new environment of my life - Hong Kong. I embraced the new environment without fear initially, but also experienced some struggles, finally  I made the transition successfully through my own efforts and integrated with it. Now Hong Kong became my another hometown.

Helping others and being willing to assist is a necessary virtue in society. As social beings, we should be connected through mutual support. My parents instilled in me the importance of kindness and sharing from an early age, emphasizing that I should "do good and avoid evil" and cultivate good habits. For instance, I often pick up litter I see on the street and offer assistance to the elderly or people with disabilities. A better society requires everyone’s contribution, starting with small acts of kindness and service in our daily lives.

In order to convey my love further, I signed up to participate in various local volunteer activities. Hong Kong is a densely populated, multicultural and tolerant community, there are various forms of volunteering. I often try to be a different volunteer to experience the lives of different people. For example, collecting bread that is expiring soon, sorting out books for community library, raising donations, giving warmth to homeless people, helping deliver rice to those in need, etc.

 From my childhood, I have a wide range of interests, including music, sports, drawing, and handicrafts. I play various musical instruments such as the piano, snare drum, ukulele, harmonica, bamboo flute. I often enjoy various handicrafts that I created when I was little, which always bring me back to fond memories of my childhood. I am also involved in sports, including mountain climbing, basketball, table tennis, swimming, jogging & Chinese Kong Fu. I fell in love with the diverse landscapes of Hong Kong, especially its mountains and islands. I purchased a hiking guidebook and had been exploring various hiking trails with my parents during my spare time, from "Tai To Yan" to "Ngam Tau Shan" and from "Tai Tung Shan" to "Pat Sin Leng." Hiking not only help keep me physically fit but also inspire my passion and confidence, letting me "gaze at the world from a high vantage point."

When I was little, I enjoyed origami, building with LEGO, as well as playing Go&Chinese chess. In my present secondary school, they provides a variety of training classes for talents and interests. I try to change them every year. Until now, I have participated in activities such as magic tricks, balloon twisting, silent drama, organic farming, hydroponics, and the study of French, which is my fourth language. Prior to this, I was already fluent in Chinese and English, and I am proficient in Cantonese. Interests serve as great teachers. Despite not having outstanding naturally gifted in certain fields, I maintain my enthusiasm and dedication. Outside of academics, I often turn to these hobbies to enjoy myself and, more importantly, to cultivate my character and manage my emotions. After all, extracurricular activities are a wonderful way to enrich my life and a valuable means of personal development. As the famous British philosopher Bertrand Russell said, "The secret of happiness is to find something more to look forward to. Expanding your range of interests and being friendly to people and things that interest you is the key to happiness.”

 Life is a process of exploration. As an explorer, I continually seek to learn throughout my life. All the way, my parents’ & my teachers' encouragement together with my internal drive kept me resilient. Here are some of my insights on growth:

1. Embrace challenges proactively: I learned that embracing challenges with enthusiasm and curiosity leads to a more positive and confident outlook. Being proactive rather than passive is key to achieving success.

2. Be well-prepared and determined.

3. Cultivate humility, be kind, and make friends: I was taught to be humble, kind, and helpful from a young age. Building a diverse network and being open to learning from others is essential for growth. 

4.  Incremental progress leads to excellence: Just as "a mountain does not refuse the earth, thus it becomes high, and the sea does not refuse water, thus  it becomes great," small, consistent efforts lead to significant achievements. Steady persistence and a relentless pursuit of knowledge are essential to success.

While I attended public schools in Shanghai from grade 1 to 4, and private schools in Hong Kong from grade 5 and 6, I maintained a comprehensive educational philosophy throughout. My parents and teachers supported me on this journey, and I have continued to adopt these principles in both school and family life. In choosing the International Baccalaureate (IB) path during my secondary education, I further expanded my horizons and explored the world.

Staying true to the times, I aim to think, try, and keep progressing. As the saying goes, "In all things, plan ahead. No planning is a plan for failure." I aspire to expand my horizons and continually seek knowledge. I am determined to make the most of the opportunities before me and pursue a higher understanding of the world.

"In the road of life, I will keep seeking and exploring, going both up and down."