Hong Kong Orientation Camp

Getting adjusted to university life is a difficult process as the transition from teenage years to adult years is tough. The rising figures of college students committing suicide raise concern about the stressful situation of college students. At New York University, 6 students committed suicide in the first 9 months in 2004 (Depression). Moreover, 25% of all college students in China admitted that they had suicidal thoughts before (Rate). Depression is a common cause of having such suicidal thoughts, as students are unable to deal with the rising pressure in university. Dr. David Smart, a psychologist in Hawaii, has said,‘' Suicide is usually caused by depression, we see that it stems from some type of loss such as a relationship or self-esteem."(Depression) Most college students are facing the same difficulties as young people elsewhere in adjusting themselves to university life, and Hong Kong Universities have used many approaches to help them adjust better, such as holding seminars and arranging visits. Starting from 2001, university orientation camps have been held to help students and now, all 8 public-funded institutions in Hong Kong hold these camps every year.

Generally, Hong Kong orientation camp is held in late August before school starts and is a 4-day-3-night event. In the camp, university freshmen will be interact with their colleagues in different groups, each group led by ‘'group parents'' who are actually year 2 students. Activities of these camps are intended to provide a platform for freshmen to meet one another and make friends, also to familiarize them with the new learning environment and to help them develop a better understanding of the university life under the guidance of the elder ones. To achieve these aims, the ‘'parents'' work with university professors who give lectures in order to introduce the background history of the various university colleges and the formal structure of departments. Apart from formal speaking, private heart-to-heart talks with ‘group parents' can