Student Portfolio (Name) (Address, Contact Phone, Email address) Introduction I am ______(name)__________, a Secondary Four / Five student / Secondary Five / Seven graduate of ____________(school)__________. Academic ability Describe in detail the qualities you believe would interest the employer / the organization you would like to join. Take care with the following points 1. When talking about your positive attributes it can be difficult care not to sound boastful. Try to sound confident without being arrogant or bigheaded. One way of doing this is to include phrases that “hedge” a little or that soften statements where you claim to have desirable personal qualities. I believe I am __________ I consider myself to be _________ I regard / see myself as a ________ I try / have always tried my best to be _______ I endeavour / have always endeavoured to be _______ I strive to be ________ I aim to be Also be aware that words, in addition to their dictionary meaning, carry certain nuances, i.e. tones, colours or very subtle shades of meaning, and it is difficult to use certain words about yourself without sounding arrogant, or lacking in linguistic awareness, thus creating the opposite effect to the one you were trying to achieve. Words that should be used with major hedging and extreme caution (if at all) about yourself may include Excellent, (never!) Outstanding (never!) Eloquent (never!) a high standard of work (use with major hedging and extreme caution) 2. Avoid repeating the same ideas when selecting from the words and expressions below: (Academic ability) very good academic results / top three of my class / have maintained a high standard of work over the past seven years / have intellectual curiosity and imagination / have an immense interest in learning / try my best in all my undertakings / strive to excel academically have a good command of English and Chinese, proficient in Putonghua / English, read widely in both languages disciplined / inquisitive / persistent / self-motivated / highly-motivated / determined to reach a higher standard / adopt a serious attitude towards learning / have a zest for learning Personality I consider myself to be / see myself as cheerful / amicable / sociable / outgoing I have a good sense of humour am proactive / have a positive attitude to life / optimistic / have a can-do attitude / creative / diligent / hard-working/ conscientious, am always willing to take on new responsibilities am confident am independent and creative am ambitious mix well with my peers accept challenges readily / self confident honest / reliable / trustworthy / responsible / sincere I believe I have good leadership qualities try to help others wherever possible / am willing to help others am enthusiastic and active aim to be co-operative and considerate I consider myself to have a sensitivity towards and a concern for others am able to keep calm under pressure / handle stress well make every effort to aim for perfection honest / dependable / reliable / trustworthy / dutiful / responsible / committed / dedicated / devoted capable / mature I am cooperative / sincere / courteous / polite / pleasant / good-natured / kind-hearted / considerate / respectful / thoughtful / enthusiastic / energetic I believe I am caring / patient I am eager to serve / demonstrate initiative to serve / demonstrate leadership potential I consider myself to be constructive /independent / resourceful / sensible / systematic / well-organised / well-mannered I believe I have good time management skills, I am punctual / efficient / effective I have strong analytical power / good judgment / good logical and reasoning skills Attitude am determined to reach a higher standard, am persistent / persevering am hardworking / diligent am eager to learn am methodical do my best to work carefully and thoroughly always strive for improvement am able to study independently am a creative problem solver am keen and try to be responsive at all times I endeavour to be neat and systematic at all times. take my work seriously have an enquiring mind I strive to pay careful attention to detail Skills Language – articulate, fluent, proficient Computer – proficient in MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe Photoshop, Chinese Input Interests have played an active role in school / class / house activities have varied interests have an interest in music / drama / sport / dancing / photography, etc. Sample 1 I am an industrious and self-motivated student and have endeavoured to maintain a high standard of work throughout my secondary studies. I am determined and have planned carefully for my future and intend to explore every avenue with continuous exertion to reach my goals. I ranked second in class and attained pleasing coursework grades in various subjects. I am proficient in English Language and participated in the Inter-class English Debate Contest of 200_ Sample 2. I am an active participant in extra-curricular activities, ranging from academic ones, such as debating competitions and solo-verse speaking, to sports and drama. Through such activities, I have sharpened my inter-personal skills and analytical powers. I like to get along with others and am open-minded and able to express myself. I believe I am independent and mature enough to cope with the challenges that may arise in the future. I feel that my academic performance is an evidence of my persistence. I have been first in form for the past 3 years. Awards and Achievements Outline your achievements by listing the awards/prizes/certificates you have attained. Sample 3 I have been the school representative of ( ) and ( ), and I won prizes in the inter-school competitions. I am learning to think logically and like to face a variety of challenges. I believe my physical fitness as evidenced by the prizes won in the school swimming gala and inter-house badminton competition, can enable me to meet upcoming challenges. I was the leader of the school orchestra oboe section in secondary three. I also like writing and won (first / second / third) prize in the ( ) competition organized by Hong Kong ( ). Finally, I actively participated in social community services. I have taken part in the ( ) Bazaar for three consecutive years (200_ - 200_ ) and was runner-up for Decoration and for Game Designing in 200_. Sample 4 I have had a passion for art since I was very young. Since I was ten, I have won of more than 21 awards, and prizes as well as the trophies of various painting and design competitions held in the mainland and in Hong Kong. I have a strong interest in Chinese painting and calligraphy and have been sharpening my skills by attending courses and having regular practice. I also displayed insight and intelligence in discharging my duties as a school prefect. I am eager to accept responsibility. I was awarded Outstanding Prefect of the Month from October 200_ to May 200_. I was awarded the Bronze Service Award in 200_ for service rendered to the school Sample 5 I love drama and acting. Throughout these years, my school life has been coloured by performances and awards in Drama. I acted in and directed the school entries to the Hong Kong Drama Festival in 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. I won first prize in both the English Dramatic Duologue (200_-200_) and the English Dramatic Scene of the 53rd Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival (1999-2000, 200_-200_). I was also awarded a Certificate by the Hong Kong Outstanding Teen Election 200_, Sir Edward Youde Memorial Prize in 200_ and the school’s Outstanding Service Award in 200_. Sample 6 I am interested in sports, music and reading. I was the Champion of Squash Competition organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in 200_ - 200_ and I passed Grade 5 Piano Examination in 200_. I was awarded a Certificate of Commendation presented by Hong Kong Youth Community Federation. To widen my exposure to _________, I participated in Oxbridge Summer English Camp 200_ held in China. I also attained the Bronze Award of the Extensive Reading Scheme organized by Urban Council Public Library in 200_. Extra-curricular activities Briefly introduce your ECA and the position held here. school experience and what skills you have acquired. Mention what you have learned through this Sample 7 Being the ( ) and Vice-head ( ) of my school, I took the opportunity to lead about seventy prefects in maintaining the discipline of the school. Not only has the post developed my leadership and communication skills, but it has also trained me to be more confident, persistent and self-motivated in handling problems. In secondary five, I was the Chairman of the ( ) Union responsible for organizing various activities such as the graduation dinner and publication of graduation book. The post has given me valuable experience in administration, decisions making, and organizing important functions. Sample 8 Having been the ( ) of my house, ( ) editor of school newspaper, vice chairman of ( ) club and ( ) club, I have come to fully realize the importance of responsibility, cooperation, coordination and effective communication. My time management and human resource management have also been improved, and my horizons have been widened. Sample 9 I like to face different challenges and have been the school representative of ( ) and ( ), I have won prizes in inter-school competitions, and have taken every opportunity to improve my logical thinking abilities. With the prizes won in the school swimming gala and inter-house badminton competition, I believe my fitness can meet upcoming challenges. I was the leader of the school orchestra oboe section in secondary three. Sample 10 During my time in school, I have learned to strike a balance between academic work and extra-curricular activities. I was Chairman of the Computer Club and Secretary of the Geography Society. I also represented the School Football Team in inter–school competitions. I was a Civil Aid Services Hong Kong (CAS B5561) cadet. Through these activities, I have come to realize how important obligation and discipline are. Strong powers of expression and the ability to speak in front of groups are essential for a tertiary student. Being active in participating and organizing extra-curricular activities, I have acquired these indispensable qualities. My interest in music has also helped me to cultivate the patience which is essential for furthering my studies as well as my future career. Community Service Sample 11 I am a studious, approachable and sociable person. My sense of responsibility, self-discipline and co-operative spirit are reflected in my active participation in extra-curricular activities. Besides, I am quite social-conscious as I am also engaged in a lot of voluntary work. For the past several years, I have been working as a volunteer for charity, for example, selling flags, running activities for the elderly etc. in the year of 200_, I volunteered as a summer helper at the ( ) in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where I became more familiar with the work of doctors and nurses. I was shocked by the patients who were struggling hard for survival and impressed by the doctors and nurses who were trying hard to save lives. I have learned how to care for others’ needs and how to treasure life and every opportunity to live meaningfully. Sample 12 I am keen on serving the community. I joined the Dynamic Youth Leaders Training Project organized by ( ) Community Centre in 200_ and was hired as a Program Assistant to serve the children after the training. I was also awarded the Bronze Service Award by the school and a Certificate of Outstanding Service by the Wan Chai Junior Police Call in June 200_. She also served as the English Class Tutor for the Summer English Experience Course organized by the ( ) Church in 200_. The total number of hours of community service reaches ______. Sample 13 I have been registered as a volunteer in Agency for Volunteer Service since August, 200_. I enriched my skills and experience by joining the “Hong Kong-Guangzhou Voluntary Service Exchange Programme” in 200_. My experience in a wide variety of voluntary work has sharpened my communication skills and built up my confidence. Interest You can include personal interest in your portfolio. Sample 14 During my leisure time, I like listening to music. Both classical and pop music help me to relax and give me enjoyment. Among outdoor activities, I like swimming and cycling. My most frequent activities are surfing the Internet and learning computer skills since the time they require can be flexible. Sample 15 Other than sports, I am interested in art, especially Chinese calligraphy, which trains me to be creative and imaginative. Listening to music, camping and jogging are also some of my favourite pastimes. Sample 16 Besides academic issues, I am used to exposing myself to different experiences and influences. I enjoy listening to music, both pop and classical and playing piano during my leisure time. I also spend much of my time on the computer, as I am eager to enrich my information technology skills which may help me to become more competitive. Sample 17 At leisure, I am fond of playing ball games and listening to music. I am also interested in drawing and simple artwork design. I studied Visual Art in S.5 and I believe that it is helpful in developing my creativity and patience. Sample 18 Apart from sports, I am an avid reader. I understand that mastering English and Chinese is essential and effective communication skills which are helpful to my future career. Conclusion Conclude by stating your short-term goal / long-term goal / career goal Sample 19 - I plan to pursue a degree programme in engineering / Business Administration / Hotel Management / Social Work / Education. - I plan to develop a career in the business sector. - My long-term goal is to own my own café. - My aspiration is to be a nurse and that is why I plan to follow a degree programme in Nursing.