我是Jacky，是土生土長的香港人。父母在我小時候已經離緍，我和弟弟跟隨母親生活，因為家境貧困，她需要外出工作。年幼時我和弟弟常常生病，很多時兩兄弟一起入住醫院，母親經常在醫院門前哭泣，當時使到自己很不開心。讀書時並沒有參加任何課外活動，放學後唯一的娛樂，便是與弟弟到公園與街童玩耍。那時住在深水埗區品流比較複雜，所以很多時候都會被欺負和毆打。
因為無心向學，中學會考時的成績是「0」分，知道自己讀書不成，便出來社會工作，因誤交損友，染上了賭博惡習。所有賭博都參與，如賽馬和足球，而且愈來愈沉迷。結婚後也繼續賭博，最後輸掉所有金錢，債主上門追債，當時除了自己覺得寢食不安之外，家人也被牽連，不斷受到滋擾。
有一天當我回家，看到飯裡有飯，還有一張字條，是前妻寫給我的，字條中寫着「我不能陪你繼續走這一段路，因為覺得壓力很大，兒子亦不希望爸爸是賭徒，所以我選擇離開」。
有一晚我登上天台，心裡只想着人生甚麽都輸光了，妻兒也離開了，當時受了很大的打擊，一時想不通，選擇就此結束生命。在那一刻不知道是否天意，我聽到了一首用色士風吹奏的歌曲「為你鍾情」，我立刻停下來想一想，在腦海中看到的景象是媽媽，想着如結束了生命最痛苦的是她，她最少也供養了我十八年，然後再想自己為何會有今天的結果，是當年不發奮讀書和有貪念，沉迷賭博，所以欠下一身債，那一刻清醒了，決定改過自身，亦覺得什麽事情也可以從頭開始。
之後戒掉賭博，努力工作，入讀夜校進修，和參與一些義務工作。因為一首歌救回我的生命，所以便去學習色士風，但半年也找不到導師，可能十幾年前在香港是不流行色士風音樂，機緣巧合之下我遇到現在的拍檔及啟蒙恩師張Sir我一直跟隨張Sir 學習色士風，但我們更希望可以將這門色士風音樂，在香港發揚光大，因此與張Sir創辦了一間專門教授色士風音樂學校。因當時香港沒有專門教授這種樂器的學校，所以吸引了很多傳媒採訪，現在我們已經有幾間分校。
在二零一一年的時候，我們開始義務教導一些學生，創立了義工隊。最初義工隊會到老人院義務表演，亦會到不同的醫院，用音樂來鼓勵末期病人。我們亦會帶同表演學生的家長前往，讓他們看到子女們，將所學到的回饋社會。我們每年最少資助二十位學生免費學音樂。
這十多年我積極參與義務工作，將我的經歷用說話，和透過社交平台與大家分享，鼓勵年青人，雖然面對逆境，但並非一定是絕路，因為身旁還有家人和朋友，會支持和協助你，我亦希望是其中一人。
最後我希望以自身經歷啟發各位年輕人: 做事絕不能急功近利。希望大家先學懂付出，學會虛心學習、學會分享、堅持信念，唯用心創造價值後，回報將意想不到地到來。不要以為小人物做小事，你不會知道後面會變成多大的事！就讓我們做一個快樂的小人物！「共勉之~加油！」
I am Jacky. I was born and raised in Hong Kong. My parents were divorced when I was young. My younger brother and I lived with our mother. She had to go out to work because we were very poor. When I was young, my brother and I often got sick. Oftentimes, we had to live in the hospital together. My mother used to cry outside the hospital. At that time, I felt very upset. I did not attend any extracurricular activities while I was in school. After school, the only fun thing I did with my brother was to play with the street kids. We lived in Sham Shui Po. It was a rather complicated area. That was why we were often bullied and beaten up.
As I was not interested in my studies, I got ‘0’ points for my school public examinations. I knew I was not a good student. That was the reason why I decided to work in the society. I made bad friends and got into the habit of gambling. I took part in all sorts of gambling such as, horse racing, soccer and got increasingly addicted. After I got married, I still continued to gamble. In the end, I lost all my money. Creditors came to my home for money. During that time, I had a strong sense of unease. My family was also affected. They were constantly disturbed.
There was one day when I returned home and found rice in the rice cooker. There was also a letter. It was written by my former wife. It wrote: ‘I am unable to continue walking this road with you because I am under a lot of pressure. Our son also does not want a gambling addict for a father. That is why I have made the decision to leave you.’
I went to the rooftop one evening. My heart only knew that I have lost everything. My wife and son have also left me. I was really devastated and could not think straight. I chose to end my life. At that moment, I did not know whether it was by fate or not, but I heard a song played by the saxophone. I immediately stopped and collected my thoughts. In my mind, I saw my mother. I knew that if I ended my life, she would be the one in the most pain. She supported me for at least 18 years. I then asked myself how I ended up here. It was because I did not study hard back in the days and was full of greed. I was addicted to gambling that was why I was deep in debt. I found my conscience at once. I made up my mind to start all over again. I felt that you can always start from scratch.
I eventually quit gambling for good and focused on work. I took courses in evening school and did voluntary work. A song saved my life. That was why I went to learn the saxophone. For half a year, I was unable to find a tutor. It may be because more than a decade ago, saxophone music was not very popular in Hong Kong. By destiny, I met my current partner and master, Cheung Sir.
I continued to learn the saxophone with Cheung Sir. But we both hoped that saxophone music can bloom and spread its wings in Hong Kong. That was why we opened a school that specialized in the teaching of the saxophone. The reason was because there were no such schools in Hong Kong back then. That was why we caught a lot of media attention. We now have several branches.
In the year 2001, we started to teach some students voluntarily. We created a volunteer group. At first, they just performed at elderly homes. They would also go to different hospitals to support patients in the late stages of their illness. We brought the parents to the occasions so that they could witness their children giving back to the society with what they have learnt. In addition, we financially support at least 20 students each year to learn free-of-charge.
Over the past ten years, I have actively involved myself in voluntary work. I have shared my experiences on social media to encourage youngsters that there can be a way out even during adversity. It is because you still have family and friends around you. They will support and help you. I also hope to be one of them.
Last but not least, I hope that my own experiences can inspire youngsters. You should never rush to become successful. Please learn to sacrifice first; learn with gratitude; learn to share and stand by your belief. There will only be results when value is harnessed. You should not think that a small person can only do a small deed. You will never know how big of a person you can become in future! Let’s all be happy small people. Let’s support each other to ‘carry on together’!
