A Short Reflection by an “IT Person” on Finding Purpose at CoA
As an IT System Specialist in CoA, I spent much of my time working on technical support and development work.
That means I am more often facing screens, systems, and code rather than people, and I am a team member without a research background in a research centre. This makes me feel lost from time to time. There are times when I am really not sure if I am actually contributing to the team and what my work is for.
That’s why on my desk in our office, I have placed some little ornaments, featuring some of my favourite illustrators and animations. They have diverse stories behind them, but all remind me of the key message: remember your initial aspiration and keep moving onward.
(A photo of my desk)
That is the mindset that I keep, and I believe that our teams at CoA share. In the JC Stand-by U project, the partnerships among different organizations are supporting families and caregivers, and I, as part of the IT team, am involved in helping with the design and operation of the IT Platform that stands behind and supports the NGO staff, volunteers, and substitute caregivers in the front line of services. That may sound like a tiny step, but as we keep going bit by bit in our own fields, we can create and may have already created changes in lives and opportunities for empowerment that matter to caregivers for a lifetime, and even for a wider society.
We are also highly encouraged to get in touch with advanced technological applications for coping with the challenges of ageing here at CoA. While exploring the exciting innovations such as the massive potential of GenAI and its applications, we are also reminded to review the ways they are used so that they do no harm to people, and are actually beneficial to the ageing society, older adults, and caregivers.
Over time, as I become involved in these initiatives, little by little, I have found my place and how I can contribute here; at CoA, we have a culture that encourages exchange of ideas and knowledge regardless of background, allowing us to explore the unknown, and this is the place where I can hold onto my aspiration and keep going.
By: Don Ho, IT System Specialist
Email: donchho@hku.hk