Local Student Reflects on Life at Morningside

This Student Voices post was made in collaboration with the College Office through a series of interviews.

Chloe and Cuba in the Master’s Lodge at Morningside.

Morningside College is one of only two fully residential colleges at CUHK. How does this resonate with local students who can easily return home?

Chloe Wan, a passionate Year 2 medical student from Hong Kong, has long aspired to the college life. “A fully residential college has always been my first choice; I believe it’s a major component in university life. Medical studies are demanding, but I cherish every moment here.”

She appreciates the openness of her peers, who engage in discussions on a variety of topics. “The open-mindedness here is fascinating. It’s not something you typically see on campus, especially with the diverse international perspectives students bring from all around the world.”

Chloe views Morningside as her refuge after long lectures. “From casual encounters to GEMC tutorials to formal hall dinners, I found myself surrounded by students from across all disciplines. I could engage with them in interesting conversations where I’d include my perspective as a medical student.”

Among other activities, Chloe took part in Morningside’s intercollegiate volleyball team.

“The college offers a fantastic hostel atmosphere along with the companionship of fellow students. My weekdays are often jam packed with lectures and extracurricular activities. Coming back to Morningside, I’d pass friends who are always down for spontaneous outings, like going to the beach or going on a cycling adventure. And even if I encountered people I hadn’t seen before, it wouldn’t feel awkward.

“These moments might not stand out individually, but eventually, it creates a sense of normality. Spontaneous plans became common— I would happily join in because I was physically present.”

Being an only child, however, her parents were still adjusting to this change and asked if she could spend more time at home. “It’s a privilege that our dorms are comparable to the comfort of our homes. Eventually my family and I reached a compromise: I promised to come back from Friday nights to Sundays, which I've been doing.” On some occasions, Chloe has also brought her parents to Morningside.

Chloe fondly remembers her parents attending the Dinner for Families of the Incoming Class during her first year. “Meeting Professor Ann Huss during such a unique occasion was memorable. We discussed GE course arrangements, her initial expectations, and what she wanted to bring to the Morningside community. It was also significant for my parents to meet such a compassionate Warden, who dedicates her weekends baking cookies for Morningsiders and her personal time encouraging local students and helping international students feel at home.”

When asked about memorable moments, Chloe recalls the Morningside O’Camp art jamming activity. “It was a vibrant expression of community, allowing everyone to showcase their creativity while collaborating.”

Besides the hostel aspect of college life, Chloe was also attracted to Morningside’s General Education courses. Chloe reflects, “I’ve always wanted to study philosophy, but due to subject constraints in high school, I never had the chance. Knowing that Morningside is committed to offering a general education programme focused on developing critical thinking through the study of philosophers from around the world really excited me.”

Chloe recalls an insightful interview question from Professor Ann Huss: “Imagine your peers started complaining about the futility of studying dead philosophers such as Kant and Bentham, what would you say to them?” The question took her by surprise at first, but she eventually answered by referencing examples from bioethics, highlighting how historical events like Nazi human experimentation still have important implications today.

During the interview, Chloe felt that Morningside genuinely values individual perspectives. “Conversations extend well beyond small talk; our opinions truly matter here. All the facilitators, including the Junior Fellows, the Warden, the College Master and Lalla, and all the support staff, genuinely care about us and want to make the College a better place. That’s why I chose Morningside.”