Cherie Fung’s Devotion to Archery:
Advocating for Mental Wellness Through Personal Experience
Archery, a sport not widely practiced in Hong Kong, holds special significance for Cherie Fung Pui–ying, a year 3 mental health care nursing student at Hong Kong Metropolitan University(HKMU). Beyond her academic pursuits, Cherie is also a Level One certified archery coach. She discovered the sport during her secondary school years but faced emotional struggles during a plateau in her progress that nearly drove her to give up. However, she persevered and ultimately achieved her coaching certification. Now, Cherie hopes to leverage her journey to advocate for mental health awareness among the public.
Cherie, a former member of Hong Kong Junior Archery Team, discovered the joy of archery as a child, captivated by the satisfaction of hitting a target. Over the years, this initial satisfaction blossomed into a deep appreciation for the sport. Archery is broadly categorised into two disciplines: recurve and compound bow. Cherie specialises in recurve archery, which emphasises muscle coordination and often requires moderate weight training to enhance performance.
In addition to practicing on campus, Cherie dedicates her holidays to intensive training and actively participates in various competitions. Hong Kong hosts regular archery tournaments, typically divided into youth and open categories, with approximately 8 to 10 events taking place each year.
Challenges and Their Emotional Toll
After several years of training, however, Cherie hit a plateau. The thrill of archery began to wane, and her performance stagnated, leading to emotional struggles. “At the time, I placed an overwhelming emphasis on the results, putting immense pressure on myself. When I failed in competitions or performed poorly, it left me in tears, ” she shared.
Cherie once considered walking away from archery but couldn’t bear to abandon the years of hard-earned progress. Fortunately, her coach stepped in, offering emotional support and teaching her breathing techniques to relax before shooting, which helped rebuild her confidence. Determined to move forward, Cherie let go of the pressure, embraced a positive mindset, and focused on enjoying the journey. Gradually, her performance improved, reigniting her passion and motivating her to pursue certification as a coach. “I hope to give back by sharing everything I’ve learned over the years through teaching,” she says.
Cherie believes that regardless of the sport, enjoying the process is essential. While winning a competition is exhilarating, it is perseverance that enables one to truly appreciate the lasting joy that sports can bring. Alongside her studies, Cherie works part-time as a coach, teaching adult and children’s classes at private institutions in her spare time.
Strengthening Community Outreach to Eliminate Public Stigma
HKMU provides a wide range of extracurricular activities, and Cherie has served as a Peer Mentor in the Peer Mentorship Scheme for three consecutive years. By organising social activities, she has helped non-local students integrate into U-life. Beyond the university, Cherie has broadened her horizons by participating in programmes such as a leadership camp in Singapore, an exchange tour to New Zealand, and a short-term course in Canada. These experiences not only expanded her worldview but also helped her uncover her potential.
In 2023/24, Cherie was awarded the “For Our Future Scholarship,” which enabled her to participate in an exchange programme in Beijing. There, she visited major institutions and corporations, gaining insights into the operations of different industries and observing developments in business, technology, and other fields.
As she plans for the future, Cherie aspires to work as a psychiatric nurse in a hospital after graduation. With an ageing population, she notes that mental health conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent. She envisions actively promoting mental health awareness by organising activities in community settings such as nursing homes and local organizations. “I hope society becomes more inclusive of individuals with mental health conditions and places greater focus on mental health issues.”
Cherie’s struggles with emotional challenges during archery training reflect her experiences from school, where she witnessed classmates grappling with conditions like depression and anxiety. These encounters ignited her commitment to mental health awareness.
While studying at HKMU, Cherie actively participated in external placements at institutions such as Castle Peak Hospital and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. There, she worked with diverse patient groups, including the elderly and individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Cherie observed that prejudice against people with intellectual disabilities is widespread. Yet, she emphasises that many of these individuals are capable of self-care and, with proper training, can lead independent and everyday lives. During her hospital placements, Cherie learned to employ various methods to teach patients essential life skills, equipping them to reintegrate into society. At Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, she gained hands-on experience in general and psychiatric nursing, enhancing her professional knowledge and honing her communication and teamwork skills.
Cherie Fung
