The BUddy Post – HKBU Alumni Affairs Office

In recent years, the rise of the “slasher”, individuals who pursue multiple professional roles rather than a single career, has become a growing trend. In Hong Kong, many people embrace this path to broaden their career possibilities. For alumna Claire Lo Ka-man (Humanities), however, becoming a slasher was never about following a trend. It was a deeply personal choice shaped by self-reflection on her character, interests, and strengths, ultimately evolving into a life path uniquely her own. Beginning her career as a teacher, alumna Lo gradually redefined her professional direction, transforming life experiences into a rich and multifaceted career. She is a prolific writer, an organiser of events, a horticultural therapist who nurtures emotional wellbeing, and a funeral planner who accompanies people through the final chapter of life. She is also a bookstore owner and workshop facilitator. These roles are not simply a collection of part-time jobs, but rather a career mosaic that she has thoughtfully crafted for sustainable development. Through this journey, she has discovered a lifestyle and rhythm that suits her, drawing inspiration from each transition along the way.

Where Passion Leads: Charting a Multifaceted Career

Alumna Lo’s first full‑time job was as an English teacher. However, with her energetic personality and a growing weariness of the rigid routines of teaching, she began to seek a new direction in life. After leaving her full‑time teaching post, she founded a marketing company. Driven by her passion for reading and writing, she began to focus on cultural events, and later established her own bookstore. The teaching and administrative skills she had accumulated over the years became a solid foundation for communication, organisation, and business operations.

At the same time, alumna Lo began to immerse herself in the world of writing. She began by running social media pages to recommend books and publish book reviews and prose, gradually sharing reflections from her daily life. Through participating in cultural events, she connected with professionals across the publishing industry, which led to an invitation to compile her writings into a book. This resulted in the publication of her first book, Love Diary (小情書). Alumna Lo did not stop there. With diverse interests and a particular fondness for plants, she pursued training in horticultural therapy and began offering workshops. Time and again, she has ventured into new fields driven by personal passion—each evolved into another dimension of her ever‑expanding career landscape.

Transforming Hardship to Healing

Alumna Lo’s life appeared to be progressing smoothly until misfortune arrived unexpectedly, forcing her to pause life head‑on. One day, she noticed unusual changes in her body and was later diagnosed with malignant chondrosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Recalling the turmoil and hardship surrounding her surgery and recovery, she came face to face with the fragility of life, prompting her to re‑examine herself and place greater emphasis on health. Even while bedridden, alumna Lo continued to write, documenting her state of mind and her reflections on life’s uncertainties. Fearing that her family might be unprepared should the worst happen, she even preplanned her own funeral, facing death head-on. These deeply personal experiences and writings later became the core content of her second book, Love Diary 2 (小情書2).

After recovering from cancer, she once believed that life would finally return to normal, but she was soon hositpalised for emotional distress. She describes, “Those ten‑plus days in hospital were the most peaceful time I had experienced in years. I set work aside and disconnected from the outside world, it was time that truly belonged to me alone.” That experience allowed her to re‑evaluate her emotional wellbeing and life pace. She emphasised, “Emotional distress and mental illness can be treated. When you need support, there will always be someone willing to reach out. No matter what happens, life comes first.” These are not empty words, but insights drawn from her own journey through adversity. Following her recovery, she published a book Self‑Healing Life: Facing Challenges Bravely Until Hope Emerges (自療人生─勇敢面對直到看見希望), hoping to offer comfort and encouragement to those struggling with emotional difficulties.

Having twice walked through the valley of death, and once planned her own funeral, alumna Lo became interested in the funeral services industry, leading her to pursue professional training and enter into the field. She hopes to combine professional knowledge with empathy, engaging in life‑and‑death education or funeral services, offering support and solace to those who are facing the loss of loved ones or navigating major life transitions.

Teaching with Empathy, Writing with Empowerment

Alumna Lo shares that, despite juggling amongst multiple roles, her two favourite roles are “teacher” and “writer”. She firmly believes that education is a process of growing together with students, not merely the transmission of knowledge, but a journey of care and companionship along their path of development. “Teaching is not about rigidly following the textbook,” she explains. “Students are highly intuitive, they can sense whether you genuinely care about them.” This people‑centred approach to work has since extended beyond the classroom into her writing and other professional pursuits. Even today, while managing multiple roles, alumna Lo continues to teach, serving as an instructor in interest‑based courses and a speaker at workshops. In her view, education can only take root and leave a lasting impact when it is grounded in patience and empathy.

When asked why she is drawn to writing, alumna Lo cites the works of writers in the past as examples. She notes that many literary works from the past were not always praised by readers of their own time, yet have endured through time, becoming classics—some even adopted as teaching materials for students to learn from. As she puts it, “Words transcend time. The books I write may not be widely read by this generation, but perhaps decades later, someone will read them.” Her writing style is candid and down‑to‑earth, often drawing from personal experiences and reflections on life. Through her words, she hopes to offer readers strength and companionship in times of adversity. She recalls a particularly meaningful moment after a school sharing session, when a student struggling with emotional challenges told her, “I had read your work before today’s event. Your words feel alive, they helped me realise that there are still paths I can choose.” This affirmation was deeply satisfying for alumna Lo, reaffirming her belief that writing can truly empower others. She also shared that she is currently dedicating herself to preparing her next book. The upcoming work will feature short stories, travelogues, and personal insights, primarily aimed at younger readers. She hopes the new publication will inspire and nourish the hearts of her audience.

As Long as You’re Breathing, There is a Way Forward

When it comes to employment, alumna Lo believes that career choices should begin with considering one’s personality, interests, and abilities. She stresses that self‑understanding is the foundation of any career planning: “If you are naturally introverted but choose a job that requires constant social interaction and communication, you should ask yourself whether it truly suits you. Even if you have an interest in a job, it is difficult to go far if your abilities do not match. But most importantly, do not be afraid to try. Give yourself time to explore. Things rarely succeed overnight, but you must try. There’s no harm even if you fail.”

Guided by her interests and life experiences, she has ventured into various fields multiple times, influencing others while enriching her own life. Speaking about the growing trend of young people aspiring to become “slashers,” she notes that the appeal of a slasher career does not lie in the number of titles one holds or the freedom of flexible work arrangements. Rather, it lies in whether one starts from genuine passion, discovers what one truly wants to do, and forges one’s own path.

When asked what a “fulfilling life” means to her, alumna Lo explains, “A fulfilling life is one lived each day without regret—with clear goals, leaving no unfulfilled wishes, and being able to enjoy and pursue the things you truly love.” She also reminds others to pay attention to their health and family, to allow themselves to adjust their pace of life when needed, and to cherish time spent with loved ones. Her experiences have taught her that life can never be perfect, but being able to look back without regret is more than enough. She offers words of encouragement to young alumni and students: “There are always more solutions than difficulties. As long as you are breathing, there is always a way forward.” When facing pressure or emotional struggles, she advises not to get stuck in a dead end; emotions can be exposed and deserve to be understood. This is not just rhetoric, but the sincere and humble insights of someone who has weathered the ups and downs of life.