Would you rather live a cozy but simple life or chase an unforeseeable dream?

As a former nurse, Snow Chung boldly decided to give up her stable job and income to follow the aspirations within her heart. She travelled through Europe over 20 countries. Along the way, Snow developed an interest in sand art through an art exhibition. Upon returning to Hong Kong, she wholeheartedly dedicated herself to this niche form of art. Snow's path in transitioning her life was full of unknowns, but it allowed her to have unexpected perspectives and experiences.

From being a nurse to becoming a sand artist, Snow believes they share a common nature - both are driven by a desire to help others. However, the former focuses on fulfilling the physical needs of patients, while the latter emphasizes on meeting people's psychological needs. Through creating different sand art stories, Snow hopes to bring a touch of inspiration to people's lives and make their days more beautiful.

Journey of being a sand artist.

Below S: Snow Chung

Q1: Can you share with us a time when you faced significant setbacks or challenges in life? How did you take care of yourself?

S: Would you rather live a cozy and simple life or chase an unforeseeable dream? As a former nurse, Snow Chung boldly decided to give up her stable job and income to follow the aspirations within her heart. She travelled through Europe over 20 countries. Along the way, Snow developed an interest in sand art through an art exhibition. Upon returning to Hong Kong, she wholeheartedly dedicated herself to this niche art form. Snow's path in transitioning her life was full of unknowns, but it gave her unexpected perspectives and experiences.

The connection with sand art can be traced back to when I was in Prague and attended an exhibition showcasing light and shadow art. I was immediately captivated by it. However, I later discovered that more resources were needed for light and shadow art, making it practically difficult to pursue. But then I realized that sand art was quite similar to it. Both forms of art involve storytelling through performance. During my travels in Europe, I didn't hesitate to purchase a sand art lightbox and officially entered the world of sand art.

Q2: What is your greatest strength and passion in work and life?

S: One of the main reasons I am so passionate about sand art and enjoy it so much is that it serves as a medium to help others preserve memories. I came across a program that involves assisting the elderly in preparing before their passing, with memories playing a significant role. It encompasses all the stories of a person's life and allows them to reminisce through the medium of sand art. This process helps them realize their life has meaning and will enable them to depart peacefully. It gives me a profound sense of mission.

This sense of purpose is like my initial intention of becoming a nurse. The difference is that while nurses attend to the physical needs of patients, sand art caters to their mental conditions. This sense of purpose drives me even more strongly than my sense of purpose as a nurse. Through these sand art stories, I also hope to inspire people's lives, making each day a little brighter or evoking some beautiful memories from their own lives. I have established my own studio and later formed the Hong Kong Sand Art Association to promote sand art to the public and raise awareness about it.

Q3: What advice do you have for women who want to make a change in their lives and chase their dreams?

S: The most important thing in pursuing your dreams is to "give it a try." Don't overthink or hesitate too much. Try different things as much as possible, so it will be easier to find your interests. If something doesn't suit you, feel free to change direction. If you're lucky enough to find your goal, you should persevere and not give up easily. Although it may sound cliché, perseverance has always been the key to success. If you give up too quickly, you may not fully experience the joy it can bring. What's more, if you turn back after only a short distance on each path, it's easy to get lost.

Furthermore, dreams are often closely related to your interests. Take me as an example: I've loved drawing since I was young but never had an opportunity to pursue it. I worked as a nurse, which kept me busy and left me no time to think about other things. However, as things gradually settled down, I had the chance to rethink my interests and put them into practice to confirm my thoughts.

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