Give me one minute: I am just waiting for a chance to see the world

I come from a very poor family. My parents divorced when I was only seven or eight. I haven't seen my dad since then. Recently, I met my aunt and discovered that my dad actually works very hard. 

He helped build the Tsing Ma Bridge, gaining praise from his employer. Sadly, he was also addicted to gambling. He would gamble away his earnings as soon as he was paid. He borrowed money from friends and relatives to pay off his debts. My mother decided to divorce him. Now my mother and I rely on each other, and social security, to survive.

Growing up without a dad sometimes makes me feel lost. When I was in primary school, I often skipped class because I was obsessed with video games. One day, the police took me away because I was "naughty". 

But I continued to run away from school. Since Form One, I have attended a juvenile care centre. It is a school for students with behavioural and emotional problems. The social worker said it was more suitable for me. I've been there for four years now.

Life is boring. There is no entertainment and no hanging out with friends. I used to live in the school, and was only allowed to go home on weekends. 

Luckily, since starting Form Four, I've been a "commuting student". This means I can leave school every day. Although I commute for nearly three hours each day, it is worth it for the freedom. 

I love walking around by myself. But I feel like I have seen most of Hong Kong now. It is too small for me. I want to travel to different places around the world, and learn about different cultures. I just can't afford to do so.

Young people should all have a chance to meet new friends from around the world, and learn from different cultures. I wish my dad would come back and travel with me. I wish he could see me growing up.