Childhood should be carefree and enjoyable. However, this was not the case for Charlton, who comes from a single-parent family. Her mother was diagnosed with leukaemia and Charlton has assumed the role of caregiver since lower secondary school years. "I went to hospital to take care of my mother until 9 o'clock in the evening," she recalls. "Then I would go home, do homework, sleep for three hours and start another day at 5 o'clock in the morning. Sometimes, it would be my turn to be admitted to hospital!"

Such pressure was difficult for anyone, let alone a young teenager, to bear. Unfortunately, Charlton also suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and bipolar disorder. When the illness came on, the pain was unbearable. However, Charlton did not succumb to despair. She studied even harder and was admitted to a university's business school. Sadly, her mother never got to know of this success as she passed away during this time. Broken with grief, Charlton withdrew from school to restore her health and wellness.

Even though her mother is gone, Charlton has kept all the good memories close to her heart.

Overwhelmed by emotions, Charlton found an outlet through reading and writing. She shared her life stories through writing, completing a 60,000-word book within a month. She also joined several charitable organisations, hoping to inspire others with her experiences and tell them "You are not alone". Away from school for a year, she found a new direction in life. Within the space of three years, she was admitted to a Sociology Programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, established two social enterprises and served as an official of three charitable organisations. The Jockey Club Scholarships empowered her to realise her dreams.

"The Scholarship gave me the opportunity to meet other aspiring, enthusiastic young leaders who hope to better our society," Charlton explains. The social enterprise she founded, "Lives Are", is committed to promoting life and death education, helping grass-roots families with funeral arrangements and providing support to caregivers. "It's important to bid farewell, but more important to live in the moment," she emphasises. "If there had been similar organisations when I was young, maybe I would have led an easier life and had more harmonious family relationships."

"Lives Are" regularly organises different activities with the aim of making the world more inclusive and empathetic.

Selected to represent Hong Kong, Charlton participated in the University Scholars Leadership Symposium 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand.