Why would a beautiful woman in her 30s, living in Hong Kong, a city with a population of more than 7 million, want to leave it behind for the plains of West Texas?

“I don’t know why I chose Snyder, but I did want a change,” said Yee Man Yu, an art major at Western Texas College.

“A change” was definitely in the cards for Man (pronounced Mon). She had grown up with her parents, brother and sister in what is known as the “City of Lights” but traded it, albeit temporarily, to pursue the calling that she truly loves -- art.

“I was so tired when I decided to come to Snyder. I had worked for more than 10 years as a graphic designer for an advertising agency in Hong Kong. Everything was so demanding and it was an exhausting job,” she said.

Man’s exhaustion, coupled with transitions in her personal life, set forth the events that would lead her to Snyder.

Man’s quest began when she met Ben Sum, an associate professor of art at WTC. Sum was teaching a summer class in Hong Kong when he and Man became acquainted and he began to tell her about the college’s art program.

“I was already in the workforce, but I needed a change. I have a lot of respect for Ben and when he told me about WTC, I decided to come to school here,” she said.

Man boarded an airplane bound for America and for the first time, realized that China and West Texas are literally worlds apart.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived. I didn’t plan to stay this long because I wasn’t sure I would fit in.”

Man’s first barrier to overcome was the one of language. Mastering English has almost been as great a challenge as the mastery of her art.

“One of the things that has held me back from improving my English is that I’m too quiet. I like to concentrate when I’m working, so it must be quiet.”

But the prize for so much concentration is the ability to produce artwork that exceeds imagination. Man entered the program with a firm foundation in graphic art. Through her studies with Sum at WTC she has ascertained skills as a sculptor that has added new dimensions to her work and thus developed a sense of stylization that translates into her graphic designs. She has the ability to give her graphic work a deeper, more soulful appearance. Her incorporation of artistic talent is a welcome transition from the cliches so common in the advertising industry.

“I love to use unusual art in my graphic designs, such as children’s artwork. I like it to be different, but very beautiful,” she said.

Man’s honed abilities are certainly not lost on her mentor, Sum. “I think that she is a fantastic graphic artist. She has a feel for the work that she creates which makes the posters that she is able to design a work of art,” he said.

Man’s posters have been on display in the fine arts building at the college for several months. She has customized each advertisement for all of the WTC theatre productions for the last two years and, as with all her undertakings, the posters are extremely artistic.

“She works very, very hard,” said Sum. “She absolutely gives 110 percent.”

Drama department instructor Ray Newton is also an admirer of Man’s work.

“What she’s done for the drama department has been fabulous. One can see her work all throughout our halls, and the thing is, it’s just the tip of her iceberg,” he said. “When Man goes home, it will defiantly be our loss and Hong Kong’s gain.”

Man’s journey through WTC will end a few short hours after graduation in May when she boards a jet for Hong Kong.

“It has been very good to be here,” said Mon. “But I am ready to return home. I’ve missed my family and my mother is very excited that I’m coming home.”

However, Man has gained some important skills at WTC and she is glad to be taking them with her.

“Art is so important to me and my goal is to be a good artist.”

Although Man’s mind is engrossed in her art, her feet stay planted firmly in the realization that her work in graphic arts will most likely pay the bills.

“I do have a goal to be a good graphic designer,” she said. “But I also love being an artists. I’m ready for the challenge to work and to continue learning the art that I love.”