Pause and Play

Finals week feels different for everyone – but the experience is something we all share. Every December, we create a space at the atrium for students to step away from their screens, take a breath, and turn a stressful moment in a day into an opportunity to (re)connect with themselves, and others.

Pause @ Sundial I Community Monster Mural

From 10 – 11 December 2025, our students stopped by to color a mood monster on a giant community mural – each one represents a small but personal expression of what exam season feels like.

Students left with a care package from HKUST staff that includes a handwritten note or a well-deserved Boba to refuel for the days ahead.

Vibes @ Sundial I Silent Disco

From 11 to 13 December 2024, we served music and good vibes at the atrium with DJs from Silent Disco. Over three days, more than 400 students dropped by to unwind with drinks in hand, headphones on, and a playlist curated by fellow HKUSTers.

There’s something uniquely comforting about a space where students could sip boba, share a cynical laugh over their post-Math1030 fates, one ear tuned to a friend’s latest woes and the other to the DJ’s next track.