Anecdotes

Normally kids don’t remember events happening at the very early ages of their lives. Yet, I still remembered the process of going to a local shopping mall with my cousin, my uncle and aunt, getting lost whilst playing by myself and then navigating my way home by running down the escalators, outside the mall, along the pavement and then taking a taxi when I was three. My uncle and aunt remembered being excruciatingly scolded by my grandparents afterwards, but unfortunately that I could not recall.

During high school, I was once diagnosed with pneumothorax and had to stay in hospital for several weeks. Upon returning to school, it was time for exams and I ended up ranking 1st across the entire cohort (over a thousand peers). Many of my classmates still liked to bring up the anecdote during our gatherings after graduation and were eager to know what happened during my hospitalisation. Honestly, I don’t know, perhaps not being able to move made reading textbooks a good pastime.

English is my second language. During the first two semesters after I entered college, I dedicated most of my spare time to learning and improving my English at the University's language centre. It was an utterly transformative experience, seeing me growing from an introvert to someone who is willing to share and initiate conversations with peers from diverse backgrounds. The commitment awarded me an unexpected scholarship that allowed me to spend a summer in England. After returning from the trip, I still enjoyed going to the language centre to meet new friends as well as offer help and tips to students who were adapting to the new environment.