Outside research, I find a lot of meaning in life beyond academia — and I often catch myself reflecting on how lucky this journey has been compared to all the parallel worlds I could've ended up in.
I'm a big sports enthusiast — badminton, tennis, pickleball, climbing, swimming, the gym — you name it. There's something about competition that I genuinely love: it pushes you to keep improving, builds resilience, and teaches you to show up even when it's hard.
Art is my comfort zone. Whether it's painting or music, creating something gives me space to breathe and recharge. I think that's also where a lot of my appreciation for novelty and creativity in research comes from.
I also care deeply about mental health. Emotional awareness matters — not just in counselling sessions, but in everyday life. Meditation and yoga have been grounding practices for me, and I believe that kind of mindfulness ripples outward to the people around us too.