My Roots, My Future, and a bit of Everything

What does Hong Kong look like? If I were to sum it up in two words, it would be “beautiful juxtaposition”. From above, you see relentless columns of high-rising skyscrapers densely clustered together; everything seems to be the epitome of urban living. When the pedestrian light turns green, a sea of people charge across the streets and the cars line up at the traffic intersection one by one. Yet beyond all this, mountain ranges surround the city center, making some of the best hiking trails in Asia.

I left myself with nothing but surprize when I found out that I was going to be studying at USC in Los Angeles for my freshman year. LA and Hong Kong are virtually the ends of a spectrum. Hong Kong is known for its humidity so walking on the streets to the convenient store in your neighbourhood would mean soaking yourself in sweat; conversely, LA is practically a dessert. LA culture is generally very different. I have noticed that everything is quite slow-paced here; everybody takes their time walking around campus, savoring every bite of the meal, conversing on the streets. Hong Kong is extremely fast-paced; everyone seems to have a destination in mind and will go straight for it.

Next year I will be studying in Hong Kong for my sophomore year then Milan for my junior year. I was particularly drawn to the aspect of “travelling” and getting to learn first-hand business in different cultures. Next year is going to be a challenge for me although I will be in my own hometown. The learning environment is unpleasantly competitive and the tests, I have heard, are brutal. I will have to brace myself for the long and winding journey but I am more than ready for it.

In ten years time, I envision myself being in the business or finance field. Nevertheless, change is the only constant in our world so nothing is for sure. Maybe I will be in a career that has not emerged yet. My father used to tell me that it is not a problem if I do not know where my career path lies. He studied Civil Engineering for university but became a businessman eventually. His motto has always been to be flexible with whatever life throws at you and be ready for the unexpected. I am excited for what the future holds for me.

When I was little, people would often joke that I wouldn’t go lost because of how alike my parents and I looked. Sometimes people just can’t figure who I resemble more: my mum or my dad. Anyway, we have our differences. Being the archetypal parents who are not born into digital technology, they have tendencies not to engage in social media like facebook or twitter. They have certain preconceptions about our generation being over-consumed with what is going on the other side of the screen, but I believe that one can benefit from social media when used in moderation.

I think I am pretty self-driven but my parents do have a certain level of expectation for me. I have great expectations for myself and I do try my best to be the best version of myself everyday. Sometimes it is this desire to overachieve that makes me question myself. Yet I know that I am and will always be a work in progress.

One of my role models is Amar Latif. He is the founder of Traveleyes, which is the world’s first commercial travel agency specialized in organizing trips for visually impaired travellers and sighted travellers. I had the opportunity to go on a Traveleyes trip to Spain and meet him in person. I admire him for his advocacy of creating an inclusive world found on equality and for his courage to dare do the unthinkable. Being visually impaired himself, he is a living testimony to the idea that disabilities do not impede success.

If I were to associate myself with an animal, it would be a horse because a horse is full of stamina as it is symbolic of the warrior and can be extremely loyal to others, which I believe are qualities that I possess.

When I was a kid, I used to go hiking with my parents and almost everytime I would not leave satisfied if I did not play with a type of plant called the Mimosa Pudica. When it comes into contact with an object, it gets fold up instantly. I found this particularly fascinating and it remains an important memory of my childhood.