Adrift

What prompted you to pursue philosophy in university?
I’ve always been an over-thinker and an indecisive person. When I learnt about how overthinking could be beneficial in a philosophy major, it seemed like the natural choice (laughs). There it was, a place where I am encouraged to think about thinking. Instead of having to push difficult abstract questions away, I am encouraged to meet them head on, along with many other like-minded peers to enrich my experience.

What’s something you’d love to try if you knew you wouldn’t fail at it?
I would love to pilot a hot-air balloon. There’s just something so tranquil about floating mid-air, away from everything that’s on the ground. To be able to control where it goes and man it myself sounds pretty cool.

You get to live in a set of a movie or a show for the rest of your life. Tell us more about the set you choose.
 I would like to live in Ratatouille. I love the idea of living in Remy’s world, which is a romanticised version of Paris. Even as an adult, I still experience the same magical quality I felt when I first watched the movie as a child. There’s a certain je ne sais quoi that comes with the movie’s ability to depict daily occurrences in their best light. From the subtle charm of the city’s alleyways, to the shining ingredients in the pantry, everything is created in a specific way and there is an undeniable beauty in everything.

Is there a mystery or life’s big question that you’d like to know the answer to?
I’ve always wondered whether alternate universes exist— and what my other selves might be doing right now.

It’s always nice to start off the year with a list of goals and resolutions. Could you share with us something you’re hoping to achieve this year?
I’d like to be more grateful this year. Even though I’m appreciative of everything in my life, I would like to make a conscious effort to be grateful for everything, just so I would not take everything I have for granted. So far, I’ve been making sure to take a few minutes before bed just to think about things I am grateful for that happened during the day. Hopefully this becomes a habit as time goes on.

Share with us a worry that sometimes keeps you up at night.
I guess I am afraid of the future. I worry about where I would be in a matter of five years, ten years and so on. As a university student, I’m privileged because my main responsibility is to study, but there are times when I would worry about how directionless I seem to be. It can feel like I’m just a little speck floating around in the ocean, going along with life. I guess I just have to remind myself that I’m not alone in this.