I finished my law degree last year, and since I've completed my relevant legal training, I'm currently studying for my upcoming Bar exams.

Law was something that intrigued me from a young age. The argumentative aspects, as well as the subjective nature of law appealed to me. There is rarely ever a side that is objectively incorrect in law, it is instead two interpretations of what the law is, and why that interpretation is the one that would bring about a just outcome, and in the eyes of a teenager, it just seemed interesting. It certainly didn't hurt that a law degree also didn't involve much maths at all! But the biggest factor that contributed to my desire to become a lawyer was actually studying law itself.

From my first lecture in Durham, what struck me about law was that it just... made sense. Anyone who had the misfortune of being my classmate in either maths or science would know that I was, at best, useless. I simply couldn't make sense of it and the constant struggle just frustrated me. I was lucky to have great teachers, but they were slightly less so to have me! So naturally, doing a degree in a subject that actually made sense for once felt like a weight off my shoulders, and gave me the opportunity to actually flourish academically. 

The other "canon event" in my post-SJI life was national service. While two years spent in the jungle as opposed to university wasn't ideal, I found the opportunity to reflect on where I was in my life, and where I wanted to be, as well as giving me the opportunity to push myself far outside my comfort zones and limits in a way that academia never could. Sure, one could argue that challenge week and the various trips give us a glimpse into the level of responsibility and boundary-pushing one might find in NS, but I don't recall any push ups or angry sergeants on Tioman. But ultimately, NS was a positive experience for myself, as it allowed me to grow, and as a BMT sergeant, I had the opportunity to take on leadership roles, and big responsibilities (plus, where else are you going to fire a rocket launcher?)

But probably the most fun experience I had post-SJI was university. As I said, the academic side was great and all, but the real university experience takes place outside the lecture hall. Studying overseas at Durham University was a fantastic experience, as my time in university was not only academically stimulating, but the other aspects of studying abroad, such as being able to experience a new environment, people and culture was deeply enriching to my personal development. Being able to experience these new things on my own helped me grow significantly as a person, and I found great value in the challenges that presented itself, as it helped me develop into a more independent person, not having to turn to someone else for assistance but being able to make a decision on my own. If there is one piece of advice that I would give to anyone considering a foreign university, it would be to absolutely go for it! Regardless of how daunting it may appear, you’re never truly on your own, as everyone else around you is going through the same experience, and is just as willing to socialise and form their own circles, and find your own home away from home. University also provides us with the chance to go out into the real world and not only make memories, but also mistakes, though as far as regrets go, I only wish I had travelled more. Ryanair flights, while not SIA, will get you there at little harm to both spirit and wallet, and gave me a fantastic opportunity to travel.

On a more reflective note, I was also very fortunate to have parents who were supportive of my desire to go overseas, as well as my ambitions to study law, as they shared my belief that the independence would serve me well, as well as the obvious high-quality education I would receive in Durham. I'm also grateful to my parents for being able to give me this opportunity, especially my father, who had also studied in the UK, but at a much harder time. Race relations were significantly worse, especially towards Asians, and technologies we take for granted like mobile phones and video calls were not a thing, making it much harder for him to remain in contact with the rest of the family, as often as I was able to do so. In contrast, the availability of this made sure that I never really felt homesick at any point in university, as I was always a short call away from being able to see and speak to my parents, time zone permitting. It’s things like this that make me grateful for what my parents went through before I did, which really puts things into perspective on how lucky I am, not only to have had the experiences that I did, but to also have the backing of my parents along the way. 

Finally, I'd like to give credit to the experiences I had at SJI, the experiences I had there were truly formative, and I really did grow a lot in my time there (as one would hope to do so from the ages of 12-18), as well as laying the foundation for further growth. The time I spent there were some of the best few years of my life, and it makes me happy to see the school continue on this trajectory, continuing to touch the lives of more students year after year, whilst also maintaining its identity as a school firmly grounded in its values.