Since I was young, I’ve always tried to find meaning in my life and in the world around me. I would pepper my mum and dad with questions about why things were the way they were. I would unscrew pens and break open little toys in hopes of finding out how they worked. As I grew older, this translated into a passion of not just trying to figure out the world around me, but trying to understand bigger concepts, concepts that were larger than life. I began to change my ideas and notions of religion, and I frequently engaged in conversations with my dad about philosophy. In the end, this became much more than a hobby- it almost became a quest of some sorts.

Stepping away from this, there are many topics I’m interested in, and many activities I enjoy. I love reading, and listening to music. I enjoy deep discussions about philosophy and politics, and I strongly believe in the equality of everyone. I especially love service and am involved in many service activities within the school. I do aspire to get the best grades that I can, and I aspire to work hard and be sincere in whatever I do. In the short term, one thing I want to achieve is doing an activity that makes me step out of my comfort zone. In the (very) long term, I want to be able to go to a good college and be financially stable. More than that, I want to do something that makes me happy and be mentally stable. Most of all, I want to find a way to make a difference in the world, whether small or big.

Over time, I’ve realised that one of my biggest strengths is seeing the best in people. I’m always able to find a quality I like in everyone I meet. I was also brought up in an environment where I was very aware of my privilege- not having to worry about housing or education, and having amazing, supportive family members and friends. Coming back to my quest to find meaning, this is something that frequently comes up in my life, and makes me question everything- the societal norms, laws and morals we live by, the way we’ve learnt to treat others around us, and most of all, why this is the way it is. I think all of these factors combined have resulted in my desire to make sure I’m doing something good for the world, to make sure that I don’t become a bystander in a world full of people who would rather not care.

I think there are many experiences that I’ve had that have also shaped these values. One of them I remember evidently was my service trip to Nepal in Grade 7, when I visited Kattike, the village that our service partner worked with. We were actually visiting right after the earthquake. We had gone to one of the schools in the area, and what surprised me was how much the children we visited resembled kids I knew- kids coming from great backgrounds and had had such different experiences to the children in that school. The school had been wrecked in the earthquake, with buildings that only had their bottom half left standing, and rubble everywhere. These children were coming from families who aren’t as rich, and who often struggled to make ends meet. Yet, they had the same bright smiles, the same wide eyes, and the same curiosity of any other child I had ever met. I think the experience reminded me that despite coming from different backgrounds, we were all still people. We all have hopes and dreams, and we all deserve the opportunity to have them fulfilled. It also taught me a more personal lesson – sometimes, even in the worst circumstances, you can still find happiness.

I’ve also had many more experiences within this year which have shaped my values. This year, I have participated in many different services, including Voices for Refugees and Humans of UWC. I’ve participated in major service events, such as Write for Rights, Family Festival, and more. I’ve also been part of the Service Executive Committee, where I’ve had the chance to help plan and run events, as well as help other services in doing the same. All of these experiences over the years have shaped my passion for service and made me feel a sense of duty to help others where I can. I’ve also tried a few new things this year, such as an activity called HS Campus Journalism, and attending an event called SHEHacks. Both of these taught me a little more about each of the fields in question- journalism and coding, but they opened me up to new possibilities as well. Before this, I had never considered computer science as an option, but I am now. For the past two years, I have also taken part in MUN these past two years, and although I haven’t always enjoyed it, it has taught me a lot more about real-life problem solving, and has made me step out of my comfort zone by learning how to speak in public.

Truth be told, I’m not very sure what I want to do in life. I have many interests, and I don’t know where I want to take them. As a result, I think the most important thing I can do right now is to take the time to discover myself and my interests. I want to start trying a few more new things and take more risks by putting myself outside my comfort zone. To do this, I’m hoping to join a few more new activities in the years to come. I also want to make sure I pursue the interests I already have, by continuing to be involved in service, making sure to read a wide range of novels and read often, and maybe by researching and joining new clubs. I have a few possible options for further studies in IB and college, as well as possible job options: an English or psychology degree, courses in philosophy and politics, maybe even in business management, or even in international aid. As a result, I want to make sure I research more about these options and opportunities related to them- maybe even take an internship in the summer holidays.

I’m scared for the future. I’m afraid of failure and afraid of change. I easily get depressed hearing news about what we’re doing to the planet, and how we seem to be tearing ourselves apart. However, I’ve experienced a lot and I believe the lessons I’ve learnt from these experiences will serve me well in the future. I want to start taking initiative and learn more and experience more. Most of all, I want to find a way to not worry about the future, but instead, invest my time into focusing on ways to be able to solve these problems in the future. I’m hoping I can take this forward, and do something with it. After all, I can always find happiness wherever I go.