Physics has always fascinated and inspired me for its ability to describe the world around us in poetic yet precise terms. It is somehow beautiful that physics is in a sense both man-made and not man-made. It explains common wonders—from the sky staining red at sunset to a microwave heating food from within. But it also invites us to wonder at the bizarre and amazing: maybe theoretical feasibility of walking through walls to what happens to materials when they are cooled to their quantum-level extremes. That dance between ordinary and extraordinary keeps me passionately occupied.

Nevertheless, sometimes physics and just academic work make you struggle. I am often lost or stressed when things go wrong. Over time, though, I have come up with some good ways to anchor myself: A calming walk along the River Walk, talking to a friend, or grabbing a Nutella brownie at a cozy little NUS café goes a long way to keep me grounded. In the long run, I have learned to segment challenges into manageable portions and set short-term goals that make the big goals feel a little more attainable. Examples of such steps could be “one more paper to read” or “run this part of a code”. Anything is better than chaos and sometimes I remind myself that baby steps do count.

Some of my fondest memories while majoring in physics are not necessarily associated with big achievements but with the quiet resilience of community—sitting in small study groups, struggling with course mates through a problem set or just celebrating the mutual “aha!” when a concept clicks. That would be the camaraderie I carry with me on my way. I also love how the mindset of a physicist slowly infuses my everyday life. Quite a few times, I tell myself that my messy room is just a natural consequence of entropy or I feel funny satisfaction at the thought of gaining potential energy while hiking up a mountain.

My time at NUS Physics has shaped me in many ways. I like the close atmosphere among students and professors. We always had the chance to talk openly, ask questions or just chat after classes, making the academic experience feel more humane. Departmental social events like the mid-autumn celebration and film nights offered good chances to build friendships and connect with other students from all around the world.