One of my most meaningful experiences was living in Singapore during my middle school years. My family had moved there from Texas for my dad’s job, and although I'd visited once while on the way to my dad's hometown in Malaysia, Singapore exposed me to a different way of life. The experience of living in a new country was at first out of my comfort zone, but the move exposed me to perspectives that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else, granting me a worldly experience that still impacts me today.

There were lots of things about Singapore that were new. No longer was I living in the suburbs –– Singapore was bustling and bright, a myriad of skyscrapers and tropical greenery. I rode public transportation rather than in my parent’s car, and ate delicious Southeast Asian foods that I wouldn’t find back in San Antonio. It was interesting to see how local habits were different, even for things like technology, such as preferring Whatsapp or Wechat over iMessage or Messenger. And living there allowed me to reflect on my own privileges; life was far different from not just the US, but rural areas right across the border where my Malaysian family lived.

As a designer, I need to be aware of all types of users, not just those I’m personally familiar with. Singapore taught me that sometimes the best way to learn about others is to throw yourself into the deep end and get to know them yourself.