Daniel graduated from the Australian National University in 2020, having pursued (quite recklessly) a double degree in Law / International Relations. He completed a research traineeship at the National University of Singapore Centre for International Law with the International Dispute Resolution Team in 2021, and is currently with LVM Chambers. He loves flowers (tulips in particular).

This letter is addressed to his 20-year-old self.

Dear Daniel,

I know your heart is heavy – you’ve somehow managed to secure ‘A’ level results good enough to get into NUS and SMU Law, but you’ve failed to secure an interview from NUS and your crippling anxiety caused you to perform terribly at both interviews with SMU.

What’s more, while you’ve just been accepted to study law and international relations at the Australian National University, pursuing law overseas isn’t going to be an easy choice: you’ve heard how local practitioners doubt the competencies of law graduates from Australian universities, seen the eye-watering tuition fees your family will have to pay, and perhaps most worryingly, you’ve read Scott Turow’s likening of reading legal cases to “stirring concrete with [his] eyelashes”.

I know you have many other worries: you’re constantly tongue-tied trying to keep pace with your whirling thoughts, and you suspect that you might be too daft for law. How will you fit in down under? Will thriving in your studies be possible? Will you even survive the first semester? And will you ever find fulfilling employment after graduation?

I hope I can encourage you to be bold and courageous despite these worries. Your studies will be anything but easy, and fitting in anywhere will continue to challenge you. But getting through your law degree will be both the journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom you’ve always hoped for. Before you leave for Australia, I’d like to offer two seemingly simple bits of advice: be bold (1) in staying true to yourself, and (2) in having faith that things will be okay.

Staying true to yourself

This might seem strange to say – you haven’t really worked out what “being yourself” means yet, and it’s frankly quite an elusive concept. What I can tell you, however, is what it definitely doesn’t mean. It doesn’t involve pretence: you shouldn’t have to force yourself into doing things you dislike just to fit in with a crowd, or to fit into someone else’s mould.

Some of the people around you might stress the importance of networking: cast your social net far and wide to secure potential opportunities and get ahead. While you should definitely put yourself out there and overcome your social anxiety, I would encourage you to resist the temptation to rub shoulders merely in hopes of some vague political return. Instead, continue to seek the deep and genuine relationships with others which you know you desire, regardless of how difficult or unconventional it might seem. You’ll forge a fair number of strong friendships in Australia with the greatest people you would least expect to be blessed with.

Others might take a pretty dim view of your interests and nudge you towards the pursuit of more worthwhile ones. You’ll hear how international law isn’t really law, how toothless the international legal order is, and how it would be more prudent, career-wise, to explore other (real) areas of law. I won’t spoil the journey for you, but I’d like to assure you that sticking to your passions will lead to you to priceless experiences and will broaden your worldview more than you could ever imagine.  

Have faith that things will be okay

I know what you’re thinking: this is terrible advice and you wish people would stop saying it. It’s vague, it’s a little insincere, and it carelessly discounts your experiences. Fine. Before I explain any further, I’ll be blunt – you’ll have thoughts of dropping out of law after a terrible first semester, you’ll have multiple personal crises, and you’ll be scrambling to replan your degree and life after many things don’t go your way. But as I’m typing this, I am still breathing and I’m doing okay. I’ll tell you that you’ll secure training with a great firm. You’ll experience some outrageously amazing experiences in Australia and summer school in Geneva. You’ll be reminded countless times of blessings through the friends and family you have. Most importantly, you will grow tremendously in significant ways through your studies.

So yes, “okay” is vague. Keep it that way, when you seek comfort as you face innumerable uncertainties and fears. Hold fast to your faith even as crises approach and ruin your plans. Trust that God will continue to keep you in His plans and close doors for His reasons which will be higher than yours, and prepare to be surprised by the unexpected blessings you’ll receive. And lastly, remember to count the blessings you already have in the friends and family you are surrounded by – and realise that, more often than not, things are already better than just “okay”.

With best wishes from a less ignorant and anxious you,

Daniel