“Take time to enjoy the little things…” Meet Beedie Luminary, Clay Meng. Clay is in the Science Program at UBC.
What program will you be taking in post-secondary and why does it interest you?
I will be in the science program at UBC, and I am planning to specialize in animal biology next year. I’ve absolutely adored animals all my life, and I really want to help our wildlife because more and more animals are at risk of dying from our constantly changing environment.
Tell us a little bit about your background (growing up, going to school, extra-curricular activities, etc.).
Growing up in Richmond, I’m from a bit of a cultural mix. I guess that makes me pretty Canadian eh? I love anything music related. Most of my free time is spent playing around on different instruments, practicing, or writing songs. If you have any music recommendations please share! I’m always up for some fresh tunes.
Who inspires you, and why?
My family friend has gone through trials and tribulations early on, and he’s worked insanely hard to achieve what he has. In addition to being resilient, he is super creative, and I’m always impressed at project ideas and solutions he comes up with. The most inspiring thing about him though, is that through it all he has remained so compassionate to those around him. I respect him a lot for that.
What motivates you, and why?
The search for motivation to do certain things has been a continuing thing for me. The things that keep me going the most are probably competitiveness among my peers and the content I’m learning if I’m lucky, but mostly it’s the pressure I put on myself to do well so I don’t disappoint the people who are supporting me.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year?
My goal is to not crash and burn, and to pass all my classes. I know it may seem like I’m shooting too low, but I am seriously stressed and concerned about this upcoming year. I’m taking baby steps please bear with me. I am also planning to learn and experiment with different subjects to hopefully narrow down my ideas of what I want to do in the future.
What is one thing you learned in high school that you will take with you to post-secondary?
I am going to bring my interpersonal skills that I’ve polished through high school to post-secondary with me. Post-secondary is a new start and if I’m meeting new people everyday, I’ll need it. I want to make as many connections as possible to make university not as dauntingly massive.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to future Luminaries?
Take time to enjoy the little things while you can. I know that it is probably a very busy and stressful time right now for you guys, but if you ever find even a sliver of time, breathe, look around, and appreciate the time you have with your friends and family. You deserve to take a break and it might be the last time you get to spend time with important people in your life.
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