“You can always come back,” my mother said. “Just go.”
These are among the numerous passages I’ve underlined in my now dog-eared copy of the fashion writer Kate Betts’ memoir, My Paris Dream. A fond recollection of her years as a young expatriate in Paris pursuing a career in magazine journalism, I felt comforted by its parallels with my experiences when I first moved to Singapore aged 23: wide-eyed, ambitious and with a heart set on starting my dream career at this very title.
In particular, this piece of maternal wisdom echoed the advice of my own endlessly supportive mother: “Do it while you can.”
Against the wall
Having only lived in suburban Melbourne, I was content to reap adventures by way of books and films—or so I thought. Things came to a head at the end of the COVID pandemic’s worst brunt in late 2021. With borders tentatively reopening, I decided that now was the time to throw myself into something I’d only dreamt about: moving to Singapore to pursue an internship at Vogue.
Armed with years’ worth of savings and a fledgling portfolio, I began the lengthy process of securing a visa, making housing arrangements and attempting to get my foot in the tough industry door. It would be impossible not to acknowledge the privilege such a move necessitates—which wasn’t lost on me as I considered all that my family members had gone through to migrate to Australia—yet I still encountered my share of challenges.
From dismal housing situations to lonely weekends and drained savings, my first months in Singapore were filled with enough mishaps to fill a memoir of my own. Of course, none of this was obvious behind exciting bylines and curated Instagram stories, but chaos was a definitive aspect of my initial move.
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And yet, I made it work. Sometimes, this involved swallowing my pride and relying on others, but I also gave myself credit for the grit and chutzpah it took to solve new problems. From putting myself out there to make new friends to refusing to give up on my dream internship, I was able to end this period of my life with newfound confidence in myself. Somewhere in my suitcase-battered journals, I remember writing: This year taught me that I can accomplish anything.
Unlocking a new self
The incredible rise in confidence I’ve felt throughout my migration journey—which I experienced again after returning to Singapore and Vogue a year and a half after my initial internship ended—wasn’t just down to problem-solving. Rather, I’ve found that being immersed in a new environment with new people, new contexts and new possibilities has allowed me to discover completely different sides of myself.
As deeply precious as relationships with family and old friends are, inevitably certain roles and dynamics become established. But through encountering the ‘blank canvas’ of a fresh home and communities, it became up to me to establish who I was to become—not only through the eyes of others, but through my own.
Certainly, making new friends from different walks of life has played a large role in my shifting sense of self. Exposed to the true melting pot of Singapore’s coexisting races, religions and identities, I can confidently say that encountering such varied perspectives has made me a more open-minded, empathetic and curious person—something that I hope will stay true of me forever.
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A heart full of gratitude
So, as I prepare to leave Singapore and return to Australia once again—this time for good—I find myself pausing. What does it mean to call a place ‘home’? Thanks to the increased gumption this island has instilled in me, I know my way better around Singapore than my own hometown. Regardless of how long I’m away, I know I’ll always find comfort in the cadences of Singlish and the breathtaking sight of this city’s skyline, illuminated at night.
And perhaps that’s the biggest gift that migration, or any new journey in life, can impart. It’s the increased appreciation for all the small joys that one so easily turns a blind eye to after years of familiarity, and the feelings and people that leave you feeling cherished and valued.
I’m not exactly sure what the future holds or whether there’ll be another migration story in store for me. But regardless of where I end up, I know I’ll always carry the well-earned lessons that my time spent living in Singapore has taught me—including that it’s always possible to create something beautiful from a ‘blank canvas’ in life.
Get your copy of the January ‘Art’ issue of Vogue Singapore online.
