Frances

What was the last thing you Googled?

Youtube – The Graham Norton Show

Ok, so what’s your life story so far? Give us the Wikipedia bio…

I was born in the Phillipines, moved to Thailand at 4, I lived in Singapore for 7 years, then moved to NZ. I moved to Hamilton first. That was a huge shock. Online I thought NZ looked so cool…then I got to Hamilton and it was like, “Wow, the tallest building is the Fonterra building.” Auckland is more my place, I felt the city vibes. Now I’m at Uni here. 

Was it hard moving around so much when you were growing up?

Moving a lot made me feel both, to quote Great Gatsby, “within and without.” I’ve always felt different and that was amplified as I got older. Like I feel I’m in the midst of stuff but I’m also observing? It’s part of that thing when I think that because of my experiences I won’t ever be part of one culture or one peer group fully. There’s always a glass mirror, you see through it but can’t you can’t reach through it.

Is it just you and your Mum in NZ?

Yeah, it’s me and Mum here. It’s always been us though, I call it the modern nomadic experience! My parents split quite young, and it was culturally frowned upon to leave your husband. Chinese whispers got around, and they weren’t the right whispers. So Mum decided to isolate us until things got better. We grew up without other relatives for a while. We kinda just accepted we’re far away.

You were part of a feminist club at school, so what does being a feminist mean to you?

Equity – and being intersectional.

Your generation have this reputation as a highly progressive, post-racist, post-sexist, super evolved generation. Do you think that’s accurate?

That concept of post racism applies to a really limited amount of people. You know, some West Coast Americans, maybe? I think our generation is trying to make sense of things, but I don’t think we’re post anything. There’s still people who stay in their bubble. But we’re evolving. You can’t not evolve, what with social media and so much information you can’t ignore it.

Describe what it’s like being 18 right now? 

Nowadays when you’re 18 you’re just tired. Partying is overrated, it’s fun with the right people but now when you’re 18 you’re always so busy…Sleep is important but I feel like there’s not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do. So I try and fit them in when I should be sleeping…

Your generation do have a reputation as high achieving stress heads. Are you feeling the pressure of being 18?

Uni is intense but there’s also huge personal pressure for me. I feel I have to do all these things, do it all, have it all. And it feels within your grasp, not as though like I’m pushing myself to do something I can’t do. But it means you’re always sacrificing something else – and I think it’s hard to find that balance when Uni and work takes up so much time. In a day I try to cram in work, Uni, exercise, a solid breakfast, napping on the train, catching up with friends, having time for everyone, going home, eating dinner, doing the dishes, spending time with Mum, watching Youtube, lying in bed thinking about everything I have to do and Skyping my friends until 3am

What’s your daily stress level 1 – 10?

7. I try to be aware of my stress and manage it. 

And when you look at your ‘adult’ future, what do you see?

A giant question mark. There are so many possibilities. None of them will be wrong. Over time I realised that it’s best to just take what comes my way. I used to be annoyed with change in my life but then I realised there’s something fun in the unknown.