what I’ve learned (since)
NAME Theo Chen
PROFESSION Playwright and performer
The “What I’ve Learned” section was a popular column in Esquire’s publishing history. Back under David Granger’s tenure as Editorin-Chief of American Esquire, Cal Fussman mostly took up the reins of the “What I’ve Learned” section. Subjects profiled range from athletes to actors to musicians—across the spectrum of the human race—each one of them provide an insight into a life lived.
We adopted the “What I’ve Learned” section for the local publication of Esquire and over the years as we collected these words of wisdom we wondered what else have they learned since? No one lives in situ; the years will weather and circumstances will alter the fabric of who you are. Here, we’ve revisited some of our profiles from the early days of Esquire Singapore.
MY FATHER was trying to teach me to be impeccable to my word. If I was going to stand up for anti-bullying, I should continue and further deepen that work. Unfortunately, I don’t think I pursued that as much as I could have back then.
IF I HAD ENOUGH know-how or determination, I could build on what I was offered with different organisations in Singapore. I’d like to continue being an anti-bullying advocate. But I was so young back then that I didn’t recognise the worth in continuing that work. I knew I didn’t want people to be bullied but I didn’t understand the potential of that moment. It’s okay though. I’m not gonna stress out about 12-year-old me.
IT’S INTERESTING to see what [my generation] is expected to do nowadays. It’s good that young climate activists are starting to get seats at the table, but maybe we should not expect everything to be done for us. There’s a balance to be found between harnessing our energy and our passion and matching that with the other more experienced individuals; there’s room for a really good collaboration. But it’s difficult because you might be discounted because of your age.
THE GENERAL LESSON of history is that everything is cyclical but youth activism was always a thing. Maybe it’s just not present so much in the larger cultural consciousness but social media usage and media consumption hit a peak during the pandemic, which is why these movements felt so heightened, [so new].
YOUTH ACTIVISM has been happening since the ’60s. [Before Greta Thunberg], there was the Sunshine Movement which comprises young people lobbying politicians about climate change.
I MIGHT BE OFF but I’ve been thinking a lot about the romanticisation of our cities. When I was studying in Canada, I met so many people who acknowledged their countries’ faults and yet they also unabashedly adored their homes. When I talked about Singapore, all I could talk about were its problems.
