Some rambling before starting: Actually, yesterday’s post was meant to be “private,” to be made public in a few days, but I accidentally posted it and thought, “Oh well, few people will see it anyway” (

After playing soccer, I went to Teacher Figo’s house for dinner. On the way, we talked a lot about the future, about school, work, and time management. So, I finally started to think: How should I spend the possibly relatively free year ahead?

Inaccurately speaking, I used to be content with following others’ arrangements. But when such a routine was broken, for example, in the weeks before the final exams abroad, when school was suspended and I could arrange my time freely, I would become at a loss. It’s the same now in Hangzhou—when there are gaps in my seemingly busy life, although I know I should do something, I always procrastinate. Sometimes, I feel like I am actually escaping, or numbing myself with busyness, leaving myself almost no time to think (you might remember a moment from my past social media posts).

It wasn’t until today that I realized the coming year might be even more crucial than the year before exams. The most important thing is not about academic qualifications or making money, but personal experience. Inspired by Teacher Figo, I learned about many possible directions for service, and behind these “different in distance, height, and perspective” paths, there is a consistent core: they all require self-arrangement.

And I might still be resistant to this.