When I was being requested by my talent agent to send her my portfolio and references of my writing — I was forced to revisit my old fashion blog which I had abandoned for 3-4 years to dig out some old work.

Those good old fashion-obsessed and party days scouting for the best underground indie bands around town. Cheers to Triple J!

Those good old days when I first turned my fashion, photography and design passion into a creative business, started from my college dorm room in North Adelaide, and few months later, a city loft located in the heart of the East End Precinct, in the midst of all the hipster fashion joints and cafes — a decision which my traditional Asian parents used to cringe upon for leaving the architecture industry and practice after 5 years of ‘archi-torture’ study in university, graduating with a master degree, plus internships with two top firms in Australia and Asia.

Fast forward to February 2014, I’m a very much different and more mature person than the hipster I was back in my fashion-obsessed blogging era. Through the years, I’ve grown in my work, and more importantly my character and leadership as I venture into different journey in life, meeting incredible world leaders, business leaders, pioneers who personally took their time to mentor me through coffee catch ups as well as fellow creatives and entrepreneurs who have inspired me heaps.

So there I was, flipping through my good old fashion blog posts, while I was cringing at some of my posts, especially those amateur self-portraits, I just looked back at younger, 23-year-old me and smiled. As much as I was cringing at some of my younger days shindigs, I’m absolutely grateful for it all — the journey, the lessons learnt, the talented people I’ve worked with, the incredible people I’ve crossed path with and all the exciting events and shenanigans that have added colours to my life.

And these are the lessons and facts about myself that I’ve learnt through looking back into the old blog filled with the epitome of coolness circa 2008-2010.

I’ve learnt that it is absolutely worthwhile to take a leap of faith, chasing after my own passion in fashion, creative and design instead of taking the safer career choice in architecture, after being inspired by ‘The Road Not Taken’ — an old poetry by Robert Frost, published in 1916.

Fashion and photography had opened up a lot of great opportunities and had brought me to places where I’ve never ever dreamed of, including working alongside with top fashion designers, local and international celebrities, covering cool music gigs like what Cobra Snake does best, having my work appeared in European TV, being shortlisted as the finalists of Naomi Campbell’s international fashion photographer’s search, being nominated as Australia’s top fashion photographer along side with big boys like Richard Bailey (he shoots for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar Australia) as well as winning international photography’s awards.

I’ve learnt that fear kills more dreams than failures ever will. While most of my peers are so accustomed to their mundane daily job which they detest, clinging onto that stagnant ship in life which slowly consumes their passion and dreams; I opt to take the risks, to confront my fear of failure and uncertainties, to chase after my dreams — whether it’s my career in fashion and photography in my early twenties or my new found career in digital marketing, start up and advertising industries after being inspired by social futurist Mal Fletcher in mid 2012. And those were the best decisions that I’ve ever made. If I were too afraid to venture into the unknown, I would have never been able to follow my passion.

While the journey is not going to be easy as it plunges you into different challenges from time to time, it’s definitely a rewarding and satisfying one beyond words description. Through the ups and downs, I’ve learnt to embrace and celebrate failures, learn from my mistakes, staying humble and down-to-earth when things are at its peak and most importantly, never compromise on character, ethic, honour and integrity.

PS: I think I’ll just keep my old fashion blog in the dark for the time being! ;)