Write to Win (Round 7): If you could have dinner with a stranger, who would it be?

It is quite difficult, if not entirely impossible, to pick someone I don’t know to have dinner with. After all, how can you choose a person whose existence you are not even aware of?

What I can do is describe the qualities of the person I would like to share a meal with.

Once, after a school orchestra practice ran late, my mother called me a taxi so I could come home quickly and start my homework. I was exhausted when I climbed in, but the taxi driver struck up a conversation when he saw me heave my bulky cello into the cab.

The ride took many twists and turns: up mountain roads, into the city and, most importantly, into the deep reservoir of wisdom the taxi driver had to offer.

I learned much about how to live life, treat others and best sort out interpersonal conflicts that night. It was an unexpected but positively delightful surprise.

I cannot remember when this happened or who the taxi driver was. But if I could eat dinner with someone I don’t know, that person would be a wise, caring and easy-going person who had lived a long and rich life, just like the taxi driver from that night.

I can imagine the highlights of the evening would not be the food but the insights that I would gain.

Do you know what the Anywhere Door is? It is a fantastic invention that transports you anywhere you want instantly. A frequently used gadget in the sensational manga series Doraemon, it is no doubt part of the reason many children watching worldwide crave adventure.

This series is immensely popular globally, but many of us are unfamiliar with the heroes behind the scenes, such as Hiroshi Fujimoto – a co-creator, writer and artist of the captivating manga.

As an ardent fan of Doraemon, I would want to have dinner with Fujimoto. I would express my enthusiasm and heartfelt gratitude for the series that brought me much joy in my childhood. I am still obsessed with the iconic robot cat today.

I would love to have dinner with Fujimoto at a cha chaan teng, a place brimming with Hong Kong culture. We would enjoy delights like pineapple buns that might spark Fujimoto’s creativity.

He could even pen a new Doraemon series that incorporated Hong Kong culture. Imagine a chubby robot cat dining in an 80s-style eatery, enjoying pineapple buns filled with red bean custard – as dorayaki is Doraemon’s favourite food.

Besides introducing Hong Kong culture to Fujimoto, I would also inquire about the prototype of the robot cat. And as an art student, I would be eager to meet this expert and ask for drawing tips.

Write to Win (Round 6): If you could give every person in the world a gift, what would it be?

If I think of all the courageous and brilliant people who have inspired me, I would need a Met Gala-sized event to host everyone. However, since I can only pick one person, I will go with someone I have really been finding uplifting recently.

Whether she’s dominating on the rugby field or creating content that resonates with millions, this person stays genuine and positive. Following the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, she won hearts for her message of body positivity and exceptional athleticism.

This woman is none other than United States rugby player Ilona Maher.

Maher has revolutionised how people perceive women in rugby by challenging traditional expectations and promoting inclusivity. She has consistently used her platform to encourage young women and girls to embrace the sport while staying true to themselves.

Maher illustrates how strength and femininity are not mutually exclusive. She constantly challenges the norms, recently starring on Dancing with the Stars and carrying her male partner in a dance, perhaps the opposite of what viewers are used to seeing.

Sharing a meal with Maher would be invaluable, as I am in constant awe of her individuality, confidence and grace no matter what she endeavours. Her part in bringing awareness to body positivity, women’s sports and breaking gender stereotypes makes her a role model worth following, especially for the youth.

We could all do with a dose of Maher’s confidence now and then.

A banquet is more than just a celebration; it gathers everyone who has shaped our lives. Around the dinner table, ambition is often masked by politeness, and every bite is bound by custom and expectation.

Even the most elaborate feast follows a set order, reminding us that life itself demands a rhythm. With over 30,000 meals to share in a lifetime, every one of them deserves intention, even if they feel routine.

This particular dinner, though, will be different.

The truth is, loving yourself is just as vital as loving anyone else. Self-love is the seed from which every other kind of love grows. Love is not confined to one definition or shape – it is boundless, surprising and deeply human.

You do not have to be a parent to feel a parent’s heartache or share a bed with someone to connect passionately with their soul.

The person I would choose to have dinner with is me 10 years from now. A person I don’t know yet. I know her name but not her story, joys or struggles. It is time to stop fearing loneliness and start embracing my own company.