When I started university, I didn't know much about architecture

Host: The room is bathed in the soft light of a late afternoon, the sun slipping lower in the sky, casting a golden hue through the window. Outside, the city carries on its usual hum, but inside, the space feels more introspective, like the calm before a moment of realization. Jeeny sits at the desk, a notebook in front of her, the tip of her pen hovering over the page, her thoughts clearly swirling. Jack leans against the window, arms crossed, looking out but lost in his own quiet contemplation.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice soft but reflective) “You ever wonder how we all end up in the places we are? I mean, how our passions, the things that define us, start from something so small, something that seems so unimportant at first?”

Jack: (without turning to face her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Small? Like what? I don’t really get what you mean.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently, her eyes focused on the words forming in her mind) “I was thinking about something Ma Yansong said. He said, ‘When I started university, I didn't know much about architecture, so I flipped through a lot of magazines, looking at different and exciting images from all over the world. I thought that architecture could be interesting.’ It made me think about how sometimes, something as simple as looking at a few images can spark a passion that shapes your entire future.”

Jack: (turning slightly to face her, his expression more curious now) “So you’re saying that architecture wasn’t something he just ‘knew’ he wanted to do? It wasn’t this grand vision from the start?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her voice gaining a bit of energy now, as the idea takes shape) “Exactly. He didn’t have it all figured out. He started with something simple—a curiosity, a spark of interest from seeing different things. He was just flipping through magazines, seeing new ideas, and it led him to realize that architecture could be more than just a field—it could be something that excited him, something that opened up new possibilities.”

Host: Jeeny’s words settle in the room, the simplicity of the idea taking root. Jack stands still, his gaze distant as he considers her words. The soft hum of the city outside feels distant now, as though the conversation has created a space all its own.

Jack: (his voice more thoughtful now, almost quieter) “It’s funny how that works, isn’t it? That small moments can turn into something so big. How something as simple as flipping through a magazine can change the direction of your life.”

Jeeny: (with a gentle, almost knowing smile, her voice a little softer now) “Yes, sometimes the things that seem insignificant are the ones that shape us the most. That moment, flipping through those pages, opened Ma Yansong’s eyes to a whole new world. And from there, he built a career, a vision, a life. It started with something small, but it grew into something much bigger.”

Jack: (pauses, his gaze softening as he considers the idea, his voice a little more introspective) “So, it’s not about having everything figured out from the start. It’s about staying open to the small things, the things that might seem unimportant at first, and letting them guide you toward something bigger.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her eyes glowing with understanding) “Exactly. It’s about finding inspiration in unexpected places. Sometimes the biggest shifts in life happen when we let our curiosity take us down a path we didn’t even know existed.”

Host: The air in the room feels lighter now, as though the weight of their conversation has created space for new ideas to bloom. Jack straightens up, his posture a little less tense, a slight smile pulling at the corner of his mouth as he starts to see the beauty in Jeeny’s words. Jeeny, her smile gentle, watches him, knowing that sometimes the simplest realizations lead to the most profound shifts.

Jack: (with a quiet, almost revelatory tone) “Maybe it’s time I started looking at things differently. Instead of trying to have it all figured out, just… explore more, let my curiosity take me somewhere new.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice calm but filled with quiet encouragement) “Exactly. You don’t always need a grand plan. Sometimes, just following your curiosity is the best way to figure out what’s next.”

Host: The room is still, but the conversation has left behind a quiet understanding. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, there is a new clarity—a recognition that even the smallest moments, the smallest sparks, can lead to the biggest transformations. The key is to stay open, to follow your curiosity, and trust that even the most unexpected path can lead to something extraordinary.