The Peak

SFSS Profile: 20 questions with Mona Law

By Kendra Wong

1. What is your favourite thing about SFU?

The students, involvement, and how clubs can successfully plan events, and how Departmental Student Unions are so involved with everything. I think even without the SFSS they’ll survive. We help them out by providing them with resources, but they have become a huge part of the community.

2. What is your greatest achievement?

Winning elections and ending up [at SFU]. When I was younger it was my dream to be in university. When you’re in high school, you admire those people in university and you wonder what it’s like. I found high school really boring . . . there wasn’t a lot of involvement. I’m enjoying where I am right now.

3. What is your guilty pleasure?

I like to draw accessories on people. I like to shop a lot . . . I would spend a lot of money on useless stuff, without realizing that I would never actually use it.

4. Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

I hope to be running my own business. I plan to take it to an international level. I want to work something out in China. I have a huge family over there and launching a business would turn out pretty successful because I have my family’s help. [Perhaps something] in the tourism industry . . . or something geared towards fashion, but these are no concrete ideas. I also plan to travel.

5. What was the last book you read?

I’m reading a psychology book . . . It’s pretty boring [and mostly] about research material, but it’s the ideas behind it that are interesting. I don’t think I’ve read a novel since last year.

6. What was your most embarrassing moment?

An image of me riding a dragon in a newspaper. [John, the humour editor at The Peak, photoshopped my head onto Jesus’ body.

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I really want to travel Europe, go to Italy and Spain in particular. Japan (I’m part Japanese) would be a first priority because it’s close to China. I really want to go to Disneyland, I’ve never been there. I really want to spend time living in New York as well, it’s a girl thing.

8. What is your greatest fear?

Being in the dark, also, failure. I don’t like to admit I failed at something . . . it’s that feeling of disappointment in yourself that I hate.

9. What are you most grateful for?

My friends. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be happy, I wouldn’t be staying on campus until 3:00 a.m. in my office. Friends become a part of my family.

10. What is your biggest regret?

When I do things, I do them without regrets. Other than cutting my hair at a bad salon, I don’t have regrets.

11. If you could switch lives with anyone, who would it be?

My mom; I really want to find out what it was like for her to come [to Canada] as an immigrant . . . all the difficulties, challenges, and obstacles she had to overcome in her life. It was challenging for her to come to a place with no family, friends, and no one she knew, basically picking up her life and moving.

12. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?

I used to play the flute. I really want to learn how to play the piano . . . . I admire those who can play the piano.

13. What is your biggest pet peeve?

People who do not turn on their signals when they’re driving.

14. What is the most important thing you look for in a companion?

I hope my boyfriend’s not reading this, but I think appearance is one thing, it’s not just about looks, it’s more about how you dress and how you present yourself. It shows what kind of person you are . . . . I like to make conversation, but what attracts me to a conversation is your appearance. I find it a turn off when someone is too shy. I also don’t like people who are arrogant and ignorant. I like it if we can share information and knowledge. I like it when you’re open [to ideas and other beliefs.]

15. What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?

I’ve never had a bad date . . . with my current boyfriend, I’ve always had fun with him. I think the worst dates are . . . [ when I feel like I’m wasting my time.] If you didn’t have anything creative to do, that’s fine, make it seem like spending time with you was worthwhile.

16. Choose any five people to have an imaginary dinner with, who would they be?

God — I want to know if he’s entertaining at a dinner table. I would also like to get the presidents of China, Russia, the U.S. and the prime minister of Canada together at one table, just to see the conversations they would have. I think it would be pretty interesting.

17. Your ads featured you on either a car or a motorcycle, what inspired these unique campaign ads?

It wasn’t something that really inspired me. As a business student, my friends and I basically went through magazines and looked at all the ads and how they were presented. Many ads featured cars and girls because that’s what sells . . . . But I think it was an effective ad.

18. You are one of the fashionable Board members, what do you love about fashion?

I like being able to express myself. Like I said before, I judge people on their appearances. You should make yourself presentable every day, even if you have children or exams. I don’t expect people to go out of their way to dress up, but at least get ready wondering if you’re going to meet someone important today.

19. You were the at-large representative last year, why did you decide to take on more responsibility and run for member services officer?

I felt like that role was most fitted for me. I love events and I was inspired by what Earl [Tapia] did last year with the week of welcome, and all those activities. I thought, if Earl can do it, then I could do something similar. If I didn’t run for MSO, I would run for either ERO or treasurer. Now that I look at it, I’m glad I didn’t run for those positions.

20. Finish this sentence: Student politicians are . . .

Complicated people who think they can make changes to the world within the SFU community. Someone who wants to leave a mark.