Comedy Helps 16-Year-Old Muhammad Rao Deal With Life

Our expat community thrives on connection, and here at Jingkids, we’re all about our readers, what they need and want in order to maximize their time here in Beijing. Every Monday, we’re going to feature a prominent member of our expat community and get to know them a little bit better.

What’s on your mind?

Well, a lot of things. First is trying to choose a career that will not disappear in a couple of years and all the while still doing something I love. Knowing the fact that robots will take over all of our jobs gives me a lot of anxiety, but then I think about if robots really did take over every human job, then that would mean people won’t be working and thus wouldn’t have the money to buy the goods and services that the robots are now producing.  And if people won’t buy those goods and services, then wouldn’t that make those robots redundant? I honestly believe there will be some solution to that,  but with the current stage of the world, we really are moving towards a dystopian society with huge income inequalities.

What’s your motivation to get moving?

My parents. They support me with any endeavor I want to embark on and they keep pushing me to at least complete what I have started. Without their support, I would honestly lose all motivation to study.

How do you stay sane in all the madness?

Comedy. Comedy is an antidote to the pain and sufferings of life. I have seen comedians take their most embarrassing memories and tell them in a way that has their crowd wheezing. It may be a world-renowned comedian or an anonymous person on Reddit – Comedy makes the best of a terrible situation. I am not saying that comedy solves a bad situation but it definitely gives us the courage to face the situation. So whenever I am in a tough spot, I just try to find humor in the absurdity of the situation

What’s your favorite thing about Beijing?

Well, there isn’t one particular thing that is my favorite. I have spent the latter half of my childhood here and the memories I have made as Beijing being the backdrop of it give a special place in my heart for this city. Although I am not from this city and it is unlikely that I will spend my adulthood here either, no other city will ever be able to take the place I have for Beijing in my heart.

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Images: Courtesy of Muhammad Rao