Since no one knows what your acronyms mean — I felt lost. Thrown into a team with no guidance, I spent my time deciphering acronyms and bopping from meeting to meeting. What are we actually building? What am I doing here? Joining a new team is scary, and the onboarding process can make or break your new employees. After…

What I wish I knew before graduation — While earning my computer science degree, I thought the only career path was software developer. After all, I was trained to be a software developer — how could I become anything else? No one mentioned the existence of other options. I was tied to one destiny. The more I talk…

A reflection on new experiences in 2021 — In 2021, I decided to write a story each year, documenting the new things I tried. My “New Adventures Series” motivated me to keep writing every single month, until I dropped off in October. …

You are more than your technical skills — One failed interview after another, I felt ashamed. Would I ever become a software developer? What was the point of my computer science degree? When interviewing for entry-level software engineering positions, my programming skills were mostly theoretical. …

Lessons from my older selves — “Where you are now is exactly where you’re supposed to be,” said my older self, approximately 90-years-old. She sat next to me and fiddled with her cane. Her long, gray hair was braided back into one thick tie. …

A reflection on new experiences in September — 2021 is my year of new things. I’m challenging myself to embark on new experiences, even when I don’t want to. With that being said, I had a moment this month to do a new thing that scared me, and don’t laugh — this new thing was holding a chicken…

Even if I earned it, am I still an impostor? — When I started in the tech industry, I thought the senior developer role meant you were old. But, I’ve learned that seniority is not solely reserved for those with dozens of years of experience. I was recently promoted to senior developer. I’m 24. Though I’ve coded since the age of…

#2 — When people laugh so hard, no sound comes out — Life is fragile, beautiful, and breathtaking. Little things happen every day that we take for granted — intricacies of human interactions and habits. People do the unimaginable, think about impossible possibilities, and make every day a little interesting. While humans are all unique, there are some things humans do that…

You’re stuck in perpetual motion. — I’ve read all the self-improvement books, from “Untamed” to “Year of Yes” to “Indistractable.” I love the optimism, encouragement, and tangible tips. But, I haven’t actually taken these tips to heart. I read, highlight on my Kindle, and think “wow, I should do that!” But, do I do it? No. …