So yes, I turned 25 yesterday.
Archived: This is an old post from Medium, and was just moved here for archival purposes.
Some of the views expressed here may no longer apply in the present. Opinions change.
I posted “Hello, world!” yesterday, For programmers, that phrase is what we write whenever we learn a new programming language, or heck, programming in general. To see those words light up on your screen means that you have finally created something that works, even if it’s just two words.
And I thought that it’s very fitting since I have yet again reached my birthday. Computers and programming have always been my life, and this new year is certainly me greeting it with another Hello World. Alternately:
Congratulations, you have reached Level 25!
To those who did greet me, thanks! Plus points if you caught on to Hello World. To those who didn’t remember, well, that’s fine, I sometimes forget too! (my birthday not showing up in Facebook is intentional), so I’m sorry too if I ended up doing the same.
Life’s been awesome. It’s still the same roller coaster of happy and sad moments, and I’m glad that I have been around for two decades and a half of it.
Life in twenty-four.#
To me, being 24 in particular was kickass because I achieved so many things in work; so many finished projects when it comes to my hobbies and all sorts of new stuff.
I’ve built myself my own computer network of sorts, automated so many things that it’s crazy, adopted new routines and disciplines that have served me very well, and achieved feats that I could not even imagine two years ago, including ferrying an entire conference’s worth of video across three countries, and perhaps printing a document 15kms away (seriously). I’ve managed to try out the stuff that I always wanted to try, and I’ve definitely finished most of them in ways that I have applied it in everyday life.
As for work, I’ve learned a lot on big data in general, a year’s worth of it in fact! I’ve worked on projects with a higher sense of responsibility and involvement and with more experience than before. It’s strenuous, yet satisfying work, especially when working on components that are in active use today, or have went through design plans that were approved by peers, bosses, analysts and developers alike.
Oh and I finally reached the United States. I can never forget what I’ve learned and felt over there, and finally met with relatives, family friends (special thanks!), the masters and gurus of big data and a good old friend, Sean. I really thank my company for this wonderful opportunity as a whole. I really cherish what an experience it was!
Negative stuff, and beyond.#
Well, being robbed one final time (We had to deal with multiple break-ins as I turned 23, and it all remains traumatic as ever) and even caught it in video, two days after my previous birthday. There’s also the matter of dealing with overall family health and the state of my friend’s families were all strong events that I can’t help but feel either sorry or helpless. All I can contribute are prayers and moral support in those cases. I’m not usually vocal on these things, but trust me, I’ve definitely thought about them, and my prayers goes along with it.
As for personal stuff, I need to get my own health sorted out. I’m fat. I need more experience in dealing with people, more patience, need to be smarter in decisions, and improve even further in both work and hobby stuff. I need to monetize my own work, get something rolling, get certified, solve the world’s problems, and at least contribute something that the country will appreciate. At least, that’s how I think. Oh and I gotta write more unit tests.
On the programming side of it, I need to get back to Android, go beyond in Big Data, and maybe try out something new, like Rust or Dart or whatever language is out there in the sun. Once again, thanks!
In the end, I gotta thank everyone, from peers at work, friends, family, community and well, God who have all helped and helped me become who I am right now. You’re all wonderful.