• What went well — The Good, Wins, and Successes

• What didn't go well — The Bad, Losses, and Imperfections

• What did I learn — Moving Forward, Plans for 2023

• Some of my plans for next year

I want to take a moment to reflect on all the progress and growth I've experienced in various areas of my life. In this super personal article, I'll share my thoughts on my work and career, academics, finance, health, relationships, and the things I've learned over the past year. Come along with me as I look back on my journey and set some new goals for the future.

This year has been pretty amazing, and I'm grateful for all the great experiences I've had. This is my first time doing an end-of-year review, and it's been cool to see how much more intentional I've become about my growth. There have been a lot of ups and downs this year, and while I'd love to focus just on the ups, that wouldn't give the full picture.

I officially became an adult this year when I turned 20 in February, but I still have a long way to go before I feel like one. There are still lots of areas where I have room to grow, like my finances, health, relationships, and career, so I feel like I'm just getting started on this whole adult thing.

What went well — The Good, Wins, and Successes

Here are some of my biggest wins this year:

1. Learning Rust:

   • Started learning Rust, a systems programming language known for its safety and performance.

   • Demonstrated a commitment to expanding programming skills and exploring new technologies.

2. Full-Stack Web Development:

   • Transitioned into full-stack web development, indicating an interest in creating end-to-end solutions for web applications.

   • Gained proficiency in both front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) and back-end (server-side technologies like Node.js, Python, or Ruby) development.

3. Oracle Cloud Certification:

   • Achieved an Oracle Cloud certification, a significant accomplishment in the field of cloud computing.

   • Demonstrated expertise in using Oracle Cloud services and the ability to work with cloud infrastructure and services effectively.

4. Online Course Completion:

   • Completed courses on full-stack development, Rust programming, and cloud technologies from platforms like Udemy and Coursera.

   • Engaged in continuous learning to acquire valuable knowledge and skills complementing academic and professional growth.

5. Internship Offer from TVS Sensing and Solution:

   • Received an internship offer from TVS Sensing and Solution, showcasing attractiveness as a candidate for a full-stack and cloud computing role.

   • Qualifications and skills made a positive impression, leading to this opportunity.

6. Current Internship at TVS Sensing and Solution:

   • Currently working with TVS Sensing and Solution since September, gaining practical experience in a real-world professional setting.

   • Building hands-on experience for career development and application of knowledge to real-world problem-solving.

7. Academic Excellence:

   • Demonstrated academic excellence while pursuing education alongside professional pursuits.

   • Balancing education with practical experience, highlighting commitment to personal and professional growth.

I actually built a couple of cool things this year. I built :

• Concierge AI contains a personalized AI model with which you can converse in a manner that simulates a real personality.

• Blood donation and saving lives – the LifeFlow App, powered by the cutting-edge MERN stack!

• Random Advice is a web-based project aimed at providing users with random pieces of advice, tips, and wisdom on a variety of topics

• Serverless Full Stack Application combines React.js, Node.js, and AWS services to provide a user-friendly web interface for efficient DynamoDB record management.

What didn't go well — The Bad, Losses, and Imperfections

1. Learning Challenges:

   • I encountered challenges while learning Rust and other new technologies this year.

   • Learning new skills can be demanding, and I faced setbacks and difficulties along the way.

2. Balancing Act:

   • Balancing my academic pursuits with my internship and self-study was demanding.

   • I had to manage my time carefully and make sacrifices in other areas to excel in both academics and my professional journey.

3. Uncertainties in the Internship:

   • My internship at TVS Sensing and Solution came with its fair share of uncertainties and challenges as I adapted to a new work environment.

   • I faced unexpected challenges and tasks that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

4. Work-Life Balance:

   • Achieving excellence academically and professionally sometimes came at the cost of my work-life balance.

   • I recognize the importance of taking breaks and prioritizing self-care.

5. Incomplete Goals:

   • There were goals and projects that I had planned to complete but couldn't due to time constraints or other factors.

   • Not achieving every goal was a common experience for me this year, providing opportunities for growth and learning.

6. Mistakes and Learning Moments:

   • In the process of acquiring new skills and working in a professional setting, I made mistakes and faced challenging situations.

   • I view these moments, although difficult, as valuable for my personal and professional development.

• I started lapsing a lot in College work because I was focusing most of my energy on my career and extracurriculars.

• Spent way too much time on social media, and it really affected my mental well-being.

• There were quite a couple of things I wanted to be and achieve this year, but I didn't.

What did I learn — Moving Forward, Plans for 2024

Here are some things I learned:

I feel the most important thing I learned this year was that I always have to be intentional about my personal growth. The sad reality of life is that nobody is ever going to be able to do these things for you, most especially as an adult. The choices I make every day are always going to impact the person I become. I also learned that one of the most important skills I need to learn as an individual is self-discipline and the courage to do the things I have set to do.

Something I also realized this year is that there's more to me as a person than just "Tech and Programming". I've always been passionate about Fashion and Music and I want to put more effort into exploring my creative side.

Here are some of my plans for next year:

• Grind more LeetCode and get pretty good at medium questions

• Invest in building more meaningful and genuine relationships

• Improve my social life, maybe even commit👀

• Increase my network and get to know more people

• End the year with a First Class CGPA

• Take my health more seriously

• Spend more time with family and friends

I'm honestly grateful for all that was, and I can't wait for the amazing things that are to be.

Thanks for reading💕