It’s 00:49 AM. I just got back from a New Year gathering with my friends.
Normally, I’d take time after midnight to be by myself and sit with the atmosphere for a bit. But tonight felt different. Being with my friends felt warm and real, and for once I didn’t feel like I was missing that quiet moment alone.
Another year has passed. A new chapter is opening. Before I move forward, I want to look back at the things I missed and the things I loved.
I’ll start with the hard stuff.
The most disappointing thing this year was failing two people who mattered to me, who trusted me. They were going through critical moments in their lives, and I was careless. I regret it, and I’m truly sorry for it.
I also crossed one of my moral lines. I’m not proud of it. The only good part is I didn’t fully act on it, and I’ve been actively working on that part of myself. Still, it’s something I need to take seriously.
Lastly, I told myself I’d put in more work for the courses I’m not interested in. Just be disciplined, do what needs to be done. But I haven’t really done it. It’s not surprising, but it still feels like a letdown.
That’s enough of the hard stuff.
On the positive side, I’ve been enjoying other people’s company more. That’s honestly a really good change for me.
Even while going through some difficulties, I stayed mostly financially independent and could afford the gear and subscriptions I like. But I also spent about half of my savings, which isn’t great. That’s something I need to be more mindful of this year.
I managed to do four personal projects. Most reached MVP, and one was publicly released. They still need finishing touches. I told myself I’d polish them during the holiday, but other things came up, and partly I lost interest. So I’m putting them aside for now, without forcing it.
I also focused more on myself. I changed up my clothing style a bit. And even better, I started working out recently. I never imagined I’d actually enjoy it, but here I am. It’s peaceful alone time, and it feels healthy.
Though honestly, I spent too much money on it. Part of that savings I mentioned. There were cheaper options, but the more expensive one gives me a better, more comfortable environment. It makes it easier to show up consistently. Hopefully it works itself out.
The biggest thing is I got an internship offer, and I’m onboarding right after the holiday. To be honest, I wasn’t planning to apply this early. I thought I’d wait until summer. But my friends kept asking about it, and I got hit with FOMO. So I started looking right before the holiday and got one after a few tries.
I’ve also been trying to get my sleep schedule back to normal after staying up late for too long. I’ve made real progress recently, which feels good since I’ll need to wake up early for the internship and school.
On top of that, my parents got me a motorbike to commute to work. A huge gift. I’m really grateful.
So my direction for this new year is simple. Try my best in this internship and prepare myself for the job market.
More specifically, I’m planning to take IELTS before summer. I’m confident in reading and listening, but speaking, and maybe writing, aren’t quite there yet. After the holiday, I’ll take a mock test to make an informed decision and see if I can allocate the time for it.
I also want more agency this year. I want to cut down on unhelpful ways I relax, like mobile gaming, read more books, and reduce the unhealthy content I consume on social media.
Honestly, I don’t know exactly how it’ll all play out. But this feels like a transition year for me. Something is waiting, and I have a good feeling about it.
Chúc mừng năm mới!