Unapologetically ambitious
The theme of the event was "Unapologetically Ambitious", but the word ambitious felt alien to me. What is ambition? What is success?
Casting the net
After years of hesitation, procrastination and unsubstantiated perfectionism, I've been told to cast the net and start my website/blog in its imperfect state. So VOILA. It's a lot harder than it looks. How does one stop trying to be a perfectionist? It was interesting. In
From hardware to software
I already dedicated 8 years of my life to studying, don’t necessarily think I’m better off for it, and yet I still felt the need to apply to a software engineering course. Here’s why.
Coming out as a survivor
I never thought coming out as a survivor, on a website that nobody reads, would be so hard. Yet, I find myself struggling describe myself as a survivor. A survivor of what? What do I tell people? Complex trauma? Sexual abuse? Childhood sexual abuse? Incest? Is that weird? Does it
It's good to be back
It’s been exactly a week since I arrived in Lisbon and I already have a few highlights to share.
Today is a gift
Yes, I did include a quote from Kung Fu Panda, because Master Shifu is awesome.
Vliegschaamte (Flight Shame)
It is a bit hypocritical. For someone so passionate about climate change to be flying all over the world. Yet, in my head, I’ve always managed to justify it.
Leaving San Francisco
In San Francisco, I was more confident that the insults I’d receive for running a red light wouldn’t be race-based than whether I would make it up the next hill if it was over >20%.
Go big or go home
People here take a lot more risks, which is also why they throw a lot more money at ideas that have the potential to work. It's like buying an insanely expensive lottery ticket.
Hidden doors
My expectations for San Francisco included meeting lots of passionate and ambitious people, with big dreams to change the world in a meaningful way.
The halfway mark
That said, I have occasionally doubted whether or not it was the right choice to come here. In my dad's words: "Fay, you've already been poor (aka. a student) for 8 years and you finally graduated, and now you want to go on another internship for zero monies?
The opportunity cost
Every time I read about or meet people founding their own company, I think “damn, that’s so cool, why am I not doing that”. In the end, I know I’d regret not trying more than I’d hate failing.
