hello from Singapore, Silicon Valley, & New York City ❤
This is the first time I am penning down my year in writing. This will also be my first Medium Post. One of my 2022 Resolution is to consolidate my learning and become a better storyteller. I think it is pretty obvious I am trying to achieve both here.
There will be occasional [Personal] articles like this from time to come but this Medium Account will mostly contain articles about Data Science and Analytics.
2021 was a year of Becoming for me. Taking this from Michelle Obama, I resonate deeply with the idea that each of us is perpetually changing, that we are ever-evolving, not stopping at some set point — with the implication that we can always become better. That became my guiding principle for this year.
For the most part, we learn from the people we surround ourselves with and from the many conversations we have. From which, we may learn lessons — but we may not truly understand its profoundness until we experience it ourselves firsthand. Over time, I have come to realize that many of these lessons happen retrospectively, but it always happens eventually.
Throughout the entirety of 2021, I’ve experienced a lot — offered a place for the prestigious NUS National Overseas College in Silicon Valley, interned in both an MNC and Startup, exchanged in Stanford, broke my scholarship bond, started investing, struggled with school, saw snow for the first time, got COVID, burnt out, fell sick, fell in and out of love, built new friendships, lost some along the way, been to so many new places, and made many more memories. It has been a really crazy long year.
Some of these lessons I learned were not part of my 2021 resolution. In fact, most of them are born out of things that are totally unplanned, while some handed to me along the way.
This is my story that may or may not resonate with you, but hopefully, it could help you in one way or another in your own journey.
1. On a Journey
“Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” — Ibn Battuta
In October 2021, I took a 16 hours flight and travelled 8610 miles from Singapore to the origin land of Big Tech — Silicon Valley. I am really fortunate that I was offered a place in the NUS National Overseas College 1-Year Programme which allowed me the opportunity to intern in a Bay Area Startup while taking modules in both my home university and Stanford University.
Travelling nourishes the mind. Travelling allows me to explore the world from different perspectives and adds characters to the existing knowledge within ourselves. Some of my most memorable experiences and encounters came from people that are the most foreign to me.
One lesson that I took away is to embrace uncertainty. For those that know me personally, I am someone who likes to have strong control over my time and the things I do, with a clear understanding of what I want to achieve out of it. I like things planned, and I like things to go as planned. However, that is not always the case, especially so in a foreign place.
Dealing with uncertainties, with things that cannot fall under my control, has been frustrating. But, what I realised along the way was that, if everything is under control and that it all goes as planned, it just isn’t as fun.
Carpe Diem, and expect the unexpected.
2. The Startup Experience
Having had the experience to intern in 4 startups across various industries, I came to realise the many reasons that make Startups so ‘sexy and attractive’.
What fascinates me about working in a Startup is that I get to narrate my own journey. I decide how much effort I am putting into a particular project or task. I decide the content and direction of my own experiments and creativity. I decide how much of an impact I aspire to make.
Working in a Startup also means you might be wearing many different hats. Some people like me might love this while some simply abhor it.
At the end of the day, there is no ‘better’ choice, but only a choice that suits you the most. Here is a LinkedIn Short Clip that I felt had accurately encapsulated what our current generation wants. It is no longer about survival or standard of living, but the quality of life.
Be a little more daring, traverse the path less taken.
3. The Abundance Mindset
One of the biggest mindset shifts I have made this year is adopting and emulating an abundance mindset instead of a scarcity one.
I first came upon this when I started reading Stephen Covey’s book — The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, at which he coined the term, Scarcity Mentality.
Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.
The Scarcity Mindset always focuses on the extreme short term of every decision. What is the most fun option right now? What uses up the resources I have right now so that they can’t be taken away later?
I admit I am guilty of this in so many occurrences over the past 1 year, and before. It has made me less appreciative of the things I have when I start to compare. Sometimes, getting the shorter end of the stick does not mean you lose anything at all.
On the other hand, Covey also shared about the Abundance Mentality.
The Abundance Mentality, flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity.
Guilty and self-aware at the same time, I decided to focus on what I have, engage in more appreciative conversations, surround myself with people that have that similar abundance mindset, and most importantly, incorporate more gratitude into my daily life.
“If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.” — Oprah Winfrey
Life is full of wonderful things, more than we can ever possibly explore. When someone else gets something, it does not mean you are going without — it just means someone else had a good thing happen in their life and that is something worth celebrating.
4. You are a Product of your Environment
Do you know those people who always seem positive and see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty? Find them and start spending time with them!
The environment (people & physical location) you place yourself in can have an outsized impact on your life. They shape your worldview and influence the way you think and make decisions — for better or for worse.
Attitudes rub off. As someone who absorbs the energy of those around me, I have learnt to be more mindful of the people I surround myself with.
“The quality of a person’s life is most often a direct reflection of the expectations of their peer group.” — Tony Robbins
Ask yourself if you look up to the people you spend time with. I am so blessed to be part of social circles full of inspiring and phenomenal individuals who have shown me how to constantly push boundaries and live my best life while overachieving at whatever I choose to pursue.
5. New Habits and New Routine
“What’s brushing your teeth two minutes a day, do? Nothing. Unless you do it consistently every day, your teeth will fall out” — Simon Sinek
There are countless great habits out there and it is easier said than done to manifest all of them. However, here is something that worked for me that inculcated some good habits in me which has stuck by me ever since.
What did I do? I dedicated myself to a new habit every month. Some examples of that include:
- Learning and making milkshakes
- Running 2.4km consistently at least 10 times a month
- Write something I am grateful for each day
- Eating 1 fruit/yoghurt a day
- Read a chapter of a book (or ~ 15 minutes) every day before sleeping
- Moisturises my face on a daily basis ( Don’t judge me…)
- Learning how to prepare simple meals and understanding recipes
The list goes on. Seems daunting? It sure was. If you ask me if I have actually adopted all these habits, my answer is yes and no.
Am I running 2.4km every other day? No, but I do clock in runs a lot more frequently than I did before. Am I cooking and making milkshakes constantly? No, but I absolutely enjoy doing that whenever I want to. Am I eating 1 fruit a day? No, but I definitely see my current diet including more fruits and/or yoghurts now.
The purpose of having habits and routine is not about it being a have-to-do, but a want-to-do instead.
Adieu 2021
If you have reached the end of this article, kudos to you, and I very much really appreciate that.
I am extremely grateful to every single person who has journeyed with me and helped shape me into the person I am today. You know who you are. ❤
Cheers to another phenomenal year ahead.
