2025

It always amazes me how quickly time seems to fly by.

Another year gone, just like that.

For me, 2025 was about change and growth. I got a new job, I learned more about myself, and I tried new things.

A New Job

One of my primary goals for 2025 was to get a new job, and it happened unexpectedly. It’s funny how job hunting works, you never really know where you’re going to end up. You might have an ideal expectation of where you want to go, but ultimately, the outcome isn’t fully in your control. The best thing you can do is focus on what is in your control, try your hardest, and see where life takes you.

When I started looking for jobs, the first thing I did was update my resume. That process ended up being incredibly impactful. I asked for feedback in a community I’m part of, and Mike Chen, someone I admire and look up to, offered his thoughts. It was just a few things he said, but they led me to some major realizations: “Why do any of the things you did matter?” and “You somehow explained this really cool thing you’ve built in a boring way.”

I realized I had never really stopped to question why I was doing the things I did. I did them because I was told to. I was also really bad at talking about myself and usually downplayed my own accomplishments. It felt like a moment of clarity—like I’d been seeing the world through a smudged window, and someone finally wiped it clean

Not knowing why your work matters and being bad at talking about your accomplishments are both terrible qualities to have on a resume and in interviews. I spent a lot of time reflecting and asking myself questions like, Why were the things I did important? and What was the business impact? I started thinking more deeply about why someone asked me to do something in the first place and what they were really trying to achieve. I learned not to blindly do what I was told, but to stop and ask why.

I also reflected on why I struggled so much with talking about myself. This question was much harder to answer, but after a lot of reflection this year, I realized it stemmed from things I struggled with when I was younger, comparing myself to others and feeling like I wasn’t enough.

By stepping back and answering these questions, I was able to update my resume to better reflect what I had accomplished. I received additional feedback from Danny Thompson and Laura Holt, who helped me see things from a recruiter’s perspective and taught me how to better tell a story with my resume.

Once my resume was in a good place, I started cold applying. Another great piece of advice Mike gave me was to treat the job search like a feedback loop. If I wasn’t getting responses, maybe it was my resume or how I was applying. If I wasn’t passing interviews, maybe it was how I was interviewing.

I was applying to jobs locally in Houston when I came across a Frontend Engineer posting for the Houston Rockets on LinkedIn. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d hear back. The Rockets felt like a place a lot of people would want to work, and I assumed the competition would be tough, but I decided to shoot my shot. Three weeks passed with no response, and I assumed I’d been rejected. Then one day, I checked my email and saw a request for an interview. I was shocked. I was excited. I couldn’t believe it.

From there, everything moved very fast. It all feels like a blur of interviews, interview prep, and waiting, but in the end, I landed a role with the Houston Rockets. It still feels crazy to say. Growing up in Houston, the Rockets were always a presence in my life and in the city. I have memories of watching Yao Ming play on TV at home with my dad, who loved basketball.

Did I get a new job this year? Yes. Did I think it would be at the Houston Rockets? Absolutely not—but I’m so happy it was.

Discovering Myself

As I reflected on why I struggled to talk about myself, it created a waterfall effect. I started questioning everything, my goals and why I wanted them. Were these goals actually mine? What did I really want? Why did I act in certain ways? Why did I say things I didn’t mean? Did I even really know who I was?

Two things helped me begin answering those questions: meditating and journaling.

I used to think meditation was about being Zen—breathing in and out and being at total peace. Something monks do. It’s not.

I’m not a meditation expert, so I won’t go in-depth about what it is. Instead, I’ll share my interpretation and what I’ve gained from it. Meditation has helped me become more self-aware of my thoughts, my feelings, my body, and the world around me.

If you’ve ever done a guided meditation (I use Headspace), there’s usually a moment where you’re told to focus on your breath. Your mind wanders, and the guide reminds you that it probably wandered, and that’s okay. You acknowledge it and gently bring your focus back to your breath.

At first, it feels boring. And honestly, it is. But over time, I realized something: I have so many thoughts, and my mind wanders constantly, and I had never noticed before. Another important thing I learned was not to resist my thoughts or feelings, but to recognize them and let them go. Resisting them only gives them more power.

I like the analogy of the sky: imagine you are the blue sky and your thoughts are the clouds. They come and go. They appear and disappear over and over again, but they’re just clouds.

Through meditation, I learned to sit with my thoughts, to observe them for what they are, reflect on them, and then let them go. I’d focus on my breath, the feeling of my fingertips against the surface beneath them, the sounds around me, and the beating of my heart in my chest. In those moments, I became aware that I am alive. It sounds strange, but it's made me aware of my own mortality. One day, I’ll be gone. Someday, the people around me will be gone too. It reminded me to focus on the present moment and not get caught up in the future or the past.

I’d then write all of these thoughts, questions, and realizations in my journal. I realized I didn’t know myself as well as I thought I did, but it’s been incredible getting to know who I am.

New + Fun Things

If you made it this far, thank you for reading my inner thoughts. Now for the adventures of 2025.

• I learned how to cut men’s hair. It started because my boyfriend wanted to save money on haircuts. I bought clippers, trimmers, and an electric shaver and taught myself by watching YouTube videos. It’s been so much fun. I especially enjoy learning how to do fades, and I’m on a mission to achieve the “perfect” fade. I love learning how to blend; it reminds me of sketching with a pencil when I was younger.

• We got real snow in Houston.

• I sprained my ankle for the first time (not fun).

• I went to three weddings—it feels like all my friends are getting married now.

• I took family and friends to Rockets games.

• I attended two tech conferences: RenderATL and Commit Your Code. I visited Atlanta for the first time, saw whale sharks at the aquarium (highly recommend), and hung out with the LGT community at both conferences, meeting people in person for the first time.

• I went to see G-Dragon in Los Angeles.

• I won second place with my team in a pickleball tournament.

Thank you for reading. Cheers to 2025 and welcome, 2026!