Progress Report 2

By Warren Wong

Change like the seasons is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn’t make it easy. As the world is changing around us we can’t help but hunker down and fight against it. Our nature is resistant to change, trapped by routines, and creature comforts.

I’ve been thinking about Forrest Gump’s famous saying, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. It’s like the perfect little saying that describes a  universally understood truth. And then I thought, most chocolate boxes contain a booklet of the chocolates, flavors, and fillings you’re getting. As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Since my last progress report, a lot has changed. The world around us fell into a period of uncertainty and fear. During this time, change was happening in my life too. Leaving the only career I had ever known, starting a blog, then transitioning to a new career was wildly different than anything I imagined. It has been nothing less than a miracle that I landed on my feet.

After leaving my career in the military, my drive across the country, back to my hometown in Queens, New York, was an indescribable feeling. It was a symbolic turning of the page, signaling a new chapter. At the time, I was still reveling in my newfound freedom and not having everything figured out felt fine.

And then, it felt like it wasn’t fine. As friends moved on in their personal lives, and careers, I felt left behind.  And so a period of self-discovery commenced. The last one I had was when I was still a young and afraid college student. This time I felt like a grizzly bear: older, wiser, and not going to put up with B.S.

Ultimately, I decided to transition to a career in tech. I wanted the skills to take part in this exciting time we are in. The technological revolution. And so I became a student once again, teaching myself to program. I was determined to learn this craft. It was a humbling experience.

Technology is the foundation of this revolution we’re currently a part of and code is the building block. That was what I had determined during this period of self-discovery, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

That’s it for this update. I have a few personal projects I’m currently working on and practicing minimalism, travel, and my newfound craft. Until next time.

I’m thinking of doing these more often, but sending them via my newsletter, so make sure to sign up if you’re interested. As always thank you for reading.