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End of the Year Meme 2015
So before I go into the end of the year meme, I want to talk a little about the RL stuff that happened this year that led to some of my answers in this meme.
So I went back to college in the beginning of the year because I wanted to develop that intellectual foundation I've always wanted to have. It wasn't what I wanted though, I just loved the seminar where we got to read and talk about classic books and not everything else so now I plan to do that on my own. I'm glad I tried though as I needed to let that part of myself go and accept I'm not the intellectual thinker I wish I was. After I learned that, I had to figure out what comes next (you've been freed) and what career path I should follow. After looking into various paths, I settled on career counseling (specifically for programmers) and decided to move back with my dad while I worked on my skills. After a month or two, I struggled with learning the material and finally decided to take a step back and make sure this is the direction I wanted to go on. After a lot of soul searching, I decided I needed to be honest with myself and even though it was scary to pursue, finally go with my true passion, video editing.
Yep, I've decided to make vidding not just my hobby but do it professionally by editing online video. I'm not interested in film and TV editing (although if something came up that sounded good, I'd be up for it) as I prefer shorter video projects and am not as big of a film/TV fan as would probably be needed to do well. But I think I'm an artist at heart and of all the things to learn and read about, everything related to video editing has always attracted me. I didn't pursue it before for various reasons: feeling like it didn't provide enough of a social impact in terms of film/TV/commercials (my ultimate goal is to make world changing videos), sometimes it's difficult for me to work hard on video editing (I think this is more never learning hard work/grit habits throughout school) and my fear of not being able to make money in a less commercial career. Another issue is that video editing is a large part of my identity so it's scary to really commit myself to trying to do well and then what if I'm not good enough and don't make it? I think it's worth overcoming all those challenges though and I haven't found anything better that I enjoy and considering I've been in love with video editing since I was 15, I think it has staying power. I don't think it'll be easy and I definitely need to stop being so lazy and procrastinating but the choice to try feels really good, my intuition says it's the right thing to do.
I've also been scared that doing video editing professionally would take away the joy of doing it as a hobby and because vidding means SO MUCH to me, it's definitely a risk. But I think aligning my career with my favorite hobby that takes a lot of time and effort for me makes sense as a person with big ambitions. Even if it doesn't work out, at least I'll learn useful skills for vidding and I won't have any what if regrets because I've always wondered if this would work out (and it's good to try while I'm still young). The last couple months I've spent reading some material, practicing tutorials and getting in contact with a few people working in the industry which has been helpful. I definitely need to do more and I'm looking forward to going back to LA next month which I think will help a lot with motivation. It'll definitely make this year tricky in terms of money but I'm willing to work hard this year and as long as I'm making progress in getting a video editing job, I'll do what I have to do. If you have any advice for me, don't hesitate to let me know either in a comment, email or Twitter DM :)
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
SEE HAMILTON LIVE, go to St. John's College, go to Mexico, watch the Stanley Cup, go to Santa Barbara, see American Ninja Warrior live, meet Jesse La Flair and Lucy Romberg, other stuff I'm forgetting?
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope and yes. My resolution is to work on deliberate practice 5 days/week for video editing.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my cousin and other cousin's wife both gave birth to baby girls.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No although my dad's close friend died and that was sad.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico! I saw Rosarito Beach and Tijuana and it was super cool although getting back into the USA was a nightmare.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
A stable career direction with steady skill progression.
7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 18, getting to see Hamilton live for the first time. That whole weekend was amazing in NYC!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Figuring out what I want to do with my life (bonus: seeing Hamilton).
9. What was your biggest failure?
Just money shit in general that I don't want to go into.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really except a few leg soreness weeks where I couldn't exercise and a cold or two.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
HAMILTON TICKET!!! (this is gonna be a theme obviously) Also VVC expenses and family and friend vacations.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Lin Manuel Miranda for being the most amazing human that always makes me smile with his enthusiasm as well as creating my favorite musical that's my biggest current fandom. Also Supreme Court for legalizing gay marriage across the country!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Donald Trump and the Republicans continued mockery of the political process.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, vacation money, college, fitness stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
HAMILTON!!! Vividcon of course, seeing amazing friends in LA and NYC.
16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
Uptown Funk and Sugar. All of Hamilton really.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? A bit sadder
ii. Thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. Richer or poorer? Poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working, learning, vidding, working out, hanging out with friends, dating.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Feeling sad about the past, eating crappy food, spending money.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I watched The Office xmas episode, exchanged presents with family, watched basketball with family, read a bit of Yuletide fic, talked with people.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Hopefully going clubbing with a friend.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No unless you count Hamilton ;)
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
UnREAL and Halt and Catch Fire.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Trump.
26. What was the best book you read?
The best book was probably The Illiad but my favorite was probably The Girl with All the Gifts especially the first 25% of it which had the most amazing relationship between women.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Troye Sivan! Love that kid and his cuteness and emotion and voice and gay music videos :D
28. What did you want and get?
A chance to go to St John's College, figuring out a career path, seeing HAMILTON live, more hanging out with LA and NYC friends.
29. What did you want and not get?
Stable money situation, passing parkour level, romantic love, weight loss.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Carol and Inside Out.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and did a ropes obstacle course, hung out with my friend and went out to lunch with my dad.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Figuring out career stuff earlier or romantic love.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Skinny jeans and T-shirt.
34. What kept you sane?
Friends, vidding, cats, HAMILTON, music in general.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Lin Manuel Miranda and Archie Panjabi.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage and trans rights.
37. Who did you miss?
My mom, friends when I wasn't by them or couldn't talk to them.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
So great to meet my LA fannish friend, Alexis :)
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
Work on deliberate practice for career and don't be afraid to reach out to others for help and networking.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Here's a few:
And there’s a million things I haven’t done
But just you wait, just you wait...
Death doesn’t discriminate
Between the sinners
And the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep living anyway
We rise and we fall
And we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there’s a reason I’m still alive
When everyone who loves me has died
I’m willing to wait for it
I am the one thing in life I can control
I am inimitable
I am an original
I’m not falling behind or running late
I’m not standing still
I am lying in wait
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell my story?
So I went back to college in the beginning of the year because I wanted to develop that intellectual foundation I've always wanted to have. It wasn't what I wanted though, I just loved the seminar where we got to read and talk about classic books and not everything else so now I plan to do that on my own. I'm glad I tried though as I needed to let that part of myself go and accept I'm not the intellectual thinker I wish I was. After I learned that, I had to figure out what comes next (you've been freed) and what career path I should follow. After looking into various paths, I settled on career counseling (specifically for programmers) and decided to move back with my dad while I worked on my skills. After a month or two, I struggled with learning the material and finally decided to take a step back and make sure this is the direction I wanted to go on. After a lot of soul searching, I decided I needed to be honest with myself and even though it was scary to pursue, finally go with my true passion, video editing.
Yep, I've decided to make vidding not just my hobby but do it professionally by editing online video. I'm not interested in film and TV editing (although if something came up that sounded good, I'd be up for it) as I prefer shorter video projects and am not as big of a film/TV fan as would probably be needed to do well. But I think I'm an artist at heart and of all the things to learn and read about, everything related to video editing has always attracted me. I didn't pursue it before for various reasons: feeling like it didn't provide enough of a social impact in terms of film/TV/commercials (my ultimate goal is to make world changing videos), sometimes it's difficult for me to work hard on video editing (I think this is more never learning hard work/grit habits throughout school) and my fear of not being able to make money in a less commercial career. Another issue is that video editing is a large part of my identity so it's scary to really commit myself to trying to do well and then what if I'm not good enough and don't make it? I think it's worth overcoming all those challenges though and I haven't found anything better that I enjoy and considering I've been in love with video editing since I was 15, I think it has staying power. I don't think it'll be easy and I definitely need to stop being so lazy and procrastinating but the choice to try feels really good, my intuition says it's the right thing to do.
I've also been scared that doing video editing professionally would take away the joy of doing it as a hobby and because vidding means SO MUCH to me, it's definitely a risk. But I think aligning my career with my favorite hobby that takes a lot of time and effort for me makes sense as a person with big ambitions. Even if it doesn't work out, at least I'll learn useful skills for vidding and I won't have any what if regrets because I've always wondered if this would work out (and it's good to try while I'm still young). The last couple months I've spent reading some material, practicing tutorials and getting in contact with a few people working in the industry which has been helpful. I definitely need to do more and I'm looking forward to going back to LA next month which I think will help a lot with motivation. It'll definitely make this year tricky in terms of money but I'm willing to work hard this year and as long as I'm making progress in getting a video editing job, I'll do what I have to do. If you have any advice for me, don't hesitate to let me know either in a comment, email or Twitter DM :)
1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before?
SEE HAMILTON LIVE, go to St. John's College, go to Mexico, watch the Stanley Cup, go to Santa Barbara, see American Ninja Warrior live, meet Jesse La Flair and Lucy Romberg, other stuff I'm forgetting?
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Nope and yes. My resolution is to work on deliberate practice 5 days/week for video editing.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my cousin and other cousin's wife both gave birth to baby girls.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No although my dad's close friend died and that was sad.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico! I saw Rosarito Beach and Tijuana and it was super cool although getting back into the USA was a nightmare.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
A stable career direction with steady skill progression.
7. What date from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 18, getting to see Hamilton live for the first time. That whole weekend was amazing in NYC!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Figuring out what I want to do with my life (bonus: seeing Hamilton).
9. What was your biggest failure?
Just money shit in general that I don't want to go into.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really except a few leg soreness weeks where I couldn't exercise and a cold or two.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
HAMILTON TICKET!!! (this is gonna be a theme obviously) Also VVC expenses and family and friend vacations.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Lin Manuel Miranda for being the most amazing human that always makes me smile with his enthusiasm as well as creating my favorite musical that's my biggest current fandom. Also Supreme Court for legalizing gay marriage across the country!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Donald Trump and the Republicans continued mockery of the political process.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, vacation money, college, fitness stuff.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
HAMILTON!!! Vividcon of course, seeing amazing friends in LA and NYC.
16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
Uptown Funk and Sugar. All of Hamilton really.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder? A bit sadder
ii. Thinner or fatter? About the same
iii. Richer or poorer? Poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working, learning, vidding, working out, hanging out with friends, dating.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Feeling sad about the past, eating crappy food, spending money.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I watched The Office xmas episode, exchanged presents with family, watched basketball with family, read a bit of Yuletide fic, talked with people.
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
Hopefully going clubbing with a friend.
22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
No unless you count Hamilton ;)
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
UnREAL and Halt and Catch Fire.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Trump.
26. What was the best book you read?
The best book was probably The Illiad but my favorite was probably The Girl with All the Gifts especially the first 25% of it which had the most amazing relationship between women.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Troye Sivan! Love that kid and his cuteness and emotion and voice and gay music videos :D
28. What did you want and get?
A chance to go to St John's College, figuring out a career path, seeing HAMILTON live, more hanging out with LA and NYC friends.
29. What did you want and not get?
Stable money situation, passing parkour level, romantic love, weight loss.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Carol and Inside Out.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 and did a ropes obstacle course, hung out with my friend and went out to lunch with my dad.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Figuring out career stuff earlier or romantic love.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Skinny jeans and T-shirt.
34. What kept you sane?
Friends, vidding, cats, HAMILTON, music in general.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Lin Manuel Miranda and Archie Panjabi.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage and trans rights.
37. Who did you miss?
My mom, friends when I wasn't by them or couldn't talk to them.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
So great to meet my LA fannish friend, Alexis :)
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.
Work on deliberate practice for career and don't be afraid to reach out to others for help and networking.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Here's a few:
And there’s a million things I haven’t done
But just you wait, just you wait...
Death doesn’t discriminate
Between the sinners
And the saints
It takes and it takes and it takes
And we keep living anyway
We rise and we fall
And we break
And we make our mistakes
And if there’s a reason I’m still alive
When everyone who loves me has died
I’m willing to wait for it
I am the one thing in life I can control
I am inimitable
I am an original
I’m not falling behind or running late
I’m not standing still
I am lying in wait
And when my time is up
Have I done enough?
Will they tell my story?
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