Taking stock of my progress in my work and career, academics, finance, health, relationships, and the things I've learned over the past year.

Twenty-three candles flicker on my cake, casting a warm glow on a year packed with growth and self-discovery. Stepping out of the haze of youth and into the sharper focus of adulthood, I can't help but reflect on the journey so far. This is my first end-of-year introspection, a testament to the growing purpose and intention I've woven into my life.

It wasn't a year without its share of stumbles and setbacks. But while the highlights are tempting to bask in, glossing over the challenges wouldn't paint an honest picture. Turning 18 in April officially granted me adult status, but the truth is, the road to true maturity stretches far ahead. From finances and health to relationships and career, pockets of potential bloom amidst areas ripe for cultivation. This, I realize, is merely the prologue to the grand adventure of adulthood.

What went well — The Good, Wins, and Successes

Here are some of my biggest wins this year:

I started learning UI/UX design at the start of the year (actually back in December 2021, but I started taking it more seriously this year).
I started taking Leet Coding seriously, and I solved about 15 easy questions and 4 medium questions. I was also able to maintain a 25-day streak.
I started earning money this year. I also learned a lot about investing and personal finance. I started investing and saving more money too.
I got serious about coding again and started learning JavaScript from scratch.
I actually built a couple of cool things this year. I built :
I spent Diwali with my family all safe and sound.💕
I started getting a bit more serious with Coding.
I learned a couple of new technologies like React, Next.js and Material UI.
I started learning more about myself and started reading more personal growth books.

What didn't go well — The Bad, Losses, and Imperfections

Here are some of my biggest losses this year:

I lost my so many opportunity due to the carelessness . By the time I revalidated my result and got it remarked, it was already too late.
I got rejected by all the companies I applied to. Most companies didn't even reply because my graduation date was too far (2021), and some they weren't offering . .
Felt like a failure at some point for not getting invited to interviews.🫠
I tried to read many "non-school" books this year but I never had the time to finish most of them. It's either I get distracted by work or something else while trying to read.
I didn't get accepted into the GitHub Campus Expert program, even after putting so much effort into my application.
I maintained a lot of my bad eating and posture habits for most of the year.
After almost 2 months of grinding Leet Code, I started getting burnt out because I couldn't balance it with everything I was doing. I decided to "pause", but I found it hard to get back ever since.
I didn't reach my savings goals because of my poor spending habits.
The stock market showed me crazy siege.😭
I didn't invest enough energy into my social life, and I kept on beating myself up so much about it.
My dedication to career-building and extracurricular pursuits took a toll on my ability to maintain momentum in my academic endeavors.
Spent way too much time on social media, and it really affected my mental well-being.
There were quite a couple of things I wanted to be and achieve this year, but I didn't.🫠

What did I learn — Moving Forward, Plans for 2023

Here are some things I learned:

This year unfolded with a profound lesson: growth isn't a spectator sport. It demands intentionality, a conscious effort to sculpt myself into the person I aspire to be. The stark reality is that adulthood offers no hand-holding; my choices, each and every day, paint the canvas of my becoming.

Another crucial realization dawned: I am more than just the lines of code and the whirring of circuits. Fashion and music, long-held passions, whispered their allure. This year, I vow to silence the doubts and embrace the tapestry of my creativity, venturing beyond the confines of the technical realm.

Here are some of my plans for next year:

My utmost goal for 2024 is to be better than last year

Get beastly at UI design🧑🏿‍🎨
Read at least 1 book every month.
Do my IT at a reputable tech company in India.
Invest in building more meaningful and genuine relationships.
Learn Typescript, NodeJS, Tailwind CSS, Express.js, MongoDB, Framer motion, WebGL, and three.js.
Build something cool with AI or Blockchain
Earn my first million💸💸
Improve my social life, maybe even commit👀
Increase my network and get to know more people
Continue to impact the entire developers' community 🦅
Get into technical writing and release at least 10 articles before the end of the year
Earn in dollars🤑
Become a Expert Developer.
Take my health more seriously
Save up to a million Rupees
Start therapy🫂
Spend more time with family and friends🧑🏿‍🧑🏿‍🧒🏿💕

I'm honestly grateful for all that was, and I can't wait for the amazing things that are to be.

Thanks for reading💕

Reflecting on My 23rd Year: A Personal Review of 2023