At the start of age 23, I was largely underemployed. No swanky job at a hotshot company, no grad school, no round-the-world romps or Peace Corps volunteering. But I did get to be a barista during the early mornings. If you were a frequent visitor to the Peet’s Coffee on Castro Street in Mountain View last year, there’s a good chance I made your latte or cappuccino and charged you four bucks for it.
In the afternoons and evenings, I held a part-time gig in research for mobile app & web designs, where I had a taste of remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle. Work anywhere you want! Work from the coffeeshops! Work from the beach! (Just kidding, San Jose suburbs for me). It ended up being a constant hunt for public power outlets. Then I found a research internship with a company that asked for animated GIFs in lieu of a cover letter.
All the while I was living at home rent-free with family. In the Bay Area, it’s considered the responsible choice to move in with family when you’re first starting your career due to the ballooning housing prices. I was too prideful to view it that way, but not so prideful I wouldn’t scarf down homecooked meals and enjoy Mom and Dad’s love and support.
One year later, my life seems peachy keen on paper. I’m living on my own in a cozy studio apartment above a bakery. I pay my own rent and utilities, which feels lovely and not-so-lovely at the same time. And my first two breakfasts as a 24-year-old were pumpkin pie and ice cream. I can thank Colleen and the Thanksgiving holidays for that.
Moving out to Palo Alto on my own was a good choice. I appreciate home visits to San Jose a lot more, and I’m grateful to still have the chance to spend time with Mom and Dad as an adult. Plus I save two hours each day on commuting to my new job in Mountain View.
In San Diego, Prof. Jim Hollan usually spends the first lecture of his classes with this presentation: “General Advice for Students”. One of my favorite lines: “Do what you love (that’s easy) and love what you do (that’s the challenge).”
Here’s a slightly different phrase: having what you want is easy, wanting what you have is harder.
Do I want what I currently have? I’d like to think so. I love the newfound independence, and the research work I do with Google Assistant + Maps is fascinating, all-consuming even. (Dealing with product lawyers, too. Although those dealings tend to come packaged with heart palpitations for me).
Most of my waking hours and thoughts revolve around my career and work. I’ve become a workaholic, even for Silicon Valley standards. I am less proud of this. It hasn’t affected any friendships and relationships yet, but I can feel my health deteriorating. Waking up with stomach acid is not fun. So uh, that needs to change.
My research contract ends soon. It lasts six months, and I’m already four months in. I don’t know what will happen next, but if I prioritize interestingness over stability and safety over the next year, I think I’ll continue enjoying the ride. Even if it is a bit bumpier.
