about

my japanese journey started nearly three years ago. watching hundreds of hours of japanese content as a kid, and growing an interest in the culture as i became an adult, i decided this would be the perfect long-term goal to dedicate my 20s to. as it stands, i aim to become functionally fluent by the time i hit 30.

i spent three months in japan in 2026, and while i was able to get by everyday situations and have casual conversations, i learned i have a long way to go, which is such an exciting feeling. learning this language has taught me a lot about consistency and managing expectations for long term goals. it has also allowed me to embrace and immerse myself in a new culture.

i am currently working toward conversational fluency and the JLPT N3.

in my early 20s, i finally understood the power of reading. i started by reading manga of my favorite anime and classic literature that i was supposed to read in high school, but over the next few years it evolved into something much more meaningful to me.

i've explored vast sci-fi worlds, indulged in timeless, classic literature, learned about linguistics and philosophy, and most recently, fallen down an incredibly deep digital privacy rabbit hole.

these are aspects of my recent life that i would have never known i cared about if my past self never decided to pick up a book, and i'm grateful they did.

ever since i was a kid i enjoyed making fun videos. as i got older, this fun hobby matured into the creation of multiple youtube channels, video essays, artistic videos cut to music, funny moments with my friends, etc.

i hope one day to pursue this in a more serious manner, whether that be as my own personal brand or as marketing for some sort of product.

music producing, listening, and collecting are all important to me. i used to create music with my high school friends, and it fostered some of my fondest childhood memories. it is one of the best ways to connect with others, and it has been my therapy for as long as i can remember.

i view this hobby as the one i like to learn the most about. there are an infinite amount of rabbit holes to go down, bands and storylines to follow, concerts to go to, and friends to make.

plus i love buying physical media and this is hands down my favorite medium to collect.

i tried this one day when visiting my friend in LA and it has stuck with me ever since. this has replaced skateboarding for me as my social physical activity, and i love how seamlessly it combines both physical and mental exercise into one.

while i don't do it as much as i used to, i enjoy having a hobby that i don't force myself to be consistent with. i just enjoy it whenever i like to.

my friends and i learned how to skate during the pandemic. even once quaratines were lifted, i spent nearly all of my free time learning new tricks, making new friends, and filming myself for a youtube channel.

i was very proud of my progress. i learned more than i thought i could in three years. new tricks were great to get down, but more importantly, i learned how to learn, how to embrace failure, and how rewarding it is to put in the time to reach my goals. i carry these lessons into every new hobby i have picked up since then.

my newest hobby, and one i aspired to learn as a kid. i constantly fall into the trap of trying to monetize my hobbies. i made a point to myself that this would strictly be for fun.

sometimes you don't need to set ambitious goals for yourself. i am guilty of this in every aspect of my life, so i am happy to grant myself this one breath of fresh air.