It’s been just over a year since I finished everything at UBC (early August 2024), and almost a year since I moved away from BC (September 2, 2024). In some ways, it feels like no time has passed at all, but when I really think about it, my life has changed quite a lot in that span.
This post is my attempt to look back, chronologically and thematically, at what’s changed over the past year.
Career Progression
When I first started working at Deloitte on the ElectrifiedGrid team, I didn’t feel like much of a contributor. Looking back, I think my team was spending more time trying to find me ad hoc tasks than it would have taken them to do those things themselves. That was part of the training process, but it also made me feel like I wasn’t adding real value.
Fast-forward to now, and things feel very different. I’ve become what I’d consider a true contributor. I’ve taken on big, high-impact tasks and executed them well. And now, I’m working on other modules and features (some standalone, some affecting the entire product) that I find just as impactful, if not more. It feels good to have moved from “extra pair of hands” to “actual contributor.”
Hobbies & Personal Life
Outside of work, I’ve been keeping up with volleyball. Back in grad school, I was part of the VSE volleyball team, originally just master’s students, but now even PhD students and faculty play. That’s pretty cool.
Over the past year, I’ve been playing at slightly lower levels. The truth is, if I want to improve, I need to play at the edge of not being good enough. But most of the time, I’ve been the best player on my teams, which has probably held me back. It’s time to stop feeding my ego and start challenging myself properly if I really want to get better.
I’ve also been reading a lot. My favorite book this year was East of Eden. It started slow, but I loved how it followed multiple families and built toward a strong ending. I’ve realized I really enjoy long, sprawling stories with satisfying conclusions.
And yes, I’ve made a lot of pizza. The pizzas have been really good. Simple joy, but one that’s kept me grounded. I’ve also made some new friends along the way, not a huge circle, but a few good ones.
On a sadder note, the day before my birthday we had to put down my family dog, Max. It was expected, so it wasn’t a shock, but some days it still gets to me. He was a good dog.
Fitness & Self-Image
This has probably been the biggest visible change. When I moved back to Toronto last September, I weighed around 190–195 lbs. Today, I’m sitting between 160–162 lbs.
That weight loss was intentional. I’ve been eating in a way that keeps me at one meal a day as often as I can. It hasn’t been comfortable, but it’s worked. And it’s probably the leanest I’ve been since 2021.
Still, I’m not fully satisfied. For the first time, there are moments when I see myself in the mirror, under the right lighting, at the right angle, and think, “I actually look above average.” That’s new for me, and it’s a step forward.
But the comments from family “you’re getting too thin” don’t sit well. One of my brothers, naturally lean and athletic, never hears that. It feels less like concern and more like unfamiliarity with me being slimmer. And it frustrates me. Because I know I’m not “too thin.” I’m just closer to where I want to be, but not there yet. Maybe in another year, I’ll feel genuinely satisfied. I hope so.
Mindset & Time Passing
The year has gone by fast, faster than I’d like. It makes me sad to think that maybe this is how the rest of life will feel: time flying, years blurring together. And part of me fears I’ll just accept it and not change anything.
There are things I want to work on: lowering body fat, keeping work meaningful, improving in volleyball, becoming better at interpersonal skills, even just being more comfortable with myself. But no matter what I achieve, it feels like it’s never enough. That’s a recurring theme in my life, and in this blog.
Still, when I zoom out, I know that if my past self had seen where I’d be today, he’d be thrilled. It’s easy to forget that.
Looking Forward
Looking ahead, there are a few things I want to focus on:
- Continue losing body fat (not just weight).
- Keep enjoying my work and hopefully grow even more in my role.
- Push myself to actually improve at volleyball, not just maintain.
- Travel more, I used to hate it, but now I want to see new places. The challenge is my aversion to spending money on anything over $100. That’s something I need to work on.
- Maybe get back into chess, though I doubt I’ll practice enough to really improve.
Closing Thoughts
A year ago I had just wrapped up grad school. Since then, I’ve settled into a job where I’m actually contributing, I’ve lost a lot of weight, I’ve kept up with volleyball and reading, and I’ve had some fun making pizza and spending time with new and old friends.
The year went by fast, maybe too fast, but when I look back it’s clear that things have shifted quite a bit. I don’t feel satisfied yet, I doubt I ever really will, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m in a much better place than I was a year ago.
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