2013 was a huge year for this blog – I finally transitioned to a self-hosted WordPress blog with a brand new look and feel and personal domain name. This was something that I’d wanted to do for a long time, and seemed to be the most logical endpoint when I first started on the WordPress blogging platform. I’m glad I made the switch and now I’m enjoying blogging as much as before, and even more!
2013 was also a huge year for me personally, from sharing my life as a final-semester senior in college to documenting my post-grad backpacking trip through Europe to posting updates on my new post-college working life. Since it’s still the first month of 2014, I think it’s a good opportunity to look back at the previous year for this blog and highlight the top posts of 2013.
These posts are my top 10 most-read posts, in descending order, on a myriad of topics and events. I’m very proud of the work showcased here, but more importantly, I believe that my efforts would go to waste if other people aren’t able to read or enjoy the posts. Each link will have a short description or commentary on my thoughts – hope you enjoy!
1. Berkeley Professor Sends Inspiring Email
Sometimes, a random post you stumble upon on the Internet is just too good to not share. Reading this letter, I felt so many emotions and appreciated the professor’s genuine care for and understanding of the millennial generation. It encouraged me and judging from the response from people around the world, encouraged many, many others, young and old, as well.
2. In Loving Memory of Sandy Kimber
The passing of several dear friends, including Sandy, taught me much about the beauty and transient nature of life on earth. I will always be grateful to my friend and teacher for teaching me so much about love and integrity, and I will continue to think about the good times, as I do frequently these days.
3. Q&A with Instagram Founders Kevin Systrom & Mike Krieger
One awesome perk from living in the Bay Area and attending a university such as UC Berkeley is having easy access to many events and talks with influential people in the tech industry. Seeing the co-founders of Instagram in person and listening to their amazing story made me realize the amount of hustle that goes into any successful endeavor.
4. First Day of Work (Pics)
This is a shorter post, mostly a chance to put some pictures up documenting my first day of full-time work. It’s been an amazing (and crazy) six months, with lots of ups and downs, but I’m happy to say that I’m still learning lots and working on interesting and challenging problems. This seems to be a good area for future blog posts, so stay tuned!
5. Radiohead: Breakdown of Favorite Songs (Paranoid Android, Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Street Spirit)
During my final semester at UC Berkeley, I was finally able to get into a DeCal (student-run) class on my favorite band, Radiohead. I had been trying to get into this DeCal since freshman year, so imagine my excitement when I found out I had finally gotten in! That semester, we delved into the songs, lyrics, and music videos of Radiohead, and this post contained the final essay that I submitted.
6. Guide to Apartment Hunting in San Francisco + My Experience
My current roommate Ben and I gave ourselves a week to find an apartment. We found one in two days and signed the lease in four. Looking back, I realized just how lucky we’d been – we were basically in the right place at the right time. Still, good fortune is often the result of setting ourselves up for it, and this guide will be helpful for anyone interesting in moving into the city in the coming months.
7. What’s Up | 09/11/13 | Getting Settled in SF + Thoughts on Ambition, Life, Death
This was one of my longer and more “heady” posts – transitioning to a new stage in life leads to so many new experiences, questions, and thoughts. This piece was basically my outlet to reflect and recount my first month of work, as well as some bigger-picture questions and themes.
8. Final Thoughts on My Four Years at UC Berkeley
Sometimes when I write, I will put everything that I have into the words that flow out onto the screen. At the start of this post, I was tired and hitting writer’s block, with no idea how to approach writing it. Then as I pictured myself back as a freshman, I felt a flash of inspiration and the results just came out. Still, I was physically and emotionally exhausted by the end of writing this, but I’m pleased with the results.
9. Working and Spending: More Thoughts on Money
I still read Raptitude quite frequently, and this particular post really made me think about how I was going to spend my new-found source of income. Although I can’t say I’ve done an amazing job in saving money and making fewer purchases, I’m trying hard to move towards the ideal set in the original blog post written by David.
10. EuroTrip 2013 | Recap + Reflections
Backpacking through Europe remains one of my favorite memories of 2013. I still think about the trip all the time and I miss it every time I think about it. This post provides a good summary of my entire month on the road, including the major highlights in each country as well as a breakdown of my finances, routes, and distance traveled.
I’ve realized that 2014 will likewise be a huge year, but in a different sense. This will be a year of learning and observing, an opportunity to try new things, fail frequently, but come out a better person. Here’s to the next twelve months and beyond!
Ask Me Anything!
Guest Post!
Move over, 2013 at www.RandomTidbitsofThought.com.
