This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Compiling 2025.
Introduction
2024 was the year I set my foundation, navigating internships, contracts, and learning opportunities while balancing challenges in college and life. Now, 2025 is here, and I’m stepping into The Year of Growth 🌱. This is the year I take bold steps toward becoming the well-rounded software engineer, and musician I’ve envisioned. Here’s how I’m planning to make it happen!
🎯 Main Goals for 2025
🖥️ Become a Better Software Engineer
- Deep dive into Full-Stack Development: JavaScript, TypeScript, ReactJS, and Node.js.
- Build practical projects while mastering design patterns and runtime concepts.
🎹 Excel as a Musician
- Strengthen keyboard skills: ear training, soloing, and exploring music technology like VSTs and DAWs.
- Expand both local (Ghanaian worship styles) and foreign (advanced chord progressions) repertoires.
💬 Enhance Communication Skills
- Refine articulation, presentation skills, and tone to improve speaking presence.
🎓 Succeed Academically
- Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.4 with consistent performance.
💼 Secure Professional Experience
- Obtain a full-time role or freelance gigs to enhance industry exposure.
📅 Quarterly Quest (Jan – March 2025)
Morning Manifesto
"I am a great and renowned software engineer, architect, and musician through Christ who strengthens me. 🙌"
Focus Areas
🖥️ Software Engineering: Full-Stack Development
-
JavaScript (JS)
- Study runtime concepts: execution context, event loop, and transpilers.
- 📖 Resource: You Don’t Know JS (YDKJS).
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Build a project using advanced runtime concepts.
-
TypeScript (TS)
- Understand its use for type safety and transpilation.
- 📖 Resource: TypeScript Handbook.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Refactor an existing JS project into TS.
-
ReactJS
- Master design patterns, state management, hooks, and reusable components.
- 📖 Resource: React Design Patterns by Michele Bertoli.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Build a feature-rich web app using reusable components.
-
Node.js
- Learn advanced patterns and middleware.
- 📖 Resource: Node.js Design Patterns.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Build a REST API with Node.js and Express.
🎹 Musician: Keyboardist and Music Technologist
-
Ear Training
- Local focus: Ghanaian worship & praise (horns/trumpets, advanced voicings).
- Foreign focus: 251 and 736 progressions.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Transcribe 5 songs (3 local, 2 foreign).
-
Music Technology (MuTech)
- Explore VSTs and DAWs for music production.
- Tools: FL Studio or Ableton Live.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Produce one instrumental track using DAWs.
💬 Communication Skills
- Record and review presentations to refine articulation, tone, and voice projection.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Deliver a 3–5 minute presentation on a technical topic.
🎓 College
- Allocate daily study hours for core courses.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Complete assignments on time and prep early for exams.
💼 Job
- Polish resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Start applying for full-time roles and freelance gigs.
- 👉 Key Deliverable: Secure 3 interviews or freelance opportunities.
Looking Ahead
2025 is a year of intentional growth—professionally, creatively, and personally. With faith, focus, and consistent effort, I believe I can achieve everything I’ve set out to do. 🚀
✨ Let’s make this year amazing! 🎉
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