This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Compiling 2025.
2025 is all about leveling up—investing in myself, learning new things, and working on projects that excite me. My focus this year is on “sharpening the saw,” a concept from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.
Here’s a look at what I have planned for the year ahead.
Growing My Skills
This year, I’m doubling down on learning and filling gaps in my knowledge, especially in tech. Here is how:
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Continuing My Education With Java
I’ve enrolled in Arizona State University’s CSE-110 Java programming course through their Earned Admissions program. As someone without a formal computer science degree, bridging knowledge gaps in software engineering fundamentals—such as data structures, algorithms, and architecture, is important to me. It feels like the right step to level up in my career. I am actually enjoying the course so far. I will admit I was pretty hesitant to take the course because it was written in java but I am liking the course so far.
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Mastering TypeScript
TypeScript has been popping up everywhere in modern development. I want to get more comfortable with it because it’ll help me write cleaner and more reliable code.
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Exploring AI and LLMs
AI is all the rage and ultimately the future of tech, I’ve seen how AI tools like LLMs (large language models) are changing the game. I’m looking forward to learning more about how they work and how I can use them to solve real-world problems.
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Dabbling in Quantum Computing
This one’s more of a “for fun” goal, but I’ve always been curious about quantum computing. I want to dip my toes in and see what it’s all about.
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Certifications and Reading
- ASU’s Java programming course is at the top of my list.
- I’m planning to get a web accessibility certification to create more inclusive digital experiences.
- I’m also reading Platformland: An Anatomy of Next-Generation Public Services. It’s about building better digital public services, which ties directly to my work in civic tech.
Side Projects: Turning Ideas into Reality
Side projects are where I get to experiment and have fun. This year, I’m planning on building an AI-powered sales tool.
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What It Does
The tool will draft sales emails based on proven strategies (shoutout to Chris Voss) and help manage leads with a built-in CMS. It’s a cool mix of my AI interests and skills that I think would serve people well.
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How I’m Making Time
Balancing everything means sticking to a schedule. My mornings start early—5 a.m. workouts, walking the dogs, and tackling my ASU coursework before work. I work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and evenings are for side projects. It’s a packed day, but having a routine keeps me on track.
Career Goals: Making an Impact in Civic Tech
I recently started a new role as a tech consultant for the government, and I’m all in on learning the ropes and finding ways to make a difference in public services.
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Settling Into the Role
This year is about understanding my role better and figuring out how I can contribute to creating smarter, more effective public services.
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Exploring Opportunities
Attending a tech conference would be awesome—something focused on civic tech, AI, TypeScript, or Python. I’m keeping an eye out for one that fits my goals but no solid plans there yet.
Big Picture: Growth Through Systems
If I had to pick one word for 2025, it would be growth. But this isn’t just about setting big goals—it’s about building systems that help me grow every day.
James Clear nails it in Atomic Habits:
“Goals are good for planning your progress, but systems are good for actually making progress.”
To stay on track, I’m using a habit tracker and committing to my routines. Writing this blog post is also a way to keep myself accountable—putting my plans out there makes it harder to back out!
Of course, challenges will come up. Life has a way of throwing curveballs, but I’m ready to adapt and keep moving forward.
2025 is shaping up to be a year of learning, building, and pushing myself to grow. I’m excited for what’s ahead, and I can’t wait to see where these plans take me. Here’s to making it all happen!
I'm curious, what are your goals for 2025?
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