I started 2025 by choosing a word to represent my year: intentional. I did my best to live by it, especially during moments that required resets I did not plan for. Instead of reacting to everything around me, I focused on being deliberate with my time, energy, and growth.
Looking back, that choice shaped how the year unfolded. Staying intentional helped me keep showing up, keep learning, and keep building, even when things felt slower or unclear. What 2025 gave me in return was character development and a clearer sense of direction.
Here are some of the moments and milestones that shaped my year, in no particular order.
Earned My AWS Certification
After thinking about AWS for almost three years, I finally earned my AWS certification in 2025. Two years earlier, I attempted the Developer exam and did not pass. Looking back, it was not one single reason. I had skipped some fundamentals, underestimated the preparation needed, and did not take care of myself on exam day. I went in without eating properly, was not well hydrated, and the in-person testing environment was distracting, with people constantly coming and going.
Instead of pushing through until the end, I gave up and failed by just a few points.
When I tried again, I approached it intentionally. I went back to the fundamentals, started with the Cloud Practitioner exam, prepared properly, and did many practice tests. I also made sure I ate, stayed hydrated, and chose a quiet library room for the exam. I learned that progress is not always about pushing harder. Sometimes it is about preparing better and setting yourself up to succeed. I passed.
Started My Second MSc
In 2025, I started my second MSc program and maintained a 4.0 GPA across every semester. This required consistency, discipline, and intentional prioritization alongside work, learning, and personal commitments.
The courses I completed included Cloud Computing, Database Systems, Business Intelligence, Systems Analysis and Design, Analyzing and Visualizing Data, and Human-Computer Interaction and Usability. Together, these courses strengthened how I think about scalable systems, data-driven decision making, and translating business needs into technical solutions.
Started LeetCode, Finally
I started practicing LeetCode, something I had avoided for a long time. Instead of waiting to feel ready, I decided to start where I was. That mindset shift mattered more than any single problem solved, and I plan to share more about this journey in a future post.
Focused on Reading and Continuous Learning
From November to December, I finished two books: Do It Scared and Essentialism. Alongside that, I made strong progress in several technical books, including Designing Data-Intensive Applications, System Design Interview: An Insider’s Guide, Data Structures and Algorithms in Java, and Java Performance: The Definitive Guide.
On the non-technical side, I read The First 90 Days, which I believe is a must-read for anyone in career transition or thinking about stepping into leadership.
Became More Connected With the Tech Community
At the beginning of 2025, my involvement in the tech community was very limited. I was only attending Java Metroplex User’s Group (JavaMUG), and that was the extent of my participation.
After August 2025, that started to change. I began attending Google Developer Group Southlake (GDG), which became a turning point for me. I attended four GDG events, and for the first time, I felt consistently connected to a technical community.
That momentum led me to attend my first tech conference through Commit Your Code (CYC). Through CYC, I found not only in-person connections but also an active online community. I participated in challenges like #100DaysOfCode and #DevFit, which helped me stay consistent and accountable during times when learning on my own felt isolating.
A fun bonus of showing up consistently was winning four different raffle prizes across four months, each from different meetups. It was a small reminder that participation often comes with unexpected rewards.
From there, the ripple effect took shape. Through GDG and CYC, one connection led to another. I joined Let’s Get Technical (LGT), where I participated in a book club and ongoing technical discussions. I also joined Torc, where I connected with professionals and continued learning through shared experiences and conversations. Together, these communities made learning feel more structured, social, and sustainable.
Learned Through Workshops
As I became more involved in the tech community, I attended three technical workshops focused on practical learning. These included workshops by Hazelcast, MongoDB, and Vonage, each offering hands-on insight into distributed systems, databases, and communication APIs.
Raffle prize from the Hazelcast workshop
Stepped Into Leadership Through Toastmasters
I attended Texas Tech Talk Toastmasters as a guest two or three times before officially becoming a member in October. Initially, my focus was on building confidence, improving communication, and showing up consistently.
As I became more involved, I started the Presentation Mastery Pathway and began Level One. I delivered my Ice Breaker speech on December 17. While preparing for it, I wrote two different options. One became my first blog post, and the Ice Breaker speech itself was later published as my second blog post. That process helped me realize how much clarity comes from writing things out.
By the end of December, just two months after becoming a member, I was nominated and selected to serve as Vice President of Membership. In this volunteer role, running from January 1 to June 30, I’ll focus on supporting member growth, engagement, and retention within the club. Stepping into this role reminded me that consistency and showing up are noticed.
Built Consistency Through Duolingo
A friend challenged me to start using Duolingo, and what kept me consistent was not just the app itself, but the accountability tied to it. If I missed a day and had to restart, it would affect our virtual challenge.
Over time, Duolingo changed my mindset around consistency. The idea that if I did not complete my task by midnight, I might have to start over pushed me to show up daily, even on busy or tired days. That mindset gradually carried into other areas of my life.
Built a Fitness Habit
My fitness consistency was influenced by the community around me. Through Commit Your Code (CYC), I joined the #DevFit challenge, where members encouraged each other to stay active alongside learning.
Between November 6 and December 31, a total of 55 days, I stayed active for 44 days. This was not about perfection. It was about showing up regularly and keeping promises to myself.
Started a Weekly Writing Habit
I published my first blog post on December 15 and committed to writing weekly. This became my fifth post, and along the way I discovered that I genuinely enjoy writing and sharing my ideas.
Writing regularly helped me process what I was learning, clarify my thinking, and reflect more deeply on my journey. This habit was inspired by a keynote speech on the second day of the Commit Your Code conference, which encouraged reflection and turning experiences into lessons worth sharing.
Took a Road Trip While Staying Consistent With Learning
Toward the end of the year, my friends and I went on the longest road trip we had taken so far, a 22+ hour drive from Dallas to Sacramento.
During the drive, I went through technical videos I had been postponing for years, and the long interstate roads helped the ideas sink in. Since I was not the driver, I was able to rest and sleep between parts of the drive, which helped me stay balanced throughout the trip.
In the evenings, I completed my daily challenges and tasks from hotel rooms, while making sure I was well rested for the next day’s trip. Even while traveling, I stayed consistent with studying and learning.
Along the way, we stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we rode the Sandia Peak Tramway, reaching an elevation of about 10,378 feet. From there, we continued to Page, Arizona, visiting Upper Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, then drove through Las Vegas, Nevada, where we visited the Hoover Dam.
The final stretch from Las Vegas to Sacramento was long and tiring, highlighting the importance of finishing what you start.
Once in California, we explored Avenue of the Giants, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Napa Valley, Sonoma, and San Francisco.
There were many moments this year that may not look big from the outside, but they mattered deeply.
Looking back, I can confidently say that 2025 was a year of character development.
Not just in the milestones, but in the habits behind them.
I’ll keep building on this, intentionally.
One of our stops at Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona
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