Learning to Glide
Above is a picture I bought for my office when I had just started out at MIIS. I propped it up in the corner and told myself I would hang it on the wall when I had energy and I felt like I had a hang of things. Well, I still don’t feel like I have energy, but I felt good enough to finally hang the picture up on the wall. Looks like I’ve got a handle on things, then?
Jokes aside, I do feel as though I’ve come to a sustainable point in my journey at MIIS. That isn’t to say I don’t have way too many things to do and not enough time to do them, I feel that will always be the case; I just feel like I know what I’m doing now. I know how to participate in class, I know how to do my homework, and I know how to talk to my classmates on Teams. My grades are great and I’m learning something cool every day. Even my greatest fear, being an entirely remote student, hasn’t really turned out to be a big deal. Sure, I would love to be able to join in some of the social events and chat with my classmates in person, but I’m making the most of my situation. One of my friends mentioned the other day that most students and professors know who I am because I have a pretty good Zoom presence. Honestly, hearing that felt like a huge relief.
In other words, I’m out of free-fall and I’ve begun to glide. I won’t say that I’m flying just yet, but I’m not falling. Here’s where that analogy comes from, by the way.
Cool Things I’ve Done so Far
- Made this website!
- Made a bootstrap template to practice building websites
- Learned how to use Trados and CAT tools in general
- Learned how to program in python and javascript
- Learned common localization and translation workflows
- Learned several methods for project management and created a series of templates for project management
- Wrote an essay in Japanese about soft power
- Presented on the history of manga pre WWII
- Learned how to design for international audiences and avoid common cultural and language pitfalls when designing internationally
- Learned the basics of design by reading 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People, The Design of Everyday Things, and Don’t Make Me Think!
- Made a ton of new colleagues and friends!