The past few months have been busy, thanks to an early spring rush in the rental real estate market. But last week, as my schedule lightened and I found myself with more time on my hands, my mind began to wander… With my spring semester of classes wrapping up, I imagined I’d have even more free time this summer. And as someone who loves being time-efficient, I started brainstorming ways to make the most of it. One prominent idea? Getting a part-time job… dun dun dun.

Two semesters, lots of hands-on projects, and a group of handy friends later, I officially have an Associate’s Degree in Construction!

These past few days, I’ve been filled with so much gratitude and love for life. After a much-needed restful winter, I’m shifting gears toward a busy spring—and I feel ready for it. In reflecting on the past few months, I had a simple yet powerful realization: I love my life!

Furniture Making & Woodworking

For years, I was curious about woodworking and had a feeling I would enjoy crafting with my hands. This semester, I finally got the chance to explore it through this course! Designed to prepare students for entry-level work or enhance existing skills, the class covered a wide range of topics: safety procedures, furniture design, hand and machine tools, materials identification and applications, fabrication processes, and project planning. I’m amazed by everything I was able to create in just one semester!

As the New Year rolled around, we are now in it – 2025. Many have gone back to work, ready to charge forward, make plans, set resolutions, and launch into the year with a bullish energy.

One of the biggest changes since leaving the corporate world has been the shift in my mental health. In the past, I was surrounded by self-minded people, corporate politics dominating every interaction, constant “tech talk”, and a feeling of mistrust toward management. My energy was split between maintaining my place in an industry that didn’t resonate with me and quietly nurturing dreams that felt too distant for reality. This tension built up over the years, manifesting as unhappiness, frustration, and a growing sense of misalignment with who I truly was.

While on vacation in France, I indulged in so many fresh baguettes and pastries. Since returning home, I’ve been craving that same fresh quality, but without the hefty grocery store prices and unnecessary ingredients. So, I decided to give bread baking another try and refine my skills until it becomes second nature – something I can easily fit into my weekly routine. Honestly, nothing compares to a fresh loaf straight from the oven so it’s a worthwhile pursuit!

Last week, I returned from my vacation in France – my sixth visit and fourth time traveling solo there. With my background in French from college, I feel comfortable navigating the country on my own. There’s an energy in France that draws me in; I feel happy, calm, and at ease there. That’s why I chose to spend part of this trip reflecting on my life.

I’ve had a long hiatus from baking sourdough bread. Last year’s chaotic schedule and my dormant starter sitting in the fridge kept me from fitting baking into my routine. However, with my summer class now over and a renewed interest in self-sufficiency, I found the inspiration to start baking bread again. Unfortunately, my dormant starter had turned moldy and unusable. I tried to cultivate a new starter using a dry starter mix, but the fermentation activity never took off.

Continuing a strong spring semester, I decided to enroll in a remote AutoCAD course for the summer. The fully online format allowed me to maintain a flexible schedule for summer activities. The class was intensive, covering an entire semester’s worth of content in just six weeks. Thankfully, I had a friend in the class who kept me accountable each week. This was my first summer session, and now that I’ve experienced it, I would definitely consider taking more summer classes in the future!