November Edition

Back in 2016, I watered a plastic orchid for weeks. Over the past few months, I had begun to feel like that fake plant: decorative and immutable. Instead, I wanted to return to that hilarious moment of realization, in which I felt like a complete fool because I cared for artificial flora, an emotional state I fondly associate with learning. At the end of September, I did something I had never done before: quit my job with nothing lined up.

As a result, I started planning a semi-structured exploration, loosely modelled after my twin sister’s clinical rotations at medical school. Clinical rotations are 4-12 week training periods where students gain practical skills and receive feedback from health care professionals in various specialities, like surgery and internal medicine. I chose to explore digital wellness, public speaking, law, and nontraditional methods of early childhood education as my starting "specialties". Like the function of prototyping in the design and engineering space, I was optimistic that this framework could encourage the increasingly rare combination of real experience with the grace to fail. I’ve captured a few takeaways from October below:

• To further my involvement in the digital wellness space, I helped plan the first-of-its-kind 'Delete Day', with The Anxious Generation, Appstinence, Reconnect, and other organizers through brainstorming event flow, material preparation, tabling, flyering, and facilitation.

• To work on overcoming my fear of public speaking and hone my communication skills, I joined my local Toastmasters chapter and delivered my first ice breaker speech. 

• To more competently participate in conversations I cared about when matters of litigation came up, I started studying for the LSAT, volunteering to provide legal research on a pro bono case, and speaking to lawyers with various interdisciplinary applications of law. 

• To learn more about nontraditional methods of early childhood education, I contacted Montessori schools throughout New York City and have made similar inquiries about homeschooling.

Whether you’re a professor that sparked my curiosity, a mentor that took a chance on me, a caregiver that trusted me to be a part of their child’s journey, or a friend who’s shown me genuine encouragement, my hope is that this monthly newsletter will serve both as a personal thank you and an invitation to continue sharing new insights.  

Until next month!

With immense gratitude,

Judy :)