See You Again, Atlanta

Maybe, there's never really a perfect time to say goodbye.

Regardless of how hard I try to get excited over the next thing, or be grateful for every growth this city has given me, nothing can amount to the sadness knowing that everything in this life is so temporary. That every beginning has an end. That you've dived too deep and you've loved so much but now your time is up. It sucks to feel numb, empty, and so ambivalent.

The closer you are to the end, the more you realize that some things are so much harder to let go than the other. But there’s no way for you to hold on to anything.

Opposite of what people would usually expect, the hardest thing for me was to let go of my job. Although there’s no such thing as a perfect work, I loved everything about my job. My first full-time position not only introduced me to my passion in data science and business application, but also to my love for teamwork and work itself. I thank my coworkers for being very supportive and fun to work with, for making me a little obsessed with what we do — sometimes as simply as inventing ways to win our weekly putt-putt. I thank each of my bosses: Jeff, Andy, and Brian — who have taught me well to embrace patience, understanding, and respect beyond skills and grit. I have been very lucky to step in the game with them from my very first day at Target Marketeam. Their integrity to deliver the best results for our clients and deference towards one another in teamwork, leadership, and individual responsibilities inspired me to be a great leader and effective team player.

My company’s purpose driven work for international charities and research centers were knitted in the fabric of their business. They exceed expectations and work diligently towards the overarching vision of our clients, including UNICEF, CARE, Sierra Club, Mayo Clinic, Children’s Health Hospitals, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Human Society of US, and more. I am inspired to someday create a business of my own that seeks out benefits for humanity and the world.

I’ve learned that every dot eventually connects. I’m thankful for the kind of restlessness that I constantly suffer from in the past two years, or maybe since birth. Because of it, I learned so much about myself in ways I could never have imagined. From starting out a Young Professional subchapter in the city to working as the Vice President of Membership and Data Operations at the United Nations Association of Atlanta (UNA), I’ve learned to challenge myself and become a better version of me every single day.

As the youngest member in the Board of Directors at UNA, I’ve gained so much courage and confidence in leading meetings or making executive decisions. I learned through this experience that I wouldn’t be the most effective on-the-ground person, because my talents and energy would be far more potent for behind-the-scene, data-crunching, intellectually stimulating kind of work.

Looking back, the hard days seem to be the most constructive in building our strong character and directing our career path more than the good ones.

I’m very grateful for the family I found in a work setting, who would’ve imagined. Each of them dropped a ladder when I was absolutely convinced I’d hit a wall. They spoke life to me when I thought my big dreams and ambitious itches were a curse. They gave me grace when mistakes were all I seem capable of at times.

Worst of all, they made goodbye the hardest thing I could encounter. I once thought, if life is so fleeting that it only gives an end to everything you love, why would you bother to start loving in the first place.

But deep down I knew that being temporary doesn’t make things matter any less.

Because the point isn’t how long things last, but that it happened. And that you know that you’ve given everything you have and done everything you could to be the best you can be. And since everything is ephemeral, you shouldn’t worry too — because this bad feeling will eventually come to an end.

So enjoy the ride.

Make every single second count.

Live. Fully.

Atlanta, thanks for the beautiful journey (read: for the most challenging yet amazing 20% of my life).

Love,