now

Student assistant at the National Institute of Aviation Research, working as an AFP operator. It’s a pretty cool job — sometimes I’m laying up a simple carbon fiber flat panel, sometimes it’s inlet ducts or exhaust pipes for an actual aircraft program. I never fully know what’s coming through the door, and I like that.

I just ran my first half marathon and I’m fully committed to running now. Haven’t officially signed up yet, but a full marathon is happening — that much I’ve decided. Working out in general has become a non-negotiable. It clears my head more than anything else.

Guitar is still going. I picked it up last year because I’d always wanted to learn an instrument — the kind of thing I kept putting off until I just stopped. I’m definitely not where I want to be yet, but I’m having fun, and that’s the most important part.

The last thing I’m working on is building my personal brand — which sounds more polished than I mean it. What I actually want is to put myself out there, share what I’m thinking about, document what I’m doing, and meet people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Make connections. Create some opportunities that don’t already exist on a job board.