jessa blog
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Things I did this year before turning 30
All I could remember is that when I get older (I’m still not sure what I really meant by older, but), I’d be able to do the things I wish my five-year-old self could do, such as being part of something bigger. I always thought there was someplace I had to be outside our small town (which… Read more
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How many more screens?
How many more screens can I put in front of my face, competing for my attention simultaneously? There were moments when, while I still had a tab open on my computer (say, an article I was interested in reading), I would allow myself to be distracted by a phone message so that I’d end up… Read more
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I watched the Civil War (2024) movie and it was unsettling
The plot of the Civil War movie was captivating, like how I enjoyed other Alex Garland movies, but in a different way. I felt like I was on the ground with the characters, and sometimes, I found myself clenching my teeth. But it was more like a mental exercise throughout the movie because I can hear myself wondering… Read more
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Shifting social circles
I get attached to a few friends in various life stages, only to be detached when our social circles no longer overlap. We often find it challenging to quell the noise in our heads and manage our hours to get through our workday, much more keeping tabs on all the friends we made throughout the… Read more
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Active vs. passive writing in scientific papers
In high school, we were required to conduct science investigatory projects and write a paper about them. We were also taught how to write a scientific paper and its structure. At that time, we were strictly taught to write in the passive voice because writing in the active voice was considered unprofessional and thus frowned… Read more
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A throwing party
I woke up from a stupor and realized how much trash had accumulated in the house. They did not seem trash to me then, so I kept them. But I think the thing about clinging to stuff because it might be useful later is that time would never come. I’ve kept them for a year… Read more
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Belonging in 30s
While my twenties were more about seeking out what life had in store for me, starting my thirties made me feel a growing need for belonging. It isn’t just about having close friendships, having a sense of roots, feeling valued and respected by colleagues at work (for having valuable contributions), having a sense of shared… Read more
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