Remember that checklist of goals and accomplishments I want to achieve this 2017? I hope you do because that list is going to be revised—thoroughly. You see, I made that list when I was extremely depressed from not studying in APC anymore. If you take a look at the original checklist, it includes things that I would do if I wasn't studying in APC, such as having a job. However, as I've said before, I am now studying in APC again (thanks to those people, again), and it seems I need to revise that list.
So, without any further ado, here's the list and an explanation below:
- Get a GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Learn how to draw (and learn more art forms/styles).
- Lose (some) excess fat and build (some) muscle.
- Learn how to properly proofread works of literature.
- Learn how to read, write, and speak in Korean.
- Become a better graphic designer.
- Have some kind of romantic encounter, go on, at least, 1 date, and try to court someone. (Romance!)
- Write a good story that I know I've put my all in.
- Go on a trip to somewhere outside of Metro Manila.
- Build the "LifeHub" program or build a somewhat-working prototype.
- Buy an Arduino clone and use it.
- Play Overwatch competitively.
- Make a new series for this blog.
Get a GPA of 3.0 or above
I'm pretty sure this one speaks for itself. I've always wanted a GPA of 3.0 or above ever since the all-English term ended. It's been hard to get a GPA of 3.0 ever since then because my terms have been bundled with subjects that I'm not really good at (like math), and subjects that I'm having to learn and apply (physics), but I'm going to try my best to get a high GPA this term or, hopefully, in the succeeding terms.Learn how to draw
I love seeing people draw! I love seeing drawings and sketches! Oh, and I love learning about new art forms/styles in Photoshop! Ever since I was in my 4th year in high school, I've always wanted to learn how to properly draw and illustrate in Photoshop, but I've always had trouble doing so. I hope that I may properly draw something this year. Also, I wish I can learn about some kind of new art form/style aside from minimalism. Learning minimalism is good, but I know there are more art forms, and sticking to 1 art form all the time is boring. Trying out new stuff is good. Sometimes, branching out can be a good thing.Lose fat and build muscle
This also speaks for itself. I don't want to be the semi-fat guy in class and I absolutely hate having a somewhat-bulky body type. I don't like it, and, since I'm the sole owner of this body, I believe I can do what I want with it, and the first order of business is to burn the fat—and to use it to build the muscle.Learn how to properly proofread
Whether they're my works, or the works of others, I want to be highly proficient in proofreading. It's an extremely important skill to learn, and people should always strive to improve upon this skill—even those who are already fluent in the English language (such as I). I make slip-ups every now and then, and, hey, a little knowledge in proofreading isn't quite bad.Learn Korean
I want to learn the language just because. I don't care if I might never use it in the workplace. I just don't want to pull up the translation file for every SNSD song I play :^)Become a better graphic designer
Like I said about drawing, I highly want to improve upon this skill. Not a lot of people in my field (or, at the very least, in my class) is good in this field, and I'm sure as hell I don't want to hire an ABMA student to make the GUI of my program. Plus, being a graphic designer was one of my goals in life—before I went down the path of computer science. I can still become a graphic designer, and hopefully I'll become a better one this year.Romance!
It's extremely cheesy for me to say this, but IIt's hard to actually admit it, but I am lonely. There are nights when I'd wonder what it would be like to message someone good night, or greet them a good morning and, well, tell her I love her. Plus, I'm curious. I want to experience the feeling of finally being accepted by someone, holding hands with someone in public, watching a movie with someone, kissing, and all that romantic stuff. Even for a while. I'm not made of stone, and, sometimes, I just want to be in the comfort of someone who loves me.
Write a good story
I had tonnes and tonnes of ideas for stories/novels when I was in high school. Some of them were ideas good enough for me to pursue and publish on my Wattpad profile, and some died the moment I thought of them. It's 2017 now and I haven't published a story in almost 2 full years. I also wanted to be some kind of author or writer (an author who publishes stories! Not an author who publishes technical documents!) when I was in high school. I suppose I owe it to my high school self to write a story and publish the entirety of it online—plus points if I make the cover art and back cover of it by myself.Go on a trip
I'm highly sure this will be fulfilled in some way this year. This is obviously the mostly likely one to be crossed off this list as I have several appointments that are supposed to take place outside of Metro Manila (like Camp Calye, for example). I can't wait to get out of the city and go someplace new, seriously.Build the "LifeHub" program
"LifeHub" is a program I just thought of recently. It uses several APIs and links them together. It's a cool idea, to be honest, and I can't believe that nobody has developed something like it before. I can't wait to actually start working on this.Buy an Arduino clone and use it
(For those who don't know, an Arduino or other similar devices, is a kind of single-board computer that has a basic functionality and requires extra modules for extra functionality. You can use it to build a lot of devices such as alarms, water gauges, etc.) I don't really mind if I get a Raspberry Pi, Intel Galileo, ASUS Tinker Board, or any other single-board computer, but I'm happy getting a 700 Peso Arduino knockoff at some shady Philippine store. If it works and if it has installable modules, then it's good for me. I just want to build something myself and use it.Play Overwatch competitively
I LOVE OVERWATCH! Overwatch is my new bae. CS:GO is old and dead to me, and Overwatch is the hero that saved me. I stated in a previous blog post that I acquired Overwatch for free online, and my only problem right now is not having a place to properly play it. My laptop literally can't run it (I get the "no compatible video card" error) and my only viable option is to play it inside a computer shop. I love the game, and everything about it, and it's the only game I seriously want to be good at (aside from SHENZHEN I/O). My current SP rank in the game is 700 (gross, I know), and I have a long way to go until I get to gold or platinumMake a new series for this blog
Finally, I want to make a new series for this blog. Whether its tech reviews, Korean pop music reviews, stories about life in the Philippines, or something, I just want to make a new series for the readers of my blog. I'm sure as hell I don't want to fill this with posts about my problems alone. I want to show people my other sides—that I'm more than just a programmer/aspiring graphic designer/weird, shy kid. I've barely shown people who I really can be and who I aspire to be, and I believe that 2017 is the year I start showing my true colors.Those are all the things I want accomplished this 2017 and, like the list before, I know this is a hard list for someone like me to fulfill, but I'm a small man with large dreams. Sure, I'm highly aware that I might not entirely cross out all of the things listed above, but I have hope. I trust myself to do my best and to cross out most of the things on this list—and I'm not letting anyone stop me from doing so. Well, here goes nothing. At the end of the year, I hope I have already crossed off most of the things there. Now, excuse me, I have a checklist to fulfill.