Claire's Update #2 : Settling in
"Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity"
Hiiiiii
Wow! Thank you guys for the support on the last entry . It gave me a lot of motivation to write this next entry knowing you guys are here!
This week has been pretty crazy, so sitting down to write this is a great opportunity for me to reflect.
So grab your tea and lets chat 🍵
🚞 First Solo Public Transportation Adventure
My friend had some free tickets and invited me to the Bumbershoot music festival! It's apparently a big annual event in Seattle, so I felt really lucky to attend so soon after moving here.
However, when I realized I’d have to make my way back to my dorm alone, I got pretty nervous. Growing up in LA, public transportation mostly meant Ubers and traffic. Even when I used public transport outside the city, I always had a family member or friend with me. As a kid, I often got lost—even in places as contained as Target. I always joke that I’m “directionally challenged,” but honestly, I do have a terrible sense of direction.
Still, I felt it was time to tackle this fear and figure out how to navigate the city on my own without relying on others. In one go, I managed to learn how to use the Light Rail and monorail! Huge thanks to my amazing friend Mary, who patiently walked me through Google Maps in just five minutes and stayed on the phone while I figured things out. You’re the best, girl!
This experience gave me the courage to explore U-Village on my own the next day. I found an amazing café there and spent a lovely morning eating and doing some work. It was also the first time I took myself out on a date! It felt refreshing. Taking the first step is always hard, but it usually leads to a domino affect.
😣 Chaos in Buildspace
As Buildspace came to an end, my team scrambled to figure out the next steps for maintaining our community. We’re planning to launch a newsletter and an official update soon, but in the meantime, we’ve had disagreements about the project’s direction. Some members even left the organization. It was a pretty stressful period, but it reminded me that challenges come in waves. You never really know whether something is good or bad until the story is fully written. Tough times also reveal who’s truly by your side. This experience has taught me not to jump to catastrophic conclusions and to keep a level head.
🎹 A Little Time with the Piano
There are moments when I get so caught up in life that I forget to reach out to people. I often confuse reacting with reaching out. These past two weeks were one of those times where I felt more reactive than proactive. I’d respond to texts (albeit poorly), but hesitate to initiate conversations with my friends. It takes a lot of mental energy for me to do so. So, when my friend called me out of the blue on Friday to share some piano songs he’d learned, I was too tired to talk, but listening to Sam play while I quietly listened made me feel proud and grateful for the people I have in my life.
A call with a good friend of mine, Mishaal, really helped me prioritize what it means to have my compass pointed in the right direction and to protect my inner peace. I completely agree with her that “we should not be perpetually available to other people.” Taking time to be with myself allows me to spend quality time with my friends when I’m ready.
Please keep reaching out, as always :)
Pivoting
I’m editing my next video, which will be published soon. During my first week of college, I was running around with my camera, capturing all
the memories. My goal was to make a “first week at university” video, but as I edited it, I realized the footage was disjointed, shaky, and all over the place. While I try to follow the 80% rule (where creators aim to publish content at 80% completion because perfecting the other 20% can prevent us from ever releasing work), I just didn’t like the video. So, on Friday night, I was inspired to try a different format that would allow me to use much of the footage while maintaining my sanity.
I have friends who are also into YouTube and content creation who have been pushing me to keep going. Watching them chase their goals motivates me to do the same.
Bad Habits to reflect on
I'm excited to add this section to my newsletter. It's a great way to hold myself accountable and stay mindful of what I need to work on.
Lately, I’ve been struggling with micro-doomscrolling. While I’m no longer doomscrolling for hours like I did a few months ago, it’s turned into a habit of doing it in small bursts, especially during transition moments. For instance, as soon as I get back to my dorm after a long day, I find myself immediately grabbing my phone and scrolling aimlessly before switching to my next tasks.
🎶 Music of the Week!
🎙️ Podcast of the Week!
This is my favorite section. The podcast I’m sharing this week really shifted my mindset about how I approach my projects. Podcasts like this are why I love listening to them—they fill your mental archive with solid advice you can revisit whenever you need a reminder. One of my favorite quotes from this episode is, “People need to be reminded more than they need to be instructed.” I absolutely love that.
It helps reinforce the mental fortitude I’ve been building, which allows me to face challenges head-on when they arise. I think of it as a form of hazard prevention. I will definitely be revisiting this episode soon. There is always so much to unpack!
📚 Books I am reading
This book was recommended by my good friend Corey. It sat in the back of my mind until I walked into a bookstore and serendipitously came upon it. I’ve always been hyper-sensitive to the emotion of "awe” growing up (it’s probably why I cried so much as a kid). Learning about how to embrace it has allowed me to notice and appreciate more things in my life.
💌 Thank yous
This section idea is inspired by my good friend Mishaal (her newsletter is down below)
Just like her, if I were to write out how grateful I am for to have every individual in my life, then the entry will never end. However, this is just my little attempt to appreciate everyone.
Alex M: For always providing unwavering mentorship, guidance, and enthusiasm in my life.
Alex W: For your kindness.
Aunt Jean: for providing a safe sanctuary in this city
Avery: For showing me around the city and being an incredible TKD athlete.
Basil: For your determination and amazing creativity
Carter: For the awesome food and intriguing conversations.
Corey: For your superpower of making everyone feel seen.
David: For your advice and being a source of inspiration.
Demi: For your wild energy and questionable life decisions.
Dennis: For your perseverance and contagious enthusiasm.
Henry: For being on the same wavelength.
Ilakkiya: For your crazy stories and enormous yellow Stanley
Khush: For the serendipitous friendship.
Quincy: For watching over me, always ready for a great convo
Leilani: For the fun you bring every day.
Lizzy: For the never failing to make people laugh
Ms. Levie: For your support and guidance
Maria: For your generosity.
Marmik: For amazing philosophical discussions and perspectives. The walk around SF was awesome.
Mary: For your sass and blessing me with your presence.
Max Y: For being the best big bro, and always believing in me.
Max M: For taking a chance on our team.
Mishaal: For being a great reminder of the kind of person I aspire to be. Thank you for checking in!
Natalia: For your endless kindness.
Oliver V.: For being just a text away and teaching me the importance of passion in one’s craft.
Rebecca: For being a reliable, dependable, and loving source of inspiration.
Sam: For checking in and sharing your joys with me.
Samantha: For welcoming me to university.
Sofia: for jumping right back like we haven’t just gone 3 months without talking
Vipata: For being an awesome teammate and friend
Ximena: For indulging in our crazy fantasies, and being a letter buddy!
Yi Fan: For your attention and sincerity.
Loved it Claire !This so good to see your growth :0)