Happy Halloween, everyone!
This picture popped up on my phone and transported me straight back to 2019—before the pandemic, when I worked my 40ish hour weeks in Airbnb’s Portland office and had recently started working toward a computer science degree. Our office had an incredible culture, and Halloween costumes were always a highlight of the year!
At the time, I was working full time in Trust Operations, taking computer science classes at Portland Community College, caring for my aging mother with dementia, and preparing for my wedding to my best friend and biggest cheerleader, Diego.
Earlier that year, I’d taken CS 101 in C++. I received high marks on the projects, but I failed every exam and finished the class with a C. I’d built a strong relationship with my professor, Stephanie Allen, and told her I wanted to take the class again. It mattered to me that I mastered the fundamentals before moving on to CS 102.
That fall, Stephanie allowed me to work on projects remotely and come to campus only for exams. The midterm fell on Halloween, so I rode my bike up to campus, walked into the classroom, and took my seat in the front row—as Raggedy Andy.
No one in the room knew me, and even Stephanie didn’t recognize me in the makeup and costume until I walked up to say hello!
Looking back, this memory reminds me why I care so much about loving the process. Of course the grade mattered to me, but even more than the grade, I was dedicated to myself, understanding what I was learning, and giving myself the time to learn it.
Set the long-term goal. Remember your why. Keep showing up for yourself.
Sometimes, in full Raggedy Andy makeup.
