2022

Here we go, yet again, setting another year of goals. I wrote a piece around this time last year about my goal setting process and it’s safe to say this year I threw that out the window. If 2021 taught me anything, it’s that no matter how planned a goal may be, you may not achieve it. So, instead of a few meticulous goals with firm metrics, this year its’ the post-it note list but typed. 

Let’s quickly recap the 2021 goals since we’re here: 

Write a Weekly Blog

Result: Epic fail

Discussion: The purpose of the goal was to write more. I did a lot of writing but none of it was for this blog. Writing publicly and putting your opinions out to the world is horrifying and requires an amount of confidence I didn’t have. I would love to say “we tried” but we really didn’t. You will see this goal semi-recycled below. 

Go to Grad School

Result: Half Fail/Half Success

Discussion: One of the blogs I did actually write was “the grad school thing as a first-generation student” where I (amongst talking about how intimidating and challenging navigating grad school as a first-gen student is) announced my acceptance into Carleton University’s Master of Public Policy and Administration with funding. You probably figured out by now that I didn’t go. So, applying -> getting accepted -> accepting my seat was a good first step. However, the program wasn’t a perfect fit by any means (and yes, I know that’s an unrealistic goal) and compounded with the opportunity to turn a dream summer internship into a full-time job, it wasn’t time. 

Tweet something controversial enough about higher ed that Alex Usher followed me on twitter

Result: Followed 

Discussion: If you know, you know. This unfortunately didn’t happen because of me being controversial, I’ve been pretty good this year. 

Eat good food

Result: Crushed it

Discussion: See photos. 

Anyways onto 2022: 

Personal (Stripped down a little because y’all don’t need to know my to-the-dollar financial goals for example):

• Read 10 pages of a book a day, minimum 
• Gym 5x per week 
• 10k steps per day 
• Stay single 
• Go on a solo trip 
• Learn to crochet
• Finish all unfinished sewing projects before starting new ones 
• Brush up on French skills
• Build Italian vocabulary 
• Weiner dog toy drive 
• Cut living expenses ~ in half (or in other words, find a roommate) 
• Put more money towards paying off student debt 

Professional (actually have a 8×11 worth but I’ll spare you the pain of things like me wanting to learn Tableau): 

• Become an associate 
• Lead a project
• Write something public once/month
• Co-author one piece 
• Get published
• Do more OER work 
• Develop a stronger professional network outside of Nova Scotia
• Develop qualitative and quantitative research skills

Food (I also have a restaurant list longer than me): 

• Make panna cotta 
• Make egg-based pasta 
• Make caramel
• Make pickled red onions 
• Try fish and chips 
• Try beef wellington
• Go to a cooking class 
• Go to a Michelin star restaurant (this one might be far-fetched but hey, it’s going in the list)
• Make at least 1 new recipe from a cookbook/week 
• Shop more at farmers markets and less at grocery stores 
• Be more mindful of food sources and ethicality 
• Only alcohol at social events on weekends (with some true exceptions of open mic, patio season) 
• Try food from a different country every month 

Other (an ‘other’ category is always important):

• Apply to five grad schools (including 1 Ivy League and 1 outside of North America)
• Play 6 open mics 
• Play (maybe buy) an electric guitar 
• Learn to do my makeup better (including winged liner) 
• Limit fast fashion, focus on necessary and ethical purchases 
• Reduce social media intake 
• Go to 5 good concerts

We’ll see how COVID/life changes, removes, or adds to these goals but hey, not a bad starting point.

Cheers to a new year, folks. Make it good.