.png)
I See the Light | Jin’s June 2025
- knowledgepostcollege
- 15 hours ago
- 7 min read
I won't lie, sometimes it feels like just yesterday I was writing the blog, and then I start to feel lazy because what do you mean it's already time to write the blog again? But then I feel grateful that we started this blog back in 2020, and there are so many memories that I can go back to. It's so special to be able to look back and not only re-live the high moments but also really see the lows and other struggles I was also going through. With that being said, I'm still surprised that it's already time for me to write my June blog, but here it goes!
Lifestyle: Travel & Relationships
Friends
Palm Springs
I was able to go on a girlies trip to Palm Springs this month, and it was the relaxing trip I needed. I've luckily been on so many trips the last couple of months, and as fun as they are, they can get exhausting! Sometimes I truly need a vacation from my vacation, and this is what it felt like! I was nervous as it was the weekend right after I had come back from Bali & Japan (recap to come below), but it ended up being so relaxing! It was truly just pool, food, and quality time with the girls on repeat. My favorite moments have to be fooling around like children in the pool and watching a movie on the last day! Overall, super thankful to have Mish and Kelsey in my life, and shoutout to Mama Yamasaki for the free housing.
The Weeknd Concert
Joseph, Priss, Kelsey, and I got tickets to the Weeknd concert this month. I remember his set being so much fun at Coachella, so I wanted to relive it at his concert. As he was playing, I realized how many bangers he has had throughout the years, and each song reminded me of different eras in my life! From the high school era, the college party era, the post-breakup era, and the adult era currently. I was also curious if he was going to in any way mention his (bad) movie since I had watched it, but he unfortunately did not. I was a little sad about the audio quality being so echo-y, but still, it was a really fun night dancing away to music.
Beach Day
This month, Mish hosted a little beach day with all of our closest friends in LA. I've been dying to go to the beach ever since it became summer, but haven't blocked out the time to do it, so I'm glad she was able to host this; it pushed me to go to the beach. It was so much fun lying out in the sun and jumping into the waves. Whenever I'm lying by the beach, I feel like I'm a high schooler again because I used to go to the beach almost every day. After all, we had nothing better to do. I sometimes forget how much I've loved the beach, so I'm hoping to carve out more time to go to the beach more often this summer.
Love
Bali - Wedding Round 2
I can't believe I was going around telling everyone at the beginning of the year that I might have to go to Bali twice back to back in less than 2 months, and now it has already passed! Bali round 2 was super chill, and it was also a good time to relax and truly enjoy the wedding. I wasn't a part of a bridal party for this wedding, so I got to experience what it's like to come as a guest, and it was so nice! I loved the fact that I was able to enjoy the wedding with no stress. I also realized I get emotional at weddings because I definitely might have shed a tear or two. I've never been a girl who dreamed about weddings growing up, but going to a few of my friends' weddings has got me thinking about mine one day. Overall, it was a short yet impactful trip, and I'm glad I was also able to have a more relaxing time at the pool.
Japan
After Bali, we took a trip to Japan because Joseph and I have been wanting to go together for so long! The travel to Japan from Bali was quite brutal with a layover in Vietnam and barely even being able to sleep through it, but it was all worth it when I had my first bite of Ichiran ramen in Tokyo. Tokyo as a trip was honestly still a 10/10 even with the hard travel that started it all. The shopping, the sightseeing, and the food were so good! I also loved that we were a bit more spontaneous on this trip, such as booking Disney Sea and Team Labs last minute, because it was one of the biggest highlights of the trip as well. The food and matcha were also so good that it made me excited to wake up every day! Missing Japan so much, but hope to return again one day.
BIBI Concert
We last minute booked it to the BIBI Concert because we saw that they were only selling it for $37 each! We were excited to go to our very first concert at the YouTube Theater and honestly loved the new leather seats of it all and how intimate the theater felt even when we were in the last row! BIBI was also so amazing singing live, even when she was sick, and loved all the fan service she was doing throughout the show. It was honestly one of my favorite shows I've been this year.
Family
This month has been way too chaotic with all my travel plans, so I wasn't able to spend quality time with my family. However, I've been making more efforts to grab meals with my dad and calling my mom once a week. I've never been good at reaching out to my parents, but I've been getting better at it by putting the meals on my calendar, recurring, and putting it on my reminders app. Overall, not a strong month with my family, but I want to put more effort in the next month.
Work
Co-worker Leaving
Another co-worker friend of mine decided to leave the company, and it truly came as a surprise, but ultimately made sense as to why he was leaving. I was happy to hear that he got a better offer at a different company and truly wish him well. I was super thankful for him also because he extended a meeting with me to discuss his MBA journey and wanted to connect one of his friends to me for advice/ mentorship. I honestly haven't thought too much about personally pursuing an MBA, but it did get me thinking about it a bit more. Honestly, I was really touched that he also mentioned how much he thinks highly of me because I've recently been struggling with a bit of impostor syndrome, yet again, so it was a nice reminder that I was doing well. Overall, will miss him at work, but excited for the new journey ahead.
Career
Now that I'm reaching my 2.5 years at this company and 2 years in my role, I've been feeling a bit stagnant and wanting to push myself more. I'm so lucky to have so many coworker friends around me, and I was able to ask for advice through my coffee chats with Dianne. She's been such a good friend and even a mentor whom I can ask direct questions without being shy, as she has had the role I would be looking for. I'm not sure what's to come, but I know that I'm currently still enjoying and learning on this job, which I feel lucky about.
Lows & Lessons:
Imposter Syndrome
I've been getting more training and exposure to roles and responsibilities that would be needed for my next role up, and it's bringing back my impostor syndrome. After 2 years on the job, I started to feel like I really nailed my role down, and I knew a lot of what I was doing. However, as I'm doing this training, I can't help but feel so out of place and like a newbie to it all. I sensed myself getting a bit worried or stressed that I won't be able to fully understand it, and at times, I feel quite dumb. However, I realize that I've never been perfect at everything at once, and it takes time. On the positive side, it has motivated me to continue to learn and grow. I'm grateful that I'm feeling a push to step out of my comfort zone, as I've been starting to feel stagnant.
Gratitude
As I'm going on these trips with my friends and loved ones, I can't help but be grateful for the friendships and job that support me to be able to go on these trips. I truly feel like I'm living the life I've been wanting to live for so long, and I never take it for granted. I am also trying to enjoy this part of my life where I have no dependents and only have to worry about myself. I also hope that I can continue to spoil myself and others around me!
Songs on Repeat:
Famous - ALLDAY PROJECTManchild - Sabrina Carpenter 비누 - BIBIMy Pick of the Month: Matcha
I have been loving matcha so matcha. But for real, I don't know if it's because I was drinking matcha every day in Japan, but I have been addicted to matcha. If you know me, you would know that I have loved matcha for a very long, long time, but I've still always been a coffee over matcha. These days, I notice myself making myself more matcha over coffee at home or at cafes! This isn't to say that I'm over my love for coffee, but it's to say that I've just been even more obsessed with matcha. Thankful to have gotten a good quality matcha powder in Japan, especially with this shortage! I'm also thankful that cafes have way better matcha nowadays than they ever did back in the day!
Through these blogs, I realize that even through dark times, I'm able to always see the light, as there are always things I can be grateful for or look forward to. I hope that this is my reminder to myself that even if life can get dark at times, I should always try to find the light. This month, I was able to realize that the light is my friends, my coworkers, my boyfriend, and my family.
Talk to you next month,
-- Jin
Comments