Hello, I’m still here — welcome back to my blog 👋🏻

Finally, I get to sit in my hometown and take some time to reflect on everything that happened in my life in 2025. Some friends asked why I didn’t write this blog at the end of December 2025. I chose to write it after Lunar New Year for a reason. For me, this moment marks a full year since I started doing things differently compared to 2024 and many years before that.

A Change

After Tet 2025, I changed companies — or more accurately, I made a partial change. I still work part-time at my previous company, and I’m truly grateful to my boss for giving me this opportunity. I also received the title of Senior Software Engineer. Becoming a senior just one year after graduating from university is something I still pause to think about. I still remember that moment.

Balancing a full-time job with part-time work often leaves me feeling exhausted — and honestly, it happens more often than I’d like. That’s also why I barely wrote any blog posts this year. Most days, after finishing work, I simply didn’t have the mental space left to sit down and reflect properly. Writing has always required a certain quietness for me — not just time, but energy and clarity.

I also had the chance to work closely with a boss from Russia who is genuinely awesome and highly skilled. Throughout the year, I worked in a role that was very close to an AI engineer, which pushed me beyond traditional software development. I learned a lot from him, especially around the AI tech stack and related areas, and that collaboration significantly broadened my technical mindset and how I approach problem-solving.

Outside of Work

I spent more time playing sports this year. I played badminton regularly and also picked up pickleball, which I quickly grew to enjoy. Most weekends, I played for almost four hours a day. It was tiring, but completely worth it.

This year, I traveled a lot—almost every month to a new destination. I visited Vung Tau, Ninh Thuan, and Nha Trang twice each, and also had the chance to explore Ha Giang, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hoi An, and several other places. I truly loved it.

It wasn’t cheap, but I never regretted it. Traveling, for me, is a way to discover new things and gain a deeper understanding of the world, and I truly enjoyed every journey. I hope that as I grow older, I’ll have the financial freedom to travel full-time.

Conclusion

Looking back, I think I quietly met my goal for 2025. But what I’m most proud of isn’t what I achieved or where I went— It’s simply that I didn’t quit. And I’m grateful to all the friends and brothers who walked with me this year. We turned it into memories.

For 2026, I’ve set a clear plan, and I intend to stick to it.

I hope everything will be okay. See you in 2027.