Jan-Lukas Else

Thoughts of an IT expert

My 2021 in Review

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Translations: Mein 2021 im Rückblick
Short link: https://b.jlel.se/s/54d
⚠️ This entry is already over one year old. It may no longer be up to date. Opinions may have changed.

The year has almost reached its 100% progress, so it’s time again to take a look back and see what happened especially for me personally so 2021. I have written a monthly review every month (already the second year in a row), so here are the highlights of the past 12 months:

  • January: There’s lockdown and I’m writing a lot on my bachelor thesis.
  • February: While I continue to work on my bachelor thesis, there’s more snow and colder temperatures than there has been in a long time. I start keeping a private diary blog and write down a few bullet points for each day.
  • March: I finally have my bachelor’s degree! One month later than originally planned, but now the chapter of studies is closed for me for the time being.
  • April: My first month as a software developer. I quickly get used to the daily work routine, familiarize myself with the job and can now work on my own projects again without a guilty conscience.
  • May: I turn 22 and celebrate together with my girlfriend. I also start rowing semi-regularly, as my birthday present is a rowing machine.
  • June: Suddenly it becomes quite warm. Contrary to my assumption that I will have to wait a long time for my vaccination, I already get my first shot.
  • July: I sell my car and occupy myself a lot with the topic of mobility. My alternatives are now bicycle, car sharing and public transport. I get my second Corona vaccination. Also, nature shows mankind that it is stronger, there is heavy flooding in parts of Germany.
  • August: Summertime, even if it is not so warm now. Besides work, I come across new software projects to discover, I buy a second used computer as a home server and I go on vacation to Flensburg with my girlfriend.
  • September: I optimize my internet access at home to be better prepared against failures in the future. In addition, there are elections and I deal a lot with politics. At the end of the month I decide to join the Green Party.
  • October: My topic is still politics, but now also smart home.
  • November: I continue with politics. And I visit my girlfriend and my family on weekends. The darkness and the short days annoy me.
  • December: Advent calendars, Christmas excitement, and vacations. Plus, I get my booster shot.

Besides all the monthly highlights, the following things have been with me throughout the year:

  • Every month I added some new features or improvements to my blog software, which I’ve been using productively for over a year now.
  • Every month I worked in my home office. I don’t think working from home is so bad either, and I hope that even if the pandemic should end at some point, I’ll still be able to flexibly choose where I work.

This year has felt more like a continuation of 2020. Because politics and people pushed 2020 aside too quickly, there have been many moments of déjà vu this year. Sometimes there were lockdowns, then relaxations, and finally with each new variant, lockdowns again. But at least there are vaccinations now, so at least some progress.

The bachelor thesis was my personal highlight this year. Finally, I have my studies behind me. I didn’t think studying was silly or anything, but I still saw it more as annoying conditions on my way into professional life. Now I have finally reached my goal. I enjoy my job, but it also allows me to pursue my own interests alongside work. I’m curious to see how this will develop in the coming year, especially with regard to working from home.

In terms of personal life, I’m pretty happy this year. I couldn’t be happier. After more than two years of being in a relationship now, I’m very sure I made the right decisions. It feels good to have a person by my side who always stands behind me, always supports me, with whom I can talk about everything, who also accepts my quirks and with whom I also have a lot of fun. With such a person by my side, the biggest problems and challenges are often child’s play. ❤️

In general, I am grateful. I’m grateful that I’m doing so well despite the continuing difficult world situation. That I have been able to get vaccinated and have not contracted Corona. That I am doing well financially. That my family is also doing well.

I hope 2022 will be a year in which the pandemic recedes. In which society finally learns from the past and avoids recurring mistakes. In which more is done to combat climate change and the widening gap between rich and poor. And in which people find their way back to each other instead of becoming more and more divided by hatred.

Happy New Year! 🎆

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