Wayfinding, Storytelling, and Strength through Community: 2017 in Review

At the end of every major milestone, I organize my completed assignments into Dropbox folders, write reflections for my portfolio, I count my wins and losses, and think about how I’ll continue to challenge myself in the future. As I reflect about 2017, I think everything has changed, but most things are better. 

Since last year, I’ve done a few things: I got into the engineering program of my dreams (shout-out to Human Centered Design & Engineering for staying true to its name and always putting people first). I interned at Microsoft and made genuine connections rooted in honesty about my journey and love of storytelling. I created a portfolio that celebrates my work from the last 3 years. I performed in the Blank Monologues. I listened to over 107,000 minutes of music on Spotify. I celebrated my 21st birthday with some of the most important people in my life. I wrote articles on higher education programs, events that celebrate identity and intersectional indigenous feminism, and performance showcases at the University of Washington, but also about my experience as a person of color at a tech company. Above all, I learned to believe that people wanted to hear my story, but I had to be willing to share it.

Amid the turn and churn of 2017, I’ve learned lessons spanning different aspects of my life such as relationships, writing, and higher education, and they are all things I want to keep in mind as I finish my last 1.5 years of college and beyond.

1. Relationships really matter: I’m lucky to have a wonderful group of peers, professors, and mentors who support me with a quiet rhythm and hum of love and care. To have a fulfilling life, I’ve realized that I need actions that speak louder than words, unconditional love, and people who elevate me to engage more deeply in my field and see everything is an opportunity for growth. I’m lucky to live and work with people of impact in their respective industries, whether it’s research or user experience and everything in between.

2. Getting an education is a lifelong investment: I switched to my dream major, Human Centered Design & Engineering, last year, and I’ve been grappling with the stigma of doing a fifth year at UW and not graduating in a “timely” manner ever since. Despite this, one of my friends continues to remind me that my education is something I have forever, and I can only gain from it. I try to remember that investing in my education, even if it takes a little bit more time and money, gets me closer to my long-term goal of being a UX writer (and an academic advisor in the long run). By test-driving these skills in the classroom where I’m encouraged to try and fail and ask questions, I’m more prepared to make the products that I’ve dreamed of without waiting for developers or designers.

3. Write about keeps you up at night: As a journalist, I’m used to telling stories that empower other people, whether it’s students of color, researchers in neural engineering, or activists who are creating space for victims and survivors of sexual assault to share their story. This year, I turned the camera to write about my own experience. I’ve been reading a lot of Medium articles for inspiration, and one of the best pieces of advice from was from an article by Alex Mathers that asked, “What is something I think about a lot that no one talks about?” To answer this question, I began sharing lessons learned from my time as a Microsoft intern and journalist, particularly related to my identity as a Pakistani Muslim woman. I am beyond thankful for my writing community of passionate storytellers who allow me to cross bridges into uncharted territory by sharing stories about my identity and journey to value my perspective as a writer.

4.  Make a life, not just a living: This year has reminded me that time in college is short, so I’ve focused on making for the people and things I really love (particularly people who are graduating this year!), whether it’s through concerts, Sunday Funday visits to Pike Place, or photoshoots at donut shops in honor of National Donut Day.

5.  All good leaders are servants: I’ve always struggled to self-identify as a traditional “leader,” which is why I work as a journalist and writing tutor in the hopes that I can empower people’s voices through these jobs. This year, I learned that leadership can come from anywhere, and I don’t have to be at the head of the pack to create change. Advocating for peoples’ needs, making people feel heard, and reminding others to be empathetic are some of the ways I can lead and serve all at once.

6.  Self-love is the greatest act of acceptance: This year, I’ve tried to love myself more – as a writer, student, and friend. It’s been a journey to validate all of the effort I’ve put into growing, but it’s governed by a simple notion courtesy of Yvonne Orji’s TED Talk: “I don’t have to beg anyone to like me because I like me.” I hope to approach every conversation with the pretense that I have something important to say while being open to what others are giving me.

The last piece of advice, although learned the hard way, comes from John Lennon:

Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.

In short, this year was a lesson in abandoning the shallow and easy in an effort to learn to build myself up into a more resilient person. I’ve realized that all good things are a series of moments, intentional or otherwise, comprised of ostensible wrong turns that lead to the right people, messages that come at the right time, and opportunities to grow in unanticipated ways. Ultimately, I’m proud of my decisions, who I am, and the things I’m making.

I’ve been lucky to tell more stories than ever and be surrounded by people who are willing to listen. Here’s to an even more delightful 2018.

Cheers,

Aleenah Ansari

[email protected] | aleenahansari.com | https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/aleenah-ansari/