28/B
Turning 28 and starting a dream job! Reflections and gratitude inside
Two things:
On Sunday, August 25th, I turn 28.
On Tuesday, August 27th, I begin as an Assistant Professor at Pratt teaching Technology B.
The last time I wrote to you all about my current situation, I was soliciting help landing a gig just like the one I’m about to begin. On my to-do list for today I included
which is such a funny thing to try to put on a checklist. I guess what I mean to do is take the time and space to look on the past year, so that’s what I’ll do. It’s so cliché to describe a year as having “highs and lows”, but 27 really gave me some of my most profound minimums and maximums.
Lows
Getting laid off
Getting the flu in January
Spending months looking for jobs, and getting lots of rejections (and silences)
IBS (at least I think that’s what it is. Luc thinks I should see a gastroenterologist)
Highs
Getting laid off
Landing a full-time job leading Product Design at a startup (I just hit 6 months there this week!)
Landing an Assistant Professor job teaching my dream class. Technology B is a studio class in Pratt’s Communications Design MFA program, in which “Students will investigate technology trends within a historical context, in order to better understand and extrapolate emerging technology systems”. HELLO???
Visiting Germany and Austria with my mom and Selina
Facing how much shame I carry around every day, during a rainy dusk walk in Bregenz
Visiting Busch Gardens in Williamsburg with my dad
Breakfast in Pittsburgh with Lisa
Realizing my professional competence and confidence
Re-investing in 12+ year friendships with Maeher and Shishu
Moving in with my boyfriend
Jumping into and swimming in any body of water I can find
Owning a hammock and using it often
Reading Dune, Dune Messiah, and Children of Dune
Listening to The Surfer off Vampire Weekend’s newest album while driving around LA with Lucas and his cousin
Being shown around San Diego by Bridget, my RA friend from college
Sitting in my friend Mina’s parents kitchen on a sunny winter south Jersey morning while she/we play piano
Becoming really good friends with my ex-manager, Vanessa
Deepening my friendship with Pat, who inspires me with his outlook on life, plants, and art
Feeling secure in so many special friendships / chosen-family-ships
Solo visits to Chicago’s Wormhole Coffee
Cruising around Prospect Park on my skateboard
Mentioning Braiding Sweetgrass in any semi-applicable conversation
The smell of Pratt’s library, and its beautiful campus that almost moved me to tears of gratitude
I really do think I’m the luckiest man in the world.




28 is on track to be REAL good! hbd leem!!! <3