Journal 3
My 2025 Recap
The year 2025 felt significant and fulfilling. It was a time when I learned persistence and explored new experiences. With the encouragement of my family and friends around me I during tough moments, which made this year important to me.
Marathon
One of my proudest accomplishments this year was finishing my first marathon in March. Even though it was a five-kilometer event, I dedicated three months with daily running training. During the process, I discovered how to manage my pace and keep a regular fitness routine. Running showed me that improvement arises not from bursts of inspiration but from putting in effort.
Japanese Course
Another standout moment of my year was take the Japanese language course this semester. I gradually grew interested in the pronunciation and enjoyed learning basic everyday dialogues. I made it a habit reviewing the materials after each class. By the mean time, I spent roughly thirty minutes daily practicing on Duolingo. I was motivated by a statement I once heard from Lai Shi-Xiong, who mentioned that learning to speak a language involves imitation and self-reflection. That boosted my confidence and motivation during the entire learning process.
Seoul Trip
In the beginning of September I went to Seoul with my family. I experienced something entirely new. I tried the raw octopus and raw beef at a well known Michelin recommended restaurant. Before this trip, I was a little bit scared of raw food and had never eaten sashimi. Witnessing the octopus still wriggling on the dish was really shocking. However, once I tasted it I found that it wasn't as frightening as I had thought. This turned into an unforgettable first experience for me!
Time Management Challenge
This year also pushed me to learn how to plan my time well. When I started arranging a working holiday abroad, I understood that I needed to strike the balance between financial planning, getting ready for the TOEIC test and handling my studies. Developing the skill to organize my time has turned into a goal for my personal growth.
Insights Gained
Looking back, 2025 taught me the power of small improvements. A sentence from the book Optimal that I bought this year said: “The pursuit of the 1% improvement often yields far greater sustainable gains than chasing the 100% leap.” I applied this idea to my daily habits, such as running, reading, or making any kind of small progress. By focusing on improving just a little each day, I realized that consistent small efforts can lead to meaningful change.
