What 2021 Taught Me
A little thought as 2021 draws to a close :)
2021 is a year full of changes for me. In fact, it is probably the year with the most changes for me in my life so far. I started 2021 being based in California and working for Impossible Foods in a career related to Food Science. Fast forward to the end of the year, and I have relocated to London, United Kingdom. Not only did I leave California, but I also left my career in Food Science as I returned back to school to pursue a Master's degree in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Management at Imperial College Business School. It was definitely not easy adjusting back to being a student after being out of school for over 2 years, but more importantly, I picked up some lessons along the way from the things I saw and the people I met. Here are some of the things that I learned in 2021:
1.) Sustainability is here to stay
This past year, I have been fortunate to observe the push for more sustainable practices in three different countries and continents. From the rise of alternatives to single-use plastic back home in Indonesia to the imminent launch of 3D-printed plant-based meat here in London, it is definitely an exciting time to be an individual passionate about sustainability. A thing I’ve been saying a lot this year is “Even if you are motivated by money alone, you would eventually have to pivot to sustainable practices since it’s where money will flow in the long run”. And a quick Google search would yield results that show that ESG investing is indeed on the rise, as shown here.
2.) Do not be too uptight
One thing that I grew accustomed to in the past year prior to joining business school was networking with new people. Oftentimes, these people are individuals who are in a more advanced career position than I am, which means that I have to somewhat be more formal. When I first started my Master’s program, I naturally introduced myself in a very formal and somewhat uptight way to my new classmates. It was only a few weeks on that I realized I had been too uptight and sometimes, loosening up is not a bad idea after all.
3.) Being confused is normal
When I first started my Master’s program, I was 100% sure I would be diving deep into the food industry specifically the alternative protein industry once I finish the program. This was somewhat expected given my background and work experience in Food Science and it was essentially the only industry I had an immersive exposure to. While I am still deeply passionate about the alternative protein industry, I realized through interacting with individuals who come from different backgrounds that there are other options to tackle sustainability challenges. While I haven’t fully figured out what I will be doing once I finish the program, I have grown to learn that being confused is not something to be worried about, rather it’s an opportunity for me to further explore the new possibilities.
4.) Prioritize yourself
This year, I learned about the importance of mental health. It is easy for us to chase after a goal and while there isn’t anything wrong with that, we sometimes forget to put ourselves into account. Often sacrificing our own health, both physically and mentally, in order to chase after said goal. That said, please do not forget to take breaks, no matter how busy you are. And do check in on your loved ones every so often. :)
While 2021 is a year full of changes for me, it was still a memorable one and a year I am grateful for. This year, I met a lot of wonderful and remarkable people that were strangers to me at the beginning of the year. On top of that, I finally made the move to London after setting this as a goal a few years back. With 2022 just around the corner, I am really excited to see what the new year has to offer and the lessons I am yet to learn! 🚀
