As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how 2024 unfolded—a journey filled with highs, lows, and valuable lessons.

The year began with excitement as I transitioned to a new team at General Motors. While the first few months were understandably chaotic, given the dynamics of joining a new team, the experience quickly proved to be incredibly rewarding. I had the opportunity to tackle an exciting challenge: creating a tool to orchestrate containers. This project not only deepened my technical expertise but also ignited a newfound passion for containerization and orchestration—a field I now find deeply fascinating.

What made this transition even more fulfilling was working under a manager who genuinely cared about the team’s well-being. Their ability to effectively align a team spread across two countries was both inspiring and instrumental in fostering a cohesive, productive environment. We navigated the chaos together, creating an integration workflow that finally made sense. Just as everything seemed to fall into place, the unexpected happened: the entire team was laid off in early September.

The layoff was a tough blow, both professionally and personally. This job market has been the most challenging I’ve faced. Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone in ways I hadn’t before. I’ve started attending networking events—some weekly, others monthly—and along the way, I’ve made a few new friends with whom I now keep in regular touch.

One of the biggest steps I’ve taken during this time has been creating a personal professional website and starting this blog. While my blogging journey has been inconsistent, and I’m still working to find my voice, it’s a creative outlet I’ve come to appreciate. It’s something I hope to continue refining and growing as I move forward.

In the darkness of professional setbacks, I’ve found light in building new skills and expanding my metaphorical toolbox. Each challenge has been an opportunity to grow, and I’ve committed myself to learning and creating—small steps that feel significant in hindsight.

As I look ahead to 2025, I’m determined to start the year strong. My immediate plan is to reconnect with recruiters I’ve worked with in the past, check in on opportunities, and continue expanding my professional portfolio with the projects I’ve started. I also hope to keep meeting like-minded individuals, further building my network, and staying open to new possibilities.

I envision 2025 as a year of renewal and growth—a time to turn the lessons and resilience of 2024 into opportunities for success. Here’s to forging ahead and making the most of what lies ahead.

Note: This previous blog entry is about the networking events I started attending.