29/52 Dylan Hollohan

29/52 Dylan Hollohan

“I was teaching in Korea, saving up money for my 3rd lane change in as many years, it seemed. I had been doing all sorts of jobs to get by after school and still keep doors open. I felt a bit trapped without much room to grow where I was and that nagged at me constantly, but I just didn’t have the money to go back to school and finish what I started. I always knew I’d be back soon but those years felt incredibly slow and I just wanted to move on to an industry with more open space to move.

When I was finally accepted to University of Toronto for Computer Science I was ecstatic, but I didn’t know the type of beat down I had just signed myself up for. The first semester was brutal, having not done any formal math for 7 years, or much coding at all. It still hasn’t gotten much easier.

The kids around me are phenomenal, super focused, talented, well-prepared. I felt a lot of envy, maybe for the first time in my life. Yet I am really proud of the fact that I made up all of that ground in a few short months, I didn’t completely lose my mind, and am finally starting to see a really good learning trajectory. I’m on the back half now which is full of courses I get to choose and can’t wait to take, opportunities to pursue. I can’t see where it’s all going yet but it’s going to be good. I’m sure of that much. Despite the really dark and tough beginning, I’d make this choice again 10 times out of 10. It’s just in my nature to feel dread when I don’t push myself, so here we are.”