The day has come! This is my last day of working at Techie Youth this summer. It's still kind of unbelievable, but I'm feeling pretty good! All of my assignments were marked as passing, I surpassed the minimum number of hours needed to graduate, heck, I graduated (still shook!)... It's been a long time coming, that's for sure. I'm definitely gonna miss this job, but everything good must come to an end, right? Even so, this ending may not be permanent– I could end up working for Techie Youth again next summer, who knows! For now, I'm just pleased with how all of this went. Did it all go perfectly? No. I made mistakes along the way. Even so, it gave my journey character. I lived and I learned, so to speak! Even on my last day, I continued learning. The extracurricular unit is actually super helpful, I might continue exploring it during my downtime just because. Overall, it's just really great to see how far I've come. This was the first job I've had that was this steady and consistent, and I showed myself that I could commit to this and put the effort in to get things done. I still remember my first day, I was a total noob to all of this haha! Now, here I am, just looking back at everything. Time truly flies. I learned a lot about remote work at Techie Youth, sure, but I also learned a lot about myself. I won't hesitate to recommend that everyone (and their mama!) check out Techie Youth, this website is truly a treasure trove and has exceeded my expectations beyond measure. This is such a great cause to support, honestly and truly. So a big thank you and shout out to Techie Youth, all the participants, and employees, you're all AWESOME!! This is Angelique signing off for now, peace out!! <3
Guys! It's official...I did it! I graduated from Techie Youth!! I have a digital certificate of completion, and one on the way in the mail. I'm super psyched honestly. It's awesome to see the fruits of your labor come to be, and this is a perfect representation of such. My time spent this summer consuming Techie Youth content was hardly in vain. Despite this being such a momentous occasion, there is a layer of bittersweetness. Techie Youth has definitely become a habit, a pivotal part of my life these past few weeks. I'm sad that I'll be moving on, but I know it'll be towards bigger and better things. I'm really proud of the work I produced and the consistency I displayed while employed. I turned in the last assignment needed for me to graduate today, which was for the writing unit. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and do the PSA instead of going with the more familiar option, a blog post. I'm really glad I did it, to be honest, I think it came out great! That really reflects a common theme throughout my time at Techie Youth; pushing the limits, surprising myself with what I can do, etc. It's been a rollercoaster ride for sure. There have been ups, and there have definitely been downs, but I don't regret a single second! Even though my time as an undergraduate at Techie Youth is over, I know this won't be the last encounter I'll have with this platform. I'll definitely be referring back to certain units and content that I found especially interesting. I also think I'll look through the extracurricular unit tomorrow since I don't have much else to do, haha! Anywho, cheers to graduation!!
I have 2 days left of Techie Youth after today! These past few days have definitely felt surreal in a way. Gearing up to get my last paychecks, working on my last project, finishing my summer classes, and receiving grades for them. Amidst these endings are new beginnings, which can be a bit scary. Then throw in detours that I've already begun facing, and things could be considered downright terrifying! Despite this, I feel oddly confident. The me prior to this summer would be in disbelief at me saying this for sure. The experiences I've had have primed me for my future experiences though, and this is especially true for what I've done this summer. Balancing work, school, and life in general hasn't been the easiest. I'd say it's the most rewarding thing I've done in a while though, and I'm pretty proud of myself for pulling it off as well as I have. This has demonstrated a level of resilience that I didn't know I had! I have to give extra credit where extra credit is due, however. Techie Youth played such a pivotal role when it came to getting me out of my comfort zone and challenging me. Was it uncomfortable at times? Of course, that's kind of inherent when you're leaving your comfort zone. I find that it was necessary though, as growth can't occur anywhere stagnant. I'm excited to submit my writing assignment soon (like, tomorrow soon) and to apply for graduation from Techie Youth!
Well, I'm back! I received the okay to wrap up my last week here, so that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm proud of myself for reaching out to get this done, and prouder that I've gotten this far in Techie Youth! I've finished reviewing the content in the writing unit, so now I've been working on the assignment. I'm one step closer to graduation! This was definitely one of my favorite units by far, as it opened me up to a whole new world regarding writing and making it a career. I feel like the things I learned in this chapter are quite practical and can be utilized in my everyday life. Gaining more insight into professional writing, for example, is always super helpful when it comes to navigating the real world. My second year of college starts in about a week, so I'll definitely need to put some of these new writing skills, as well as skills from Techie Youth in general, into practice. I made the decision not too long ago to add another class to my schedule, so now I'm taking the maximum number of classes that one can take in a semester. The version of me before Techie Youth would have definitely talked myself out of doing this. Techie Youth has really broadened my horizons when it comes to pushing myself out of my comfort zone and taking on more challenges. I look forward to hopefully graduating from Techie Youth in the near future and continuing to reap the benefits of this program!
All I can say is, wow! Today was supposed to be my last day working at Techie Youth through SYEP, but extending my time here for another few days is in the works, so yay! I didn't want to trust through this writing unit so getting some extra time is ideal. I am making my way toward the end, and I expect to be finished reviewing the material in another day or so. I'm still unsure which route I want to go regarding the writing piece I'll complete. I have experience with blogging, but the advertisement route seems cool too. I still have some time so I'll continue to sit on it and go with what feels right. The most recent topic I explored, grant writing, is what I did at my last job at SYEP, though I didn't go too in-depth with it, unfortunately. It was nice to see it be acknowledged and to get a deeper look, though! I also found the technical writing unit to be interesting as well. It gave me a new perspective and appreciation for all of the written content we encounter in our everyday lives and often take for granted. The reality is that there are real people behind everything we do! Not necessarily a huge revelation, but I feel it's often overlooked. Writers really make the world go round, though! I hope that maybe one day, my humble little pieces might contribute to this. Who knows, the writing I've done at Techie Youth might be where I get my start!
Today I was able to move through a few more subjects, including those regarding backlinks, guest writing, and ghostwriting. Out of all of these topics, I was only familiar with one! It's probably easy to guess that I had heard of ghostwriting a couple of times in my life, but the others went under my nose, apparently. I found the topic of guest writing to be especially interesting and realistic for me personally. I thought the most popular guest writing platform, Textbroker, functioned in a fascinating way and made guest writing fairly straightforward. If I were to use it, I think I might be a bit intimidated regarding the first step, which is submitting your writing to be rated on a platform. I would feel insecure if I scored anything under a 4, but I guess that's just another part of life to be accepted. Luckily, your score can increase or decrease depending on the quality of future articles you submit to the service. From there, bloggers/authors that need contributors to their content can select you, or you can reach out to them, and start earning! I thought a lifehack that was provided in one of the YouTube videos depicting Textbroker to be super ingenious. Since it requires typing quite a few words to make a substantial amount of money, one can implement the use of the text-to-speech feature on their computer to increase productivity. I think this would be such a nifty side-hustle!
My time at Techie Youth is really ticking away! It's honestly bittersweet. This program really defined my summer this year. Though I participated in SYEP last year, this job was more consistent and...well, job-like. My family (specifically my grandmother) loves to boast about me having work to our extended family and her friends, and has me show her my paycheck every Friday. It's been great to have an external factor that keeps me committed and striving towards a goal. It did get a bit hectic at times, given that I also took summer classes, but I came to realize that I can accomplish a lot when I put my mind to it. My classes end on the 15th (phew!), but I might end up working a few extra days here as I reached out to my supervisor and provider about extending my schedule. In that case, I'll have an extra 4 days at Techie Youth. Yay! Once that goes into motion, It'll be a done deal regarding my graduation from this program. It's gonna be soo great to have something physical (other than my pay, haha) showing the results of my extensive efforts here at Techie Youth. I'd honestly love to work here again, we'll see if I get lucky next year! I'm gonna try to remain in the present though because, at its essence, the future is now. I do need to focus on finishing up this writing elective; I'm looking forward to moving through the rest of this content and getting to work on my final assignment. I continued to learn about copywriting and blogging today. While I'm obviously a little familiar with the latter, I honestly wouldn't have been able to properly define copywriting before exploring the unit on it. Seriously! I thought it had to do with copyright or the act of someone copying something written... The more you know, I guess! Haha, but once I investigated it more it seemed like an interesting field. I definitely prefer blogging though, personally. I find it a lot easier to convey my thoughts in word form!
I continued to learn about the writing/publishing process in depth today, and it's been quite fascinating, to say the least. It's almost like you're being set up for failure immediately when you want to write and publish a book! Of course, we know that failure is a route for redirection, but still. It's really hard to be successful in this industry, and you might not prosper even if you do everything "right". You have to truly be persistent and have great patience when it comes to book writing. I also found out about the insane difference between publishing your book through a publishing entity and being a self-publisher. Sure, finding a publisher takes some of the ultra-heavy load off, but not for free at ALL. You get a measly return on profit for your book. Self-publishing, however, allows you to keep a much larger percentage of your profits. I guess some people fare better doing the publishing themselves, while others prefer to have a separate entity do it for them, but it doesn't come cheap. Along with the price comes the factor of a publishing company even considering your book to be printed. It gets rough out there for sure! It seems the two necessities regardless of the way you publish are hiring an editor and a literary agent. I gather that doing everything by yourself would be close to impossible. Indeed, finding some external sources for help, as well as the feeling of community it lends to, would be great for a boost in morale.
Wowzers! I honestly can't believe this will be my last full week working at Techie Youth. I say 'full week' because I do have a few extra days that I am going to work as a result of starting the program a bit late than intended. As promised, I'll reach out to my supervisor later to inquire about this. Anyways though, I'm really proud of the progress I've made thus far! It was so rewarding to log on today and see the positive feedback I received for the completion of my niche website. I've passed all of the quizzes I've taken up to now as well and have moved on to a new unit- Writing! This elective stood out to me because I loved English growing up, which comes with lots of reading and writing. I began moving through the content today and was amazed at all of the bells and whistles that come with becoming a self-published author. My mom used to remark on how she wanted to write a book, and I totally supported that as she led (and leads) quite an interesting life. As of late, though, her desire to write one has waned quite a bit. I was honestly disappointed to see this as I knew she would produce amazing content; she's quite a good writer herself. However, getting a glimpse into the world of publishing solidified just how labor-intensive writing can be. The publishing world can be equated to a shark tank, and rejection is extremely common. Professional writing involves lots of determination if you want to succeed, which is considerably difficult. I've gained a new sense of compassion for my mom's disinterest in writing a book, as she's a busy woman and would find it difficult to dedicate so much time and energy to something that is inherently speculative. Despite the humbling factor this unit has provided so far, I'm still looking forward to gaining a better perspective on writing and what having it as a profession entails!
So apparently, I've hit my 3rd week of working at Techie Youth. All I can say is, wow! Time flies when you're having fun, huh? I'm honestly amazed that I've been this consistent and gotten this far. I tend to struggle with sticking things out, but Techie Youth has been a whole new world, so to speak. I've had ups, and definitely had downs; made careless mistakes, and put out great work all in the same breath. What can I say? This is a learning experience, truly, and I'm doing quite a bit of that. I'm looking forward to picking a new elective to start working on soon; there are so many to choose from, but I know whichever I pick will be a great choice and set the stage for my future endeavors. I can't help but remark about how lucky and grateful I am to have been selected to participate in the Techie Youth worksite, and really hope I get to do it again next year. There are only about two weeks left of SYEP, give or take, and that really puts things into perspective for me. Summer is almost over (I mean, not according to the equinox, but you know...) and I start my second year of college soon. I'll be on campus a lot more than I was for my first year and know for a fact that I'll be taking some of the gems I learned here with me on my journey. I'm gonna go in with a positive attitude, and get hungry for good grades! If I ever need to negotiate with my teachers, I'll know exactly what to do. My time here so far has highlighted the importance of consistent effort, hard work, and getting back up when you feel like you've been knocked down. So, I'll be doing just that!
Today, I learned that while consistent effort may not always get you where you imagined, you won't be stuck in the same place that you were prior to doing this work. I've been taking strides toward tempering my expectations as of late. I couldn't help but reflect on a time when I thought I submitted good work, and it turned out to be just "ok". I mean, it happened right here at Techie Youth regarding my executive summary! I thought I covered all of my bases, but as it turns out, I was actually missing a few key components that made it a true executive summary. Was I disappointed? At the time, sure I was. No one likes feeling like their work was in vain. Indeed though, I find that genuine work is never inherently in vain. When you put your efforts toward something, it changes you. It changes your path in a way that may seem insignificant, but in actuality isn't. Think of who you would be if you didn't put that effort in, where you'd end up... You'd still be you of course, but you'd be missing that experience, and insights about what you worked on and yourself. As far as where you'd be, you'd be stagnant. It may appear that right after working you're still stagnant, but this isn't the case. That change you underwent through applying your efforts will affect your future, whether you pick up on it or not. Change in itself may not be the most fun thing around, but it's necessary! Stagnancy is a breeding ground for unpleasantries. So, take the jump, and put that work in. It may not always turn out just how you expected– and honestly, what would life be if everything always went exactly as planned– but you'll be better off in the long run!
I'm feeling pretty good about my progress with my website now, and know for a fact that I'll be able to submit it by the end of this week! Even though this is technically 'just' an assignment, this experience actually makes me want to pursue the website seriously and see how far I can take it outside of the parameters of Techie Youth. I'm not sure if I'd keep it as a simple niche website or expand it to be both that and a brand for myself. There are so many routes I can take with this! Even though it's a bit overwhelming for someone like me who struggles with decision-making, I'm still really grateful for having the options. It's hard to make good choices when there are only limited options, so feeling free to make a good one is great! Regarding taking an action to see if I can request more workdays, I want to complete my website before I decide to take that on. Don't worry though, I promise I won't forget...the hunger pangs are too strong to do that! Ha ha, but really though, I prefer to have one thing on my plate at once so I don't lose focus. In the real world, I know this isn't totally feasible, but...well, we all have to start somewhere, right? Baby steps! I know that I struggle with feeling overwhelmed, so I do challenge myself, but in a way where I limit that feeling. Kind of like exposure therapy I guess. I know that too much will cause me to withdraw and lose my progress. I guess my journey reflects that of tempering an egg. Weird comparison I know (especially for a vegan) but it seemed the most accurate. Either way, one thing I know is that I'm proud of my progress and hope to soon be closing in one a win with this website!
Today, I couldn't help but think about timing again. I'm always thinking about it of course, but in this instance specifically, it was regarding whether I had spent enough time at Techie Youth. I mean, I started on a Friday, when the work was technically supposed to start on a Tuesday, but I hadn't been placed just yet. I think I'll go ahead and contact my supervisor to see if I can get my days working at Techie Youth extended for this reason. Yes, I guess I just can't get enough of this job! Along with that though, this desire to get what's rightly mine coincides with one of the more important truths I learned during my time here, which is to go after what I believe is rightly mine. That hunger to get what you feel is meant for you, what you deserve, what feels right...it never fully goes away! If you're not hungry, you're comfortable, and comfort is a sign of being stagnant. You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone in order to reach heights you may not believe were possible initially. For me, I'm really not the biggest fan of confrontation, but I know that in some cases it is absolutely necessary. I think reaching out about my hours will be a beneficial step in my journey, as it will start pruning me for future instances in my career where I will have to stand up for myself. I just have to coach myself in the sense of acknowledging it's possible I won't get my way. Disappointment isn't the end of the world, even though in the moment it can feel like that. What really matters is that you had the guts to try in the first place!
Today is the first day of August and another start to a week of working at Techie Youth. I'm still shocked at how time seems to be flying by lately! I mean, I remember applying for SYEP in May, and now look! It's really humbling to look back on my journey and see how far I've come. I remember being quite the newbie in mid-July, a bit overwhelmed by all that Techie Youth had to offer, meekly navigating through the content. Now I'm acing my quizzes and in the works of creating my own marketable website! Of course, I can't forget the speedbumps I hit along the way, but that just made me slow down and appreciate the journey more. I've definitely applied that lesson to my approach to creating this website. Initially, I was inclined to rush through this assignment, and get it done as soon as possible so I could move on to another section and ensure that I was on track to graduate before SYEP ends. I realize now that it's really not about the ending, but the journey. I don't want my assignment to appear rushed, so the best way to combat that is...not to rush it! I'm going to get a little vulnerable, but a lot of my work throughout my academic career was completed under crunch time. Yes, I admit, I do struggle with procrastination. At one point, I convinced myself that the work I did under these circumstances was better than if I had completed it in advance! With Techie Youth, it's kind of hard to procrastinate, since there aren't set dates and time limits. I'm honestly really grateful for that, as really limits the stress factor; but I do clock in and out for this job, so there's still a sense of responsibility. Techie Youth has allowed me to reconsider and redirect my attitudes to those that are actually beneficial to me. There are so many avenues for positive real-life applications in this program, and I'm grateful for it. New month, new me!
Happy Friday! Of course, it's a happy day because it's the end of the week, and (most of us) get a respite, but my Friday happened to be a little more happier than usual because I got a passing grade on my missing assignment! Phew! Another thing that this experience has taught me is to not second guess myself too much. Insecurity and overthinking are the banes of many people's existence. It's good to keep yourself in check, but you shouldn't let it go too far. I was feeling a bit nervous that my work wouldn't be up to par for whatever reason, but what do you know! My assignment said I did "excellent work", which I really appreciated because I know I put real effort into it. It was scary getting that email saying that I wouldn't have sufficiently completed my work without that assignment, but now I'm good! At least, I think I am, haha. I don't have any more pesky notifications on that bell alerting me about an aspect of my account, though I'll be sure to go over my past units and make sure I've submitted everything on Monday. One thing I've been having a dilemma about is the time I've been spending on my niche website. I think it would be unwise to start another unit when I haven't completed this one, but I'm not used to being away from the Techie Youth website for so long as I'm doing research and making tweaks on the website. I'm gonna go with my gut and hope for the best. Overall, this was a nice way to end the week. Happy Friyay!
My spirits are a little higher today, and that's because... I finished the Introductory Prerequisites assignment! I breezed through the quiz, though actually curating my cover letter and resume was a bit more tedious than I initially thought. Regardless, I'm happy I got it done and really hope my effort is graded accordingly. I guess that in hindsight, missing an assignment wasn't the end of the world. I think it just hit a soft spot for me. I had been so sure that I was making good progress, and was riding that high, until boom! Turns out, that wasn't totally the case. I was in a vulnerable place, sure, but after reflecting, I find I'm on my way to bouncing back. I dedicated nearly all of my time to this assignment today, so I hope to get back on track with my niche website tomorrow and finish it by next week. Today and yesterday were great opportunities for learning and growth, not to mention the act of developing my professional acumen through this assignment. Everyone makes mistakes, this is a guarantee, but what's important is to not beat yourself up about them too badly. They're a normal occurrence! Shaming or discouraging yourself isn't the way to go about things. I accepted that my disappointment was a normal reaction, instead of trying to smother it down or allow myself to be consumed by it, and promptly began to right the issue. That was a level of professionalism that you would have been hard-pressed to see from me a few months ago! I let my feelings be and got down to the bottom of the issue, and was able to complete the assignment in a timely fashion. This is an experience that I am likely to reflect on whenever I encounter another inevitable hurdle in my career; in fact, I can carry these attitudes over to my life in general. A momentary setback is just that–momentary. Also, I forgot to mention, but happy two weeks to me...Big wheel keep on turning!
I'm going to be completely honest when I say that today, I felt a bit discouraged. I had been doing more research for my website and a few hours in, I realized that I received an email saying I had "missed the mark", so to speak– Apparently, I haven't completed a sufficient amount of unit assignments thus far. I was sure that I was hitting milestones and completing work according to the plan, but alas, this wasn't the case. I'm not sure what happened! Maybe I was so keen on breezing through the content that I missed a few assignments. Whatever it is, I definitely want to catch up before the end of this week. As soon as I read the email, I put my niche website research on hold and checked for an outstanding assignment. I only recently added a picture to my profile, in the hopes that the notification would disappear. After checking, I realized I had yet another notification, alerting me to complete my resume/cover letter/LinkedIn assignment. I'm not sure how it was that I overlooked this completely, but I've begun reviewing the content in this section and have updated my Linkedin so far. Now, I need to work on cultivating my resume and cover letter. Even though this situation is less than ideal, I'm not gonna let this affect my work ethic and desire to continue moving through this program. For most of my life, I found myself aligning with the attributes of a typical perfectionist. In my case though, if I don't succeed the first time I attempt something, I tend to give up fairly easily. The content on Techie Youth has made me realize that this attitude isn't conducive to setting myself up for success. I have to learn to be okay with (relative) failures and making mistakes, as there is no room for growth if you do everything right. This incident has served as an important lesson for me, and I'll be sure to keep it in mind moving forward. Going two steps forward and one step back is still progress!
Most of my time today consisted of making decisions, which as a self-proclaimed indecisive person, isn't the easiest thing to do. From site layouts, to themes, to content, it seems the choices never end. I settle on one thing, then view a previously unseen option, and I'm back to square one! Honestly, even though it gets frustrating at times, I think the work I'm doing here is beneficial. In life, sometimes you have to make difficult decisions. I recall something my mother told me regarding decision-making that really stuck with me– "Making no decision, is a decision". It really resonated, because it's true! Doing nothing, the state of inactivity, is still a choice. You choose to do something or do nothing. My life has consisted of a lot of choices to do the latter; to sit on the sidelines, to fail to act, for a myriad of reasons. My time in Techie Youth has really shown me the necessity of taking action. I can't let my life pass me by. I have to "get hungry" and fight for what's mine. So what if it doesn't go my way immediately? There's always room for improvement. I've been carrying these newfound attitudes in mind as I've been making tweaks on my site, and I there's a palpable difference in my feelings and actions when I hit a roadblock. I'm loving this newfound sense of confidence I have, and I know for a fact that it's going to keep growing as I improve upon my indecisive nature. I can't wait!
I did it! I was able to work my way through all the content on creating and monetizing a niche website in the course. I'm sure I'll continue reviewing the content as time goes on, though. Now, I am prepared for the actual undertaking, which is to create the site itself. In the time I had today, I was able to select a domain name (hello, VersedVegan.com!) and use wordpress.org on the site. I deleted that pesky first ''Hello World' post, to start with an entirely blank slate. After this was complete, I spent the bulk of my time researching potential niches and topics for articles that I'd write about on the site. I do want to spend more time planning out my website and how it will look, what it will contain, etc. I truly want to avoid it coming out too sloppy and disorganized, so this all might take me some time to do. You can't rush perfection, though! All in all, though I had some nerves about the task prior to finishing up the course, the process of actually purchasing the domain and designing the website was more straightforward than I initially believed. I spent just under $9 purchasing my domain on PorkBun. I hope the money I make from monetizing this site will eventually pay me more than it's worth (and then some!). Today's website creation was remnant of but way more advanced compared to my little elementary school site designing stint. It's cool to see how far I've come since then. I've been feeling a little nostalgic and reminiscing, which is a positive side effect of this work. I want to make younger me proud by making this website out to be something great!
Today's learning centered around absorbing lots of content (largely articles) regarding ways to expand regarding a niche website. I didn't expect there to be so many, honestly! One focus was email marketing. Honestly, I didn't think much of it to start. My preconceived notions, plus my status as being a consumer for most of my life, led me to believe that if anything, mass emailing potential customers would just be annoying. Don't we all have an inbox (inboxes...) that is filled with promotional emails that we never give a second thought? Despite this assumption, further investigation proved how significant of a role promotional emails often play in increasing the likelihood of a sale. There are people who are way more invested with their email; and they obviously make up a portion of potential buyers. It's really key to broaden your perspective when it comes to business. Short-sightedness holds you back a lot, though it isn't easy to admit to. This goes back to the value of business partnerships, as combining various perspectives can lead to great developments. Another topic was that of ebooks, which initially confused me. What do ebooks and niche websites have in common? I remember reading a great point that really synthesized the two concepts for me. Ebooks are a tool in the sense that they can amalgamate information about a certain topic so that it's all in one singular place. Sure, a website can be considered one "page", but you have to click around, on certain tabs or articles, to get a full view of what you want to know. Having everything all together, plus the factor of needing to purchase an ebook (so the reader is inclined to get what they paid for) is an efficient way to inform consumers and get paid. The more you know!
Or should I say, scratching the surface of that niche? There's honestly many levels to creating a niche website; more than a regular website, which was a surprise to me for some reason. I previously thought that given how specific and (fairly) limited niche websites were would make them more straightforward compared to a plain old generalized webpage. However, the specificity lends to another layer of complexity. Who knew? Indeed, if you really want to profit off your niche, you have to treat it like a normal website, and then some. Ensuring your web page's security is key to keep visitors on your site in the first place. Lacking the proper certificate will prompt warnings from browsers like Chrome and Safari to users that your site may be trying to steal your information, which would be an *awful* first impression! There's also a couple of fees that come with confirming your domain name, other necessary certificates, web design, and more. Hey, you have to spend money to make money, right? Another expense might come in writers for your website. If you really want to maximize monetary gains, it might be a good idea to hire someone to produce the content on your website. Pages that chug out valuable content weekly, or even daily, tend to rank the highest. That's another thing to worry about; ranking on Google's search results! If your page is higher up on the list, you're way more likely to accrue traffic on your website. You can boost your chances of this happening by researching keywords that people are searching for and implementing them in your content. SEO tactics are truly a must to raise your traffic levels, and doing so will increase the likelihood of making some money on your site! Consciously including ads (not too many so the reader is overwhelmed) and neatly incorporating affiliate links are great ways to make some money on your site. I'm honestly looking forward to choosing a niche topic and following the right steps to make my creation blossom!
Today honestly feels really rewarding for me. I got through the introductory entrepreneurship course, worth a whopping 6 credits! That, plus the two prerequisites I completed, comes out to 14 credits. I know for a fact that graduating from Techie Youth is a possible outcome, I only need another 6 units! I'm really proud of the progress I've been making, as well as my performance in the program. I submitted my Executive Summary and I'm pretty confident about it. I honestly thought of the business idea semi on-the-fly, but when I developed it, the idea became less of a fleeting thought and more of something I'd seriously consider pursuing. I think that mindset is a result of my time in Techie Youth, honestly. This program has lowered my inhibitions towards entrepreneurship quite a bit. I never thought it was something I'd be good at, or believed it was too overwhelming to put any energy towards. With my newfound knowledge, it all feels less intimidating. If I follow the right steps, my potential is limitless. Now that I've finished the initial entrepreneurship chapter, I've decided to move on to the niche websites course. When I was in elementary school, I randomly decided to make my own website talking about my school and various positive and negative aspects pertaining to it. Though it was kind of a one-off thing, I remember being really excited about it and having fun creating it and showing it off. Fast forward to now, I haven't really made too many websites (if any XD) since then, but that experience always stuck with me. I think I chose the perfect course to follow through with as I know I have definite potential in this area. I love making collages and perfecting school powerpoint presentations so that they're aesthetically pleasing; I also happen to enjoy writing as well, and I think those skills will be helpful when it comes to creating a niche website. I wasn't familiar with what niche websites were up until today, and I still need time to choose a specific niche that is specific enough to get clicks, but not too specific so that it gains no traction. We'll see when the time comes, for now, I'm just reveling in my progress ^.^
Is there a better way to start your morning than reviewing the nuances of entrepreneurship? I'd say that's debatable! Ha-ha, but really though, even if consuming content pertaining to business lingo isn't preferred by many, I argue that it's still worthwhile... especially in this economy. Now more than ever, it is crucial to be aware of tactics to boost earnings and productivity if you want to not only stay afloat but thrive. These chapters and topics make the daunting task of starting a business feel less scary, as they are put in plain terms and easy-to-digest language. The many videos feature real live people, so it's apparent that you aren't the first to think about doing something like this and surely won't be the last. For those who lack that naturally entrepreneurial spirit, that buffer is quite reassuring. Today's learning involved coverage of the MVP, or Minimally Viable Product. In short, it's a process in which you essentially dip your business's toe into the water to gain more insight concerning how to get your product in the hands of consumers. This was an interesting concept as I assume many think a business should dive in head first and try to garner as much profit as possible from the onset. This seems like a much safer, viable option. Additionally, I found out more about the tactics behind maximizing sales and customers. Unsurprisingly, a lot of these dealings are very mental. This was cool to see as I've been taking many psychology courses at my college, and it's fascinating to see just how much of a role it plays in various aspects of life. I still have a bit more content to work through before the task of creating my own executive summary needs addressing. I'm a little nervous, but I feel pretty prepared thanks to all of the conceptual ideas that have been provided for me to pore over. Wish me luck!
Today marks a very special occasion, though to many it may seem superfluous. This is my 7th day of working through the Techie Youth program – for those who are unfamiliar, that's a whole week! It seems like the time is flying by honestly. I think I'm really making good headway and am on track to graduating before the SYEP program ends. I am still moving through the introductory entrepreneurship chapter, which is no surprise- for 6 credits,n of course there's gonna be loads of content to work with. Today's topics were especially fascinating, however. I gained insight into the branding process and everything that goes into that. I really took interest in creating a slogan, a website, and logo designing. While it's possible to outsource help for all of these, I find that if I were to have my own business, I'd want to do these myself. They seem like a great creative outlet and that they would be fun to do, even though it's technically "work". As they say, love what you do and you'll never have to work a day in your life! I also learned more about the value of teamwork when it comes to a business. With all of the nooks and crannies of entrepreneurship that have to be addressed, the load gets lightened when you have a good partner to explore them, with you. Having a cofounder that is as passionate about the business as you are is a total life hack. Of course, there are upsides and downsides, but these can and should be weighed out before getting into any serious agreements with a potential partner. I found out about what an executive summary is, which is important as I'll need to create one at the end of this chapter! I'm gonna be completely honest for a second. Sometimes it seems the more I advance, the more content there is, and it can get overwhelming. Despite this, I don't let it get me down for long. I know that my work won't go to waste, as doing this is beneficial and contributes to me learning valuable information pertaining to the aspects of remote work. Even though a week is significant, and I'm proud of myself for getting this far...it's still only a week! I have around a month left to go over these materials. I'm gonna keep pushing myself so that I can achieve great things as a result of Techie Youth. I can't wait to see where I'll be in weeks 2, 3, and so on. Hurray to being official!
Today, I continued to advance in the introductory portion of entrepreneurship. I must say, all of the complexities pertaining to it are a bit daunting. Seeing all of the conditions really emphasizes the fact that it's a good idea to invest time in planning your business in order to have the best shot at success. Despite this, I learned today that failure can actually be considered a good thing in certain cases; especially early on into establishing a business. It can highlight the problems and weak points of your business model, allowing for improvements and better execution later down the line. Additionally, I learned that competition is largely avoidable, and actually a necessary portion of having a business. A lack of competition in the market for your business/product can be a sign that your business is unprofitable or that there isn't a large audience for your product. Indeed, I'm starting to see that if things seem too good to be true regarding your business, it likely is. There will always be room for error and mistakes; they allow you to create stronger reinforcements later down the line. This highlights the fact that you shouldn't let failure discourage you. It should act as a motivator, to point you in the right direction and convey that there are aspects you can improve upon. Being an entrepreneur isn't easy by any means. There's plenty of long hours, research, and tweaking that needs to be done in order to get a shot at achieving something substantial. With increased time and effort comes increased chances at success!
Well. I finally did it! I officially got through the first two introductory prerequisites for Techie Youth. Was it easy? No, it wasn't quite what I expected... Was it worth it? Yes! No regrets whatsoever. It was a lot of content, sure, but it was all really valuable information that will contribute to me taking viable steps to become increasingly versed in the remote job world. Before this, I wasn't aware that there were so many different layers and nuances regarding remote work. It's great to gain insight, and I'll for sure be looking over all the materials in those chapters later down the line as a well needed refresher. Now that I've completed the two initial prerequisites, I only have one more pre-req to get through before I can start choosing my courses. I'm honestly so excited! There are definitely some topics I'd like to hone in on and start expressing my ability with. However, I definitely see the purpose of this final pre-req (Entrepreneurship and Leadership) and won't be rushing through it. I also took my time finishing up the final sections of the "Improving Your Quality of Life" unit. The section on jetsetters piqued my interest as I've always had dreams of starting my own youtube channel and/or being an influencer, but never really looked into how exactly I'd go about doing so. Seeing that there are solid, tangible ways to go about it and increase the chances of success was inspiring and made the dream more realistic for me. Digital nomadism also sounds like something I'd be into, as I'm really into travel. It's definitely key to follow certain precautions, though, which I was reminded of in this section of the unit. The provided resources were helpful though, as they showed me that there are measures I can institute to mitigate certain issues. Today was an exciting day, I feel like I've completed a significant achievement by getting through those initial prerequisites. My journey is truly starting to begin; soon I'll really be making Money Moves!!!!
You know, I thought of that title on a whim honestly, but I think it should start being used more frequently. Wishing someone good luck is a little played out, don't you think? We should be wishing that people get the best out of life, that's where it's at. Day 4 of Techie youth was productive, as I finished up the first prerequisite and moved on to "Improving Your Quality of Life". Honestly, this is a great introductory course. Everyone can stand to improve their lives in some ways, and this review lays out a myriad of ways to do exactly that. There was an emphasis on the fact that some things will be out of your control, and this is true. This doesn't mean you should just give up and let life pass you by, however! There's always room for improvement, enjoyable experiences, etc. Money isn't everything, but finances do play a large role in our lives. It's important to be organized and responsible regarding these matters. They say time is money, so time should be treated in a similar fashion. Boundaries come up again in the sense that you should set reasonable limits for work and play. You shouldn't be working around the clock, but you shouldn't be wasting your time on menial activities either if you don't have to. There are ways to make the best use of your time, and they should be implemented if possible. Finally, don't let stress, stress you out! It's a normal human emotion, but it often goes too far and becomes uncontrolled when we fail to utilize proper coping strategies. Don't be a pawn for your emotions or other people's reactions for that matter. I'm excited to continue receiving guidance pertaining to improving my quality of life!
After day 3 of perusing the Techie Youth site, I think I can finally say I'm getting a hang of it! I'm grasping the material, evident in the grades I've gotten on the quizzes I've taken so far (passed all of them on my first try!). My usage, which I check periodically, seems to be reflecting my activity levels accurately for the most part. I'm optimistic I'll keep advancing and graduate from the program within a reasonable time frame. Overall, I think the material I've been working through is teaching me a lot, though I know I have way more to learn. It's great to see videos by the founder of Techie Youth as it makes the program feel less manufactured. There are real humans behind all of this, which is encouraging. I'm always left impressed after seeing his videos, you can tell this dude has SO much knowledge!! It just flows through him effortlessly. I have dreams of possibly becoming a content creator myself, so it's inspiring to see. Today I gained some important knowledge regarding autonomy in a remote-work sense. Firstly, it is key to not overestimate your abilities. This can be turning down a project, or working around the clock without breaks because it's "no big deal". Avoiding this is a great way to achieve a work/life balance and lowers the risk of burnout. Assumptions are also another thing to avoid, especially when collaborating with others. They can cause miscommunications and errors that wouldn't have posed a problem otherwise. You should also keep yourself in check and make sure to stay humble and respectful. This aids in forming meaningful connections with coworkers, which can increase efficiency in the long run. Finally, setting boundaries is *crucial*. Learning to say no, or to not accept an opportunity immediately (so as to weigh your options) is an absolute must if you want to thrive. It's not easy, sure, but nothing in life really comes easy. Let's hear it for day 3!!!
Well, today was my second day of navigating through the Techie Youth Program. I must say, there's quite a lot of information to navigate and "chew on", so to speak. Despite this, I'm starting to feel that ravenous hunger that was mentioned so many times in the content I reviewed today! No, it's not real hunger. In fact, I had a balanced breakfast today (which I don't often do for whatever reason) so that was far from the reality. This hunger pertains to an intense desire to seek out opportunities. It's an attitude that employers favor highly and is the only attitude for a leader to get to the top. You honestly can't settle for less if you want to be number one, and who wants to be number two? Then you'll be the first to lose XD. Realistically though, there will be failures; you won't get that job you desired, to do a certain project, etc. You can't let that hunger, that fire, that PASSION, fizzle out, though. Keep going, keep moving, keep searching. You'll be hard-pressed for something you desired to magically fall into your lap (though some people are lucky like that). You have to go out and find it yourself. This is way better; then your lap will be prepared and you can jump straight to it haha! Today's focus was also on how you come across as a professional. It's so crucial to maintain your public image and come off as someone...well, employable. I got to create a few socials and follow Techie Youth on all the platforms. I also looked myself up and didn't see much, so in the future, I'll ensure I build a suitable online presence. I'm honestly so grateful for the abundance of knowledge available on this site and am eager to continue making my way through it :)
Today was my first official day being immersed in the Techie Youth experience. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and I have to agree. Techie Youth just happened to exceed my expectations! The layout was impressive and highly professional. I was a fan of the many youtube videos, some even featuring the founder. They helped to add some dynamic energy vs. just reading text. Don't get me wrong though- the articles that were included were very informative. Altogether, a sort of synergy was produced where I felt engaged despite this being a remote position. Some key takeaways from today include the topic of resiliency vs. fear. It reminded me of the famous quote by FDR- "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Additionally, we shouldn't fear failure. We just have to get back up again, taking what we've learned and applying it to future experiences. Another focus today was money, unsurprisingly. I learned the importance of preventing fraud and techniques to lessen the chances of it occurring. When it comes to dealing with money- namely banking, withdrawing, and earning- it is important to find what works best for you. You should consider your needs at the moment and not just jump at whatever "sounds" like a good deal. Do your research! There is a risk of financial loss any time money is involved. This is an extremely significant consideration that should be taken into account regarding monetary dealings. All in all, this was a memorable first day and I'm excited to continue learning and growing in the program!