Layoff University, Vol. 1: Learning, Building, and Dreaming

When I wrote about getting laid off last month , I mentioned my desire to spend time learning and building.

So, what have I been up to since then?

For the past three weeks, I've embarked on a journey I'm lovingly calling ✨ Layoff University. ✨

As working adults, we often don't get tons of free time to indulge in tangential learning and side projects. So, I'm using unemployment as an opportunity to dive into all the cool things I didn't get a chance to do while working. Eventually, I'll shift toward more practical job hunting activities. But, for now, I'm leaning into what's most fun for me.

My layoff bucket list

On building an AT Proto app

I'm excited about this bucket item. Since attending AtmosphereConf in March , I've wanted to build an app that will help me move my mindfulness community away from Big Tech's walled gardens. This app won't be The One App to Free My Community from Big Tech; but, for now, it's a chance to get my feet wet and get a working knowledge of the ecosystem.

On completing the Full-Stack Open

Considering I spent the last three years as a professional software engineer, it may surprise you to learn I'm completing a course in full stack development. But since my experience was doing backend systems work in a very company-specific domain, I'm feeling a bit rusty with frontend development and using open source tools. Before I go all-in on my side projects, I'm using this course to refamiliarize myself.

On reading Designing Data-Intensive Applications

This book has been recommended to me many times by colleagues and managers; I just never got around to finishing it. Since the 2nd edition was released February, this is a great chance to finally complete it.

On reading How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

Another exciting bucket list item! I've been an afrofuturism enthusiast ever since reading Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower in college. Most people just think of the novel as a dystopian sci-fi (and they're certainly correct), but Earthseed and the Acorn community sparked my drive to build a solarpunk future.

Octavia Butler is an ancestor now, but N.K. Jemisin has done a fantastic job of holding her torch. Already after reading "The Ones Who Stay and Fight," the first story in How Long 'Til Black Futures Month? I'm inspired by her direct challenge to readers: dare to dream of a utopian future. Instead of being bogged down by It could never work! why not ask ourselves, How can we make this work?

This bucket item may seem unrelated to the rest, but it's actually the one that ties everything together. Although I'm a software engineer by trade, I'm not motivated by technology alone. What matters most to me is what we can do with the technology, and how we can use it to build a better future for everyone.

Afrofuturism keeps me inspired, and helps me dream of these better futures.

What I did since the layoff

Standup time! Here's the progress I've made on my bucket list so far:

Extracurriculars:

Attended a Dweb virtual meetup. I heard about Dweb from various folks in the ATProto community, so I attended, as their ethos seems to vibe with mine. I'm glad I went, as I got to learn about many cool projects like the Public AI Network, the Protopian Sci-Fi prize, and permacomputing. ( I've gathered related links using Semble. )

My focus this week

Complete Part 4 of Full Stack Open

Read Ch. 3 of Designing Data-Intensive Applications

Read 4 short stories from How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

Extracurriculars:

Complete Zendo Project's Psychedelic Care and Harm Reduction training. This is a bit of a side quest, but I'm also interested in the recent research that's been done on psychedelics for treating trauma and depression. This training won't license me to facilitate sessions (which are legal here in Oregon), but it will give me the training to provide support for people having challenging trips.

My blockers

No real blockers, but a couple things that have slowed down my progress:

Caring for my aging dog. This one's a bummer. My 15 year-old dog's health is declining, and the spouse and I are trying to navigate the best care for her. I don't have much to say here; it's been a rough emotional rollercoaster. But, when she has good days, I'm spending time with her outside.

Balancing "free time" with requests from friends and family. Now that I'm unemployed, I find myself navigating unexpected requests from friends and family. I'm happy to help wherever I can, but - if I'm to complete my goals - I'll need to set boundaries and guard my time.

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Have you ever been laid off? I'd love to hear about your experience, and if you have any wisdom to impart!