How shall I begin this? Gosh, it’s been a month since we were there last time. Maybe I should begin by admitting that I used to be trapped by Facebook. I was addicted, and couldn’t find a way out of it until now. Honestly, it feels so much better without it, especially the social things happening daily in our country.
What’s the first thing you do every morning? Scrolling? And what kind of news feed do you get? People got into accidents, young bloody gangs fighting each other if not for the girl, then being drunk.
If you know how to manage your Facebook newsfeed and use it the right way, that’s great. In my case, I’ve tried various experiments and realized that no matter how strict I set my social media usage, it didn’t work. So, I took a simple step and deleted the app. Simple as that.
Of course, I still download it occasionally to post, share, or check something. But overall, it has significantly helped me reduce my screen time this year.
Isn’t it ironic? Visiting the Facebook office and now writing about how it made me feel addicted and negatively impacted my daily life? Maybe I’ll never have the chance to go there again, or maybe they don’t even care (of course, they don’t!).
Enough said.
During our time in Seattle, we were fortunate to have Rod’s brother, Makara, invite us to the Meta office where he works. Last time I was in the States, I missed the chance due to COVID restrictions. After arriving at the office, we met Siv Prak, a Cambodian student who received a scholarship to study in Singapore and then pursued a bachelor’s degree in the U.S. and is now working at Meta. (Don’t you want to hear about her amazing journey? I sure do.)
from the rooftop at Meta.
With the limited time we had, Rod ensured that the students had the chance to ask questions about their academic and work experiences, preparing them for life after high school. During the Q&A session, the students asked many great questions about finding their path, pursuing careers at places like Facebook, and more.
There is a famous market in Seattle called Pike Place Market. Interestingly, at the Meta office, they converted it into a playful phrase on the wall that says “Like Place Market,” with the Space Needle logo in between, referencing both the iconic Seattle market and the Facebook “Like” feature. Gotta thump you up for that; good one!
And with each question, I found myself reflecting. These were the same questions I asked myself years ago. Now, as I’m about to graduate, these questions have resurfaced, and there are even more of them, too many to answer all at once.
These doubts and questions are daunting, but I believe it’s okay not to have all the answers at once. It’s okay to be where you are, doing what you enjoy, with the people you love, as long as you’re open to new challenges. Maybe it takes time to find the answers, maybe it takes a lifetime, but that’s what makes the journey exhilarating.
