A Meetup, A Mindset Shift

The Meetup

Today I went to a tech meetup. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a really good experience. I met a bunch of people—including a CTO—and had some surprisingly deep conversations. Even though his company isn’t hiring juniors, just talking to someone in that position felt encouraging.

Multiple people told me I seemed confident and outgoing. That meant a lot to hear, because it didn’t always feel that way internally. I think I’m learning to “show up” better in public—even when I still have doubts or insecurities in private.

It felt like I was being two versions of myself: one that connects with people, laughs, shares; and another that goes home and sinks into quiet overthinking. Maybe both are real. I’m just learning how to hold space for both.

Sometimes it’s not about walking away with a job or a contact. Sometimes it’s just about proving to yourself that you can be part of the conversation.

And today, I was.