Six weeks ago, I joined academyEx with a single intention: to re-invigorate my curiosity and love for learning. I had just left a corporate role feeling burnt out and disoriented. My executive functioning—planning, prioritization, self-management—had taken a backseat. I needed space, not just to breathe, but to rebuild. That’s what led me here.
And wow, it’s been a ride.
From day one, I felt a sense of pride just being accepted. Meeting the team during induction was electric. It was clear that this wasn’t traditional education. It was human-centered, adult-respecting, and deeply intentional. I felt seen.
Then came the first assignment.
Suddenly, I was overwhelmed. The excitement gave way to anxiety. I’d underestimated how much I relied on old systems of self-management that no longer served me. Topics like Global Geopolitics, IoT, Robotics, and Critical Thinking had me deep-diving like never before—but without a solid system, I was swimming in too many directions at once.
The inner critic got loud. “Maybe I’m a bad student.” That was the voice until… I received feedback. It was kind. Informative. A lifeline. It gave me direction and confidence to keep going.
I won’t lie—I wish I could go back and coach my past self. But I also know: it’s the messy middle that made me stronger.
Now, six weeks in, I feel great. I’m just at the beginning, but I already see how much I’ve grown. And I know I made the right call choosing academyEx. Their support structure—especially the integration of industry mentors—was exactly what I needed to keep going.
So, to anyone considering this journey, here’s my advice:
- Trust the process. Do the weekly readings. They’re more valuable than they first seem.
- Speak up. Use Slack. Talk to lecturers. Ask for help out loud. Watch how your vulnerability builds community.
- Plan your info intake. Build a note-taking system from day one. I highly recommend Forever Notes.
- Use AI tools. Jennie, Storm, ChatGPT, NotebookLM—play with them. They’ll be your sidekicks for staying ahead.
- Reflect often. Daily, weekly. Keep a journal. Share it out loud once in a while. You never know who it might help.
This blog? Written through a heart-to-heart conversation with ChatGPT. It’s part reflection, part advice, and all truth. Here’s to the next six weeks.
