I recently reviewed my job submissions. It's been two months since June 15, 2024. During this time, I’ve applied to nearly 40+ positions. I received quite a few interviews—some via video, some via phone call. But I got rejected more. Transitioning into a new field is challenging, but the number of interviews I’ve received suggests that there still are opportunities for me in this field.

When I first started to realize time is a treasure was around 2018. At that age, I was full of energy, and I realized that the prime years for pushing myself into new areas perhaps only had about five years (i.e. before 35). But at that time, I was still pursuing my studies, dedicating more time to completing my education. So I started this plan after my graduation.

Yesterday, I had an interview for an internship, the recruiter asked me why I’m so eager to enter this industry. It made me think. Despite having the highest degree in my field and having a stable and comfortable life, I’ve always felt drawn to another industry. What drives me? Today, I want to explore my internal motivations.

When people are drawn to a new industry, it usually starts with interest and passion, and I’m no different. While doing my PhD, I developed a strong interest in programming. The ability to create functionalities through code fascinated me—especially compared to using Excel. Coding was so convenient and efficient, particularly for automating repetitive tasks. This experience fueled my desire to keep learning programming languages and create practical tools. Initially, I was torn between learning R and Python. Ultimately, I chose Python for its broader applications.

When I first ventured into programming, I started with Java, following tutorials on YouTube. But I felt that I couldn’t really create anything practical. Python was different, I could immediately apply what I learned to my research, which gave me motivation. Through these experiences, I realized that I had the perseverance to continue learning coding.

After graduation, I aimed to find a job as a data scientist/analytics, but my coding skill was not up to par. I knew I needed to upskill, so I embarked on a self-learning journey through platforms like Coursera, DataCamp, Kaggle, and LeetCode. However, I quickly realized that self-study makes it difficult to improve my competitiveness. The fastest way to get into a new area would be to pursue another degree. However, I need to work and earn a living after graduation. So, I continued working in my field while studying at night. During that time, I found that every time I resolved a bug in my code, I found immense satisfaction. I could stay up late to solve these problems without any reward. I could have spent the time for relaxing, but I chose to learn code instead. From this, I realized that this is something I’m truly passionate about and can sustain over the long term.

Even though I didn’t find work in this field, I’ve never wavered in my belief in the power of programming. After watching the movie "The Matrix" and observing the technology today, I am convinced that a world built on code is not only possible but perhaps already exists. When I first learned about blockchain technology, it strengthened my belief that a consensus mechanism driven by code can build a new world. People tend to trust code (assuming it’s bug-free) more than human promises, revealing a deep desire for trust. Today, it’s common to see discrepancies between what is said and what is done. I realized that clarification can be perfectly correct to earn trust, but actions often deviate based on personality. If someone truly does the right thing, that’s great, but others might find ways to bypass the rules while doing something bad. For ordinary people, it’s impossible to keep track of all these details, making them vulnerable. With blockchain, those uncertainties can be transformed into certainties, ensuring that things can be done according to the rules. This is revolutionary.

The combination of blockchain and programming has given me a clear direction for my future. I want to be part of establishing these new rules of the game. I treat programming as a tool to accomplish my ideas. I believe that understanding programming is like studying a language like English. I don’t aspire to be a literary genius, but I need to be able to communicate with the world of code.

From a broader perspective, I’ve realized that this is what I want to do with my life. If I break down life into three 30-year phases, the first 30 years are for education. During this time, I acquire systematic thinking, gain work experience, and develop my own perspectives on education and society. This is a stage of finding my own direction. Then, the next 30 years are for deepening that direction, striving to become a top expert in this field, achieving significant accomplishments, and earning respect. The final 30 years are for passing on my experiences. Whether I succeed or fail, the goal is to guide the next generation to success or avoid mistakes, much like how the previous generation guided us. If, by then, I’m still healthy and mentally sharp, I believe that would be the best state of life. To achieve this, I must start making changes now, constantly adjusting myself. At the end of life, regret won’t come from the things that failed but from the things that untried.

I believe this is the source of my motivation. I’m uncertain about the future, but I know that only by taking action I will receive feedback and results.