<p>A bit wary about the topic, but I suppose it does a sufficient job … hopefully.</p>
<p>At some point, maybe around seventh or eighth grade, I realized that I could learn nearly anything that I wanted to. And I started focusing on things I truly had a desire to learn. I stopped wasting time on trivial matters, and spent every unoccupied second learning. I was no longer limited by the boundaries of a school curriculum, and I could venture into the unknown, with nothing to lose.</p>
<p>These forays actually started much earlier, though not on a conscious level. When I was nine years old, I was on holiday in St. Barts. I had just returned from a local jeweler, where I’d bargained for a pack of leather strings and a tray of leftover metal scraps. That night, I set about designing bracelets and necklaces, and my nine-year-old self reveled in my creations. I sold them on the beach, and returned home one hundred euros richer.</p>
<p>From there, I began to dabble in a number of rudimentary activities. At nine, I learned the algorithms necessary for solving a Rubik’s Cube, and by the end of the day, I was able to solve it in around a minute.</p>
<p>My first real endeavor was Photoshop *it took a few months to grasp its roots, but now, I’ve mastered the program inside and out. Later, I tackled Illustrator, which wasn’t much of a challenge given it and Photoshop’s homogeneous features.</p>
<p>Recently, I developed an interest in architecture *specifically modern architecture. So I began teaching myself Cinema 4D, which I also use to manufacture digital product designs. In an attempt to broaden my linguistic arsenal, I speak with friends in France and Germany fairly often, in their respective languages. Latterly, I’ve been drafting business models, and figuring out the art of piano playing.</p>
<p>I’ve always loved fully grasping a concept, or mastering an ability. What I’ve realized is that success is simply the fruit of failure. Almost nothing I’ve done has been achieved without failed attempts and what I love, is that you can set them on the workbench, and move on.</p>