So what motivates me?

Improving myself!
I find joy in knowing that I am getting better, be it learning a new skill or becoming someone I respect more. And I dream big! While I enjoy this process of growth, there is one skill I’m always actively training: the ability to learn itself.
I do believe this is something I can get better at, and it keeps me honest. I don’t let myself take shortcuts to learning, because shortcuts mean I’m not actually understanding. If I’m not understanding, I’m not getting better. It defeats the purpose.

Now, past this mindset’s obvious application in an academic setting, it also guides my decisions in everyday life. I often (somewhat impulsively) decide I want to do something productive with my life. Maybe it’s picking up a new habit, learning a new skill, or fixing some problem I have. No matter what it is though, I dedicate myself to it.
When my friends invited me along to an impromptu visit to a gymnastics gym, I decided then and there: I will do a backflip. In just a few days, I did.
When I realized I hated how my keyboard looked and sounded, I spent a few weeks researching them. By the end, I built and modded two keyboards myself.
When I decided I wanted a place to show the world who I am and what I’ve done, I spent the next few months learning how to build a website. Welcome!