16 Comments
User's avatar
Corey Yin's avatar

Took a gap year in my undergrad to explore a startup idea. The year nearing, and it took longer than expected to build a prototype. Now, I feel an invisible push to return to school absorb breadth-based and instead of depth-based knowledge. Idk it is what it is I guess.

Y W's avatar

I love art and tech too. I wonder how did you learn how to use those tools like Adobe. Or any editing tools. Where to start if you mind sharing

cole's avatar

https://www.instagram.com/covacut/reels/

i make tutorials! i also like to build projects and have each step be worked through using tutorials.

Y W's avatar

I followed you there and I love your editing style. that’s why I wonder if for beginner to learn how to edit video using PR, those VFX etc— any resources where do we learn the editing skills? Thanks heaps

Elizabeth Qiu's avatar

I found out about you from mutuals around this time last year! So glad to see you continue to grow and pursue your creative interests :) Love your content

cole's avatar

thank you so much!!

jia's avatar

amazing, love how you worded this

cole's avatar

thank you jia!

Emanuel Perez's avatar

Felt this as someone who wants to go full time into storytelling and feel way more alive doing that than hosting AI workshops. One keeps my spirit fueled while the other hypes my ego. Reading this makes the dream seem a little more possible.

Thanks for writing this.

cole's avatar

cheering you on! combining tech and creativity has opened so many doors for me, too. the era of hyphenated careers is just starting.

Zhio's avatar

I m passionate about AI. So I also think to pursue it further. I always mutter curses as I program but I love the results and the happiness I felt that only lasts a minute. But I always saw others that they graduate with ai engineering from elite schools and quit the very next year from their high paying jobs sayin it suck your vary soul. Can you tell me is it really that much depressing to do a job at big tech companies? But isn't all the jobs block your mind to think about anything else. I m confused.

cole's avatar
Oct 28Edited

heyy zhi! i think what people mean when they say tech "sucks your soul" isn't necessarily about the work itself, it's about losing sight of why you're doing it. If you're passionate about AI, that passion can absolutely sustain you, but it helps to stay connected to what excites you about it (the results, the breakthroughs) rather than just the prestige or paycheck. big tech can be amazing for learning and impact, but it can also pull you away from what initially drew you in. the key is keeping that spark alive, whatever environment you're in.

Justin's avatar

Thanks for your work for Anthropic campaigns

Yeon Jin Lee's avatar

Love your newsletter. I left tech for film and while the pay difference is appalling, it felt (and still does feel) meaningful to make the jump. Thanks for sharing your journey!

Emily Hsu's avatar

Cole, your story is so inspiring and hits at the root of what many people are grappling with in this generation. I'm excited to see you continue choosing art, and I'll be rooting for you every step of the way!

Serene Liu's avatar

This was so inspirational, thank you! I felt understood