2021 was the year I decided to be more intentional about my growth, and it started with the exciting world of arbitrage sports betting using a glitch in a significant number of betting platforms that increased the profit margin per play to +19 - 25%; this set the foundation for the other financial moves I made during the year. I started dabbling in cryptocurrency with some spot trading thanks to Xona, who introduced me to the volatile world of crypto. I hopped on futures trading afterward -That part didn't go so well- and SoftMist introduced me to the mind-numbing anxiety-inducing overwhelming world of low market caps that made mainstream crypto's volatility feel like a safe space. I made many new friends along the way; it's surprising how people bond over the ups and downs, but I suppose that makes sense; we generally judge the depth of relationships with other people by the range and complexity of emotions we feel while with them. It's been an eventful year with the BSC Bull, Sol Ecosystem Bull, and the NFT boom. Worked on an NFT project during the year too xD. I also set up 3 passive income streams outside of cryptocurrency and Cybersecurity.
Things changed in Cybersecurity as well. M4xhe4dr00m [ 5hyl0ck, Kurrupt68, Sh3n0kam3, and Nullcell ] became more than a hacker team and became more of a family - a brotherhood - we hack, we game, we game (Not a typo), we share financial ideas and explore every aspect of life all thanks to my leadership skills ofc (U_U ). I took on freelance jobs earlier in the year thanks to 404is and leveled up to getting jobs from top companies in Nigeria - (^*) Lulztigre as well as working with some of the leading cybersecurity experts in West Africa... NDAs forbid me from saying more than that xD.
During the year, I participated in and won 3 national cybersecurity competitions. During these competitions, I met other bright minds in the field. Finally created my website and worked (And still working) on a few personal projects of my own - one of which I released a write-up for a few weeks ago (Race Condition in Whatsapp). Helped with the creation of the Google Developer Student Club (GDSC) cyber-security track in the University of Ibadan. Hacked a lot of top-tier targets.
I continued my journey in pseudo-spirituality (Spirituality but grounded in logic) and sharpened my cold and hot reading skills to aura/vibe reading levels. I learned the basics of experience mimicry and hope to develop it as a skill. I also learned how to ground myself out of crisis/anxiety mode and do that to others. I learned a couple of other techniques I'd rather not mention.
Moved to my apartment and got my first skateboard, longboard, and car (leased to a car rental company for a long list of reasons) - only tricks I've learned right now are ghostride, nolliepivot, and fakiepivot. Bombed my first hill (skating term, I'm not a terrorist), which unexpectedly ended with me spraining both of my ankles and not being able to walk correctly for hours. Met other skaters, and we formed a group - If you're in Ibadan, skate (Skateboard, Longboard, Scooter, etc.) and would like to do that with other people, please do send a message.
I wrote my last exam for my bachelor's degree in Engineering (Yeah, not studying Cybersecurity/Computer Science) at my University. I made new friends, got closer to my old ones, and I'm glad everyone's growing.
It wasn't all good though, my nervous system practically malfunctioned for a few weeks by making things feel different from my awareness of them. To put in better context, I'd panic over half my body suddenly getting cold only to walk around to investigate and notice that it's the breeze hitting said half, and my brain just didn't know that was how a breeze was supposed to feel. I'd sit/lie down and not know where the chair/bed ended, and my body began - Feeling like half of the bed. Sleepiness felt like a void trying to swallow my consciousness. It became difficult to focus on music as a whole, and my brain would track one instrument. It wasn't pleasant - I spent hours in doctors' offices and carrying out tests, taking a lot of pills every night (Mostly supplements), but I learned to ground myself. I played basketball one day and noticed I felt better, a few games after, and felt like myself again. I sometimes wonder if I experience things as I used to or if my brain got used to the new experience and branded it normal.
I intend to level up some more. 2022 should be fun!