Semi-Refurbished Computers, for this Tutor’s got Seconds for Salsa
🤷♀️ ESTIMATED READING TIME: EIGHTEEN MINUTES
Disclaimer: Everything below is a mix of what I observed and heard during the event. The goal isn’t to pinpoint "who exactly said what," but to share (usually) an outsider's view and overall perspective on these industries. I’m not here to act as a definitive firsthand source—readers should do their own research. I hope this inspires you to attend events, explore new industries, and hear what leaders are presenting. These notes combine my observations with thoughts on how things could run smoother and how ideas connect (IMO). I’m not an expert, you know? Just hanging out in the room with them. Enjoy!
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I wrote this song after overhearing a few women at this laptop event. CLICK HERE.
Topics: Technology Accessibility, Internet, Opportunities, Equality, Poverty, Lower-Income, Donations, Gratitude, Community
Let’s head over to one of my very favorite places in seattle and get a free computer! Yes. It’s that simple (there are so many resources nation-wide… and from what I can tell, this group is really amazing. so i both support on them, and lean on them.) Lately, my income is so low that I qualify (but it really won’t last long!! But I’ve been thinking this for years, so now I’m really just like, okay. Let’s not get things to a really bad situation). You know… I could/will get into this more over time. But, this is semi-intentional, semi-reality. I’m fighting to hard to build what I know will work, and get by in the meantime, pouring all of my efforts into this work. After that, it’s the first of two nights of a salsa/bachata event, a free event offered by the city. I want to check it out for a number of reasons.
Why Attend: This group I love so much and I’m such a superfan of them. It happened naturally, from attending hteir events and being genuinely blown away time and time again… by hte community, environmnet, and content. Now, more lately, I’ve been invited to their charity-events as a receiver. First was for some clothes, the next is now - for a computer. I see this like I’d see myself working for a big corporation, you know? They pay SO MUCH - six figures and beyond… and that job often requires you to do things you don’t ethically agree with, but you get paid and do it - and it’s all built in. I’m doing the same. I’m not making huge pay, but i’m only doijng what I stand for - and now life is finding ways to supplament with some bonuses, like this computer + they gave me some amazing clothes a few weeks ago. ANd once things pick up, I will pour help back into this group and keep building amazing things with all of my efforts.
OVERALL EVENT REVIEW: Venue (5/5), Food (5/5), Speaker Content (3/5), Networking (5/5), Likeliness to Return (5/5) (i’ll give both events the same ratings)
Photo Collage and Commentary:
Notes from the Event:
Long COMMENT before we get started: this blog (and the next one) are really tough for me to write, like to get myself to write - for some reason - compared to others. I’m super tired lately, in a good way (?) I’ve just been pushing myself to be the best version of myself that I can at the moment. This means that on the days I have full responsibility of my daughter, I’m dedicating it nearly 90% to her happiness and learning and what I know kids are capable of. So, I only have her go to daycare about 5 hours those days, so I can take her downtown… or whatever place she request to go. We talk about it each morning. The playground or jumping place, or whatever. Then we go! And I try to really have a great time at each of these places and join her in the fun. And/or support her to having fun there, too. You know? While also balancing providing healthy foods (like we keep having super healthy picnics too, so I can save money, and then we eat by hte water or justhave amazing times together each time). Then the days she’s with her dad and grandma, I work as hard as I possibly can on my work. There are so so sosososoos many ideas inside of my mind for things I can create, you know? So I keep trying to work on these present things, and then the medium-term things, while also sharing my ideas for the long-term things (like making plays, theater shows, tv shows, series, movies) - sharing so many ideas and perspectives that I think can really help and empower education… childhood, and everoynes lives!!! So, these things I keep on believing in, and they’re starting to come together, possibly.
Anyway, my point is that on the days I can work as hard as I can, I do every time. Creating… even these social events I’m not able to NOT have HUGE takeaways from, and see social problems/solutions RIGHT THERE which we can totally use - make more money for businesses, improve nightlife (which literally this city wants), improve relationships, improve health, mindsets, everything! I see all of it coming together. And like I’m saying a lot lately, that’s why I’m also going to start writing journalistic scholarly articles!! You know? I came to play! and help. So. these blogs are jsut where I can take notes all of the time as I start to understand things in real time. The exact goal. I wanted to get off of the internet (cause so much is crazy) and start to learn from all that I can verify first-hand. Bit by bit.
But lately I’ve been extra social, adding in more social events than ever before lately - and then also really diving into building my classes and curriculum right here. So, its taking like all the efforts I can provide. At the same time, I’m making amazing htings. I say this cause i can’t STOP listening to my music I’m co-making with Ai… some songs are taking only 12 tries… (that’s my most recent, the one i attached to this blog) and SOME TOOK 200+ songs. Maybe 400+ really. I did a million tries on THIS ONE: (and for the record, only until rightnow did i remember that embedding is an opition, hahaa, so lemme embed both songs here - first will be the one I spend liek 400 tries on, the second only took 12 tries (inspired by the event below):
Yeahhh. So now we’re here and I have two blogs I’m behind on, and it just is also for some reason a bit tougher to write about this one - and the next one. Ether I’m in a (not in the mood to write blogs) mood, hahha maybe that a bit if I’m thinking of it as an option. (but also, what a better reason to at least try a bit. Doesn’t mean I need to overwrite, which as I write/think that i’m like - bro, you’re over writing. hahah, you’re IN THE MOOD to write a blog at least a bit). But some of this stuff is hard to talk/think about a bit. Especially the dance part. I still haven’t even fully processed it yet. So, I think we’ll sorta explore that together….
LAPTOP PRE-DISTRIBUTIONS:
This event is at one of my favorite places in seattle, which is rare (lol, i feel liek chatgpt saying “which is rare” cause it always says that) but its true. Cause so many places i roll my eyes at (UNFORTUNATELY!) in any city. You know? I wanna love it all.
BUT For DFSS, I’ve spend years getting to know them and I just am constantly jaw-dropped by their work. They’re so great in the quality, community, and consistency they provide - even before when I was doing extremely well at the time hahaha. And now I’m still doing well, but, monetarily, my income is low and I’m just building, building, building - and even a bit incognito, though its a little liek “woah, wait a minute” cause the expenses never end… so you gotta keep balacing expenses with reality. ANd try your best to keep up. And keep building ways to get up to the level you’re looking to be…. like i teach, add value to your time, skills, and worth.
So… I hand-wrote a few notes, which I’ll type up in a bit. But basically, people went around and shared how this computer would help them. Whether for work, cause they’re students… for me, I shared how my daughter had actually spilled water on my old work computer. Yeah. My computer i’d had for like 2+ years she broke by mistake. So, lately I only have one computer and its kinda stressful. Now, with this new one, I have a traveling notebook to tae notes, and then I can blah blah you know.
I’ll remind you - I spent about 4 years before that investing in/building a small business, which suddenly got paused due to the sudden passing of my business partner/friend and now its been some complications after (but… its okay, cause i’m really learning a lot at this point, and then can reapply it to the other businessness perfectly, so you know - as long as I’m working hard and building, it doesn’t matter where… it’ll come together eventually)
So, I’ve just been working as hard as I can for years. But, now I’m at the point I’m ALMOST breaking even with my income - - - and working SO HARD at this level, not compromising along the way… knowing it’ll all pick up eventually… and then continue. Until then, I’m accepting help, like this free computer (which turns out not to work by the time I go to write this blog, but we’ll get there).
Doing what I’m doing isn’t typical and I’m really taking my own route (not income focused, yet - though long-term I’m trying to build monumental generational wealth & solutions with what I create - and then create more from that). But in the meantime, I’m just building Kelly Tutors and really cutting down as best as I can (while also putting my daughter’s well being + our health/nutrition at a priority)… learning to be an excellent chef, etc.
SO, this event was really great (even though I got home and it doesn’t work), so I’ll ask my tech-friend to help me when he gets back in town… the friend (I, well… I said goodbye to at the second half of this blog). First, let’s get into these notes on the laptop event . I wrote them below while sitting there and loading up the new laptop for work with the ladies there - cause only women are ‘allowed’ at this event, or even non-binary? you know. they’re pretty open in a lot of ways.)
LAPTOP DISTRIBUTIONS: (notes from the event)
They have ~ 4 extra laptops at least, from what I can see, beyond all the ones they gave. Probably 20 women here and then ~ 8 volunteer/employees to help.
They want you to register a new email address, so I made it related to Kelly Tutors (KTHotline@hotmail . com) I dont wanna write it in a row properly so it links, cause then bots steal it, etc. This new laptop is 100% for work!! Im psyched comlpeltey hahaha.
Because they’re refurbished, they all have a little bit of cosmetic damage
This makes me want to cover it in bumper stickers, but then I realize.. no, that’d make me stand out WAY too much and I really like going to events, being unnoticed, and then leaving. So, a simple DELL computer is exactly on brand with that. Right? completely.
Even the most random things are “too much” sometimes, you know? That’s why I want to just preserve it at home for video-making and all those things… then use this work laptop to travel and type. Nothing fancy. I like cutting myself off from different technology, too. It forces to me to build good habits and quit leaning on tools. It helps me build new routines and abilites. So part of me likes having a really simple laptop… it’ll force me to write more. There’s not as much to work on and do.
I’m excited to blend in even more in situations. You know? Just its something I couldn’t do for years while I lived in Shanghai. I always stood out there, and I realized that it’s not that nice. To always have extra eyes. It’s stressful. It made me realize that celebrities and all sorts of peopel experience this nonstop, too. ANd its not what you think. It makes sense that some of them lose their sh*t a bit.
My laptop doesn’t really have much cosmetic damage. Just a scraptc.
This group was founded in 1998 by a woman and they focus on financial education, digital literacy, and career success.
“Some of my coworker are not sure how they’ll pay bills”
“I think they’ll make us so poor we can’t afford to strike. It’s going to get worse”
I overhear these convesations.
BTW i wrote this song attached to this post, as I said after attending this event. Overhearing some of these ladies talking about how their coworkers don’t know how they’re going to pay their bills… it made me think about how so many peopel are so nice and kind and trust the system and just hope for the best. That’s the song attached to this, it paired with the content I’ve been making. But, this event inspired the song.
I just realiez people really need help. Thse conversations are wild to overhear. It’s unreal but also so true to right now.
They’re working an extra job part-time, looking for more income.
Childcare for 5 years, then going to get a teaching certificate (WOW! this lady seems much older than me, just beginning her first steps in the education career).
The survey they offer and you take helps pay it forward.
People clap for the tech volunteers who are here. The hosts love how much clapping and applause is going on hahaha.
They say in the pamphlet that the company wants to upsell a lot to you, but just ignore that.
The women in the room mention that usually women miss out on 600-1,6M/lifetime in salary compared to what men make.
Then he’s reading some legalease and apolgoizes for it.
They say they give career advising, mentoring, wardrobe/interview help.
They can give you 2-3 outfits if you’re interviewing and 1-2 weeks of clothes if you get a new job
They use grants to get these laptops.
They can help with leadership and skills trainings.
I’ve signed up & been accepted for their 2 month leadershp course. It starts in 2 days!
If you have a dream, it’s in your head for a reason.
The mess is the growth
Women are the backbone of society
Passion fuels us. Paying forward in passion is not so hard.
Bachata/Salsa Semi-City-Sponsored Social (Night 1)
Then, after this event I went to work hard on my blogs and writing up a few things. I wanted to prep for my online classes, too. My plan was to go with my friend I’ve made through these events. I read that the classes started at 6:30 but then he said is stated at 6pm. So then I suddenly had to pack up and hurry. We’d already had some miscommunication before that, too.
Then when I arrived there, I was shocked to see so many familiar faces. Also, there was some weird shuffling and slow-going by the host, while giving the lesson. So then I even practiced dancing with him twice and the second time he asked what I was thinking (cause i had a sour face) and i said i was tired, this was going slower, and how much longer is the class - he said its till 11. I said, no. The class can’t be till 11, and then he just shrugged his shoulders.
I’d forgotten my phone at his place, where I’d also dropped off my laptop. So then I just ended up eating some food, then more - cause I was legit so hungry and had no interest to dance with anyone. Then he finaly said he’d found me, he didnt’ know where i was - but I was by where i’d set my stuff forever go - with him. Then finally I said i was gonna leave. He said he’d stay a bit.
So i hurried back as fast as i could, grabbed my stuff, and then head home. He was like - where are you? texting/calling. I said I went home. You know? So… then we won’t see each other for 2 weeks. When he gets back in town he can fix my laptop and let’s see. But, yeah. It’s a bit draining, but still some nice times too. But (spolier alert) i returned for the 2nd night of this event the next day… he didn’t show up during the time I was there, and I had a REALLY GOOD time comparitively. More cause I knew what to expect + it was nice to arrive/leave alone, on my own, without having to justify anything. Just going there, being appreciated, and leaving when I’d had enough.
Overall Event Reviews Elaborated
Venue (5/5) - I liked both of the places.
Food (5/5) - yeah there was great food here and/or none expected + still water distributed
Speaker Content (3/5) - the comptuer setup they said was taking longer than ever before, and then the dance lessons were slow, too
Networking (5/5) - yeah both were great environments for meeting people. So welcoming and inviting! :)
Likeliness to Return (5/5) - totally. I like and love both hahhaa.
Until next time, I wish you the motivation and success to search for opportunities around your area. Search and explore: Who is out there giving talks? There are new things happening all of the time.
Find relatable or interesting topics you like and check them out! Maybe even something hosted at a cool venue, if there’s no other reason to go. Let’s see what you can learn and discover not too far from home. 😊
