Note: this article may be a fair bit less humble than my other posts, so my apologies for that. It's hard for me to write about my accomplishments without sounding like I'm bragging...
As we reach the end of 2022, I'd like to take a moment to look back on this year. Normally I'd move on without a second thought, but this year was special and I want to keep a record.
This has been my most enjoyable and successful year of my life. 2022 was the first time I've gone out into the world and actually contributed something.
Nintendo things I did:
I have always been fascinated by the stuff that Nintendo didn't want us to see. I would collect all the development DS/DSi archives I could find and just sat on them, doing nothing with them. I finally decided to look at them and found that the vast majority were never documented. We've all heard about TwlNmenu and NandFiler, but what about [REMOVED] or [REMOVED]? (had to remove some keywords 'cause silly search engines put this above my documentation)
I found that I was sitting on more than I could have ever imagined. A whole world of new and interesting apps that had never been discussed. So, I decided to document (and mirror) every single one I could find. It has been an ongoing project, and I'm really proud of it. I went from some file hoarder to someone actually contributing something to the world.
I've made a few bucks that way. I was telling one of my teachers about a repair I did, and she said the school board had grants for starting small businesses. She suggested I take my repairing further. I applied, and guess what? I got the grant! The amount is to be determined later, but it's going to be in the ballpark of $500. I hope everything works out. It would be nice to save consoles from e-waste and to help lower the awful prices. ($100 for a DS lite? Insane!)
Real life stuff
I've also done a lot of real life stuff too. I want to preface this by saying that I've never been one to do anything. Going out into the world has always seemed daunting. I've always wanted to get involved in events, but I never knew where to start. This year really changed that.
Helping Ukraine:
Environmental stuff:
Aside from the two above things, there aren't many other things I can write well about. I've volunteered at 2 fairs over the summer (was in charge of all the people managing the eco stations), and spend countless hours helping a public library for tools and a package free grocery store. Oh and I walked 2 towns over and back in a single day, and walked probably over a couple hundred kilometers over the summer.
It's nice to look back and see all that I accomplished. Putting everything down in writing could never capture the feeling of actually doing these things, but trust me when I say that I had a blast. Here's to the best year of my life, and hopefully to an even better next year!
As we reach the end of 2022, I'd like to take a moment to look back on this year. Normally I'd move on without a second thought, but this year was special and I want to keep a record.
This has been my most enjoyable and successful year of my life. 2022 was the first time I've gone out into the world and actually contributed something.
Nintendo things I did:
I have always been fascinated by the stuff that Nintendo didn't want us to see. I would collect all the development DS/DSi archives I could find and just sat on them, doing nothing with them. I finally decided to look at them and found that the vast majority were never documented. We've all heard about TwlNmenu and NandFiler, but what about [REMOVED] or [REMOVED]? (had to remove some keywords 'cause silly search engines put this above my documentation)
I found that I was sitting on more than I could have ever imagined. A whole world of new and interesting apps that had never been discussed. So, I decided to document (and mirror) every single one I could find. It has been an ongoing project, and I'm really proud of it. I went from some file hoarder to someone actually contributing something to the world.
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I've also started doing more repairs on consoles. I used to hack a DS here and there, but recently I've started grabbing all the dead or severely damaged DSes I could find and I've been repairing them. I'd buy some poor one that wouldn't turn on for a few bucks, then fix it up and sell it for $40 (under priced because I hate price gouging).I've made a few bucks that way. I was telling one of my teachers about a repair I did, and she said the school board had grants for starting small businesses. She suggested I take my repairing further. I applied, and guess what? I got the grant! The amount is to be determined later, but it's going to be in the ballpark of $500. I hope everything works out. It would be nice to save consoles from e-waste and to help lower the awful prices. ($100 for a DS lite? Insane!)
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I've done some other small things here and there. The only other notable thing is a guide I wrote on installing prototype firmware to a DS lite/phat. Oh also this year I've added 2 DS lites, 2 DSis, and 1 Wii to my personal collection.Real life stuff
I've also done a lot of real life stuff too. I want to preface this by saying that I've never been one to do anything. Going out into the world has always seemed daunting. I've always wanted to get involved in events, but I never knew where to start. This year really changed that.
Helping Ukraine:
It all started back in march when the war in Ukraine started to really ramp up. I felt pretty bad about it but figured there wasn't much I could do. Without a job, I didn't have much money to spare. My mom ended up seeing a post the [REDACTED] Ukrainian Center asking for volunteers to help pack humanitarian aid. I was a bit hesitant but decided to go anyways.
At first it was weird. I was the only non Ukrainian there and felt out of place, but within only a few hours I felt okay. I was placed by some nice old ladies who had moved to Canada just a few years prior. We spent hours together talking about various things from the war to our favorite foods. As the days went on I met more and more people, creating awesome new friendships each day.
I had more fun there than I've ever had being in public before. I remember one day there when it was me and a few guys there and we had to move hundreds of pounds of food boxes down a staircase and through a few rooms. We formed a human chain and slowly moved each box down. For what seemed like only a few minutes we all stood there, passing down a new box every couple of seconds. I had never done any weight lifting before and I found it really hard to keep up. My new friends were all there helping me out whenever I slipped or had to take a breather. At first I messed up a lot, but soon I got into a rhythm. We started talking and joking around while we worked and in what seemed like an instant, 40 minutes had passed and we were done. Volodymyr (the person running everything) told me to come to him for a letter of recommendation if I ever need one. (I'm the one in the orange hat)
We sent out thousands of boxes. I helped pack and move hundreds of them, and that gives me a nice feeling. I've met so many people and had so much fun there. Volodymyr joked that I was an "honorary Ukrainian", and said I was welcome back at any time. I visit every time they have an event, and it always feels like I'm right back there, on that one staircase.
Also I got my photo on Global News! (I'm the one in the orange hat)
Other photos:
At first it was weird. I was the only non Ukrainian there and felt out of place, but within only a few hours I felt okay. I was placed by some nice old ladies who had moved to Canada just a few years prior. We spent hours together talking about various things from the war to our favorite foods. As the days went on I met more and more people, creating awesome new friendships each day.
I had more fun there than I've ever had being in public before. I remember one day there when it was me and a few guys there and we had to move hundreds of pounds of food boxes down a staircase and through a few rooms. We formed a human chain and slowly moved each box down. For what seemed like only a few minutes we all stood there, passing down a new box every couple of seconds. I had never done any weight lifting before and I found it really hard to keep up. My new friends were all there helping me out whenever I slipped or had to take a breather. At first I messed up a lot, but soon I got into a rhythm. We started talking and joking around while we worked and in what seemed like an instant, 40 minutes had passed and we were done. Volodymyr (the person running everything) told me to come to him for a letter of recommendation if I ever need one. (I'm the one in the orange hat)
We sent out thousands of boxes. I helped pack and move hundreds of them, and that gives me a nice feeling. I've met so many people and had so much fun there. Volodymyr joked that I was an "honorary Ukrainian", and said I was welcome back at any time. I visit every time they have an event, and it always feels like I'm right back there, on that one staircase.
Also I got my photo on Global News! (I'm the one in the orange hat)
Other photos:
I've also been getting into the environmental field. I started out this year with a bit of tree planting in my city. There's an organization working on a million tree challenge, which is just to plant 1000000 new trees in our city. That number is insane.
I've got less to talk about in regards to tree planting, but I've planted over 100 trees this year. I'm really proud of what I've managed to do. My old teacher has taken me out of class to help guide her students through planting trees, all because of the trees I've planted before. It's nice to help out (and to get out of class).
There was also an open house for an environmental course I took last year, and I helped out my teacher with that. It was open alongside an environmental event, so there were a few big people there. Someone running for mayor entered the class and he and I had the most wonderful conversation about public perspective on the environment.
My teacher thought my speaking was so good that I was asked to speak at an environmental youth forum about the importance of younger people getting involved in climate action. My speaking wasn't the best that day, but I felt honored to speak in front of all those students.
I just went on about the impact that youth can make today, and emphasized that not all hope is lost.
I've done more small things every once in a while, from seed collecting and tree planting, to protecting and releasing baby turtles. I'm always happy when I can do something to help out the planet.
I've got less to talk about in regards to tree planting, but I've planted over 100 trees this year. I'm really proud of what I've managed to do. My old teacher has taken me out of class to help guide her students through planting trees, all because of the trees I've planted before. It's nice to help out (and to get out of class).
There was also an open house for an environmental course I took last year, and I helped out my teacher with that. It was open alongside an environmental event, so there were a few big people there. Someone running for mayor entered the class and he and I had the most wonderful conversation about public perspective on the environment.
My teacher thought my speaking was so good that I was asked to speak at an environmental youth forum about the importance of younger people getting involved in climate action. My speaking wasn't the best that day, but I felt honored to speak in front of all those students.
I just went on about the impact that youth can make today, and emphasized that not all hope is lost.
I've done more small things every once in a while, from seed collecting and tree planting, to protecting and releasing baby turtles. I'm always happy when I can do something to help out the planet.
It's nice to look back and see all that I accomplished. Putting everything down in writing could never capture the feeling of actually doing these things, but trust me when I say that I had a blast. Here's to the best year of my life, and hopefully to an even better next year!
