And when I hear students may lose theirs, I feel sad.
Because those papers hold
dreams,
sacrifices,
quiet hope,
in loud systems.

Even if the paper expires, the journey doesn’t.

That torn-up I-20?
Still, the most meaningful thing I’ve ever earned.

It’s torn now.
Folded too many times.
But it’s still here.
Because it wasn’t just a visa.

It was a beginning.
A summer in Boston.
A future I wasn’t sure I could have.
A blueprint in 3 pages.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

💰 Average U.S. order fulfillment cost: $5–$15 per order (small businesses typically pay $7–$10 per order).

💰 Average China order fulfillment cost: ￥2–￥2.5 per order, approximately $0.3–$0.35.

Let’s dive in

open.substack.com/pub/thecocoo...

My friend Stella & I are both data scientists who’ve gone through full cycle.
But we have different reactions to the hype's downfall.

Read more @thecocoons.bsky.social
thecocoons.substack.com/p/post-data-...

After almost a decade in data science, I learn this the hard way:
→ There is no “sexiest job”.

Some careers shine when the market favors them.
Some fade when the hype dies.

The real competency lies in good judgment.

Even senior data scientists are building backup plans: content, consulting, anything. (Hmm sounds familiar? 🤔)

Personally, I ventured out on a different path.
….AI strategist for startups & SMEs.

The boom ended faster than my mom predicted.

<10 years later…data science is at risk.
There are “too many” new graduates.

Companies, if hiring at all, want “junior” candidates with years of experience.
Mid-career professionals are jumping ship to AI engineering or software dev.

📍 I enrolled in Bootcamp to learn Python, machine learning & SQL.
📍 I landed my first job as the youngest on my team, eager to prove myself.
📍 I loved the work—solving problems, building models & making an impact.

The future looked bright! My confidence soared.

Bootcamps exploded.
Colleges rushed to offer new programs.
YouTube gurus promised six-figure jobs after a few months of studying.

Yes, I was one of those early believers.

Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are trying to do the same, struggling to break into direct-to-consumer sales while navigating branding, marketing, and geopolitical risks.

Are these two groups partners or competitors?

thecocoons.substack.com/p/importing-...

So here’s the question:

At the end of the day, who’s really in control of your career?

What is your point of view? Let’s discuss below 👇

We shared the full conversation in Cocoon’s newsletter

More deets here: shorturl.at/Lcpey

**5/ Youth unemployment is at alarming rate**

Joblessness among young people has hit ~ 18%, with many in their 20s still living at home (with their

parents).

👉 Sad truth: Seeing older workers (in their 30s-40s) struggle, many have chosen to “lie flat” rejecting the system entirely.

**4/ 80% of people are stuck in hiring restrictions**

Only a small fraction of candidates (those with elite skills or connections)—are free from the growing age & hiring biases.

👉 Sad truth: Most people find themselves in the 80%.

**3/ 996 schedule doesn’t guarantee job security**

Jack Ma: "You should feel fortunate to work 996," he supported that longer hours would bring greater success.

👉 Sad truth: Once you age out of peak productivity, companies start seeing you as a financial burden no matter how hard you worked.

**2/ Layoffs are hitting white-collar workers hard**

China’s tech industry is mirroring the U.S. with mass layoffs. The job market now favors younger (cheaper) candidates.

👉 Sad truth: Experience doesn’t guarantee job security. Hard work and loyalty don’t either.