Welcome Distractions is a personal site, first launched in November 2016 and revived in July 2025. It’s where I share thoughts, stories, photos, music, and anything else worth pausing for.

Some posts are polished, others rough around the edges — snapshots of what I’m thinking about, noticing, or exploring. You might find reflections on media, experiments in intentional tech, how-to guides, or photo essays pulled from the archives. There’s a bit of humor and cultural commentary woven in — always in good spirit.

At its core, this site is a home for welcome distractions: the things that pull me (and maybe you) out of routine and into curiosity.

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About the Author

I’m Jon — a former medical student whose life took an unexpected turn. After years of navigating illness, recovery, and reflection, I’m now a Doctor of Pharmacy student, slowly returning to the creative parts of myself that once grounded me.

I have an MS in Biomedical Sciences, an MA in Urban Education with a concentration in Policy and Administration, and a BS in Physiological Sciences with a minor in Asian American Studies.

During undergrad, I was deeply involved in educational access work and Pilipino Cultural Night, where I performed as an actor, singer, and dancer. I also interned at a nonprofit focused on health care access.

After graduating, I taught high school math in the San Francisco Bay Area for two years through Teach For America while researching and writing my MA thesis: “What Did You Expect? – Students’ Experiences vs. Realities in a California Charter School.”

I went on to earn my MS and began medical school, where I tutored both high school and first-year medical students, volunteered with the local Latino community, and conducted research on intimate partner violence and gun violence. I presented at a summer research symposium, founded and served as president (and later vice president) of the school’s psychiatry interest group — still active today — and won a poster competition that led to an invitation to present on police suicide at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.

Outside of academics, I’ve always made space for creativity — photography, producing music, recording DJ mixes, DJing events, and even trying my hand at stand-up comedy (I sucked but it was fun).

But in my third and fourth years of medical school, my health collapsed. I was eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease, took multiple medical leaves, and returned too soon. My grades suffered, and I was dismissed from the program.

After years of healing from post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and processing that loss, I’m now in a Doctor of Pharmacy program, and I'm writing again. This blog is my return to the creative parts of myself.

Thanks for joining me.