This week, I crossed the 100-day milestone on Substack. If you had asked me on the morning of March 24, 2026, if I could imagine writing this post today, I would have scoffed. I am the queen of having too many interests, but I’ve lacked the drive to see most of them through. (Anyone else?)

But something about Substack made this “new project of mine” feel completely different. It made it all worth it.

When I first started off, Substack was the very first app I opened each morning (it still is). Like any normal, sane person whose dopamine levels occasionally get the better of her, I’ve found myself checking the dashboard for likes, comments, and overnight subscriber counts. But it’s grown into so much more than a numbers game. Every morning, pairing the app with my morning cup of joe, I read through the latest articles from writers I subscribe to. I learn from them, engage with them, and walk away with fresh inspiration for my own page.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on this journey and what this platform truly means to me. Honestly, the biggest reason I keep coming back is the community (hey, that’s you!). It has been incredibly refreshing to find like-minded individuals who aren't chasing instant virality, but are simply here to share a piece of their beautiful minds. In a world full of perfectly polished AI content, it’s easy to find refined text. But let’s be real, only Buddhist monks have perfectly refined thoughts anyway. What I genuinely admire is reading raw, emotional, unfiltered perspectives. This is the space where I actually get to see them.

I have absorbed more scientific knowledge from fields outside my own during my daily Substack scrolling than from almost any other source in my life. One day I’m diving into data science statistics, the next I’m getting a rare look into the daily life of an oncologist, and the week after, I’m reading up on epidemiology. I have never felt my scientific learning layout feel so wholesome.

I’ve noticed myself pushing way past my comfort zone. I’ve been doing Zoom networking calls with scientists I met right here (seriously, who am I?). The folks I’ve encountered are incredibly kind, cheering on my small victories, restacking my posts with thoughtful comments, and genuinely looking to collaborate. Substack honestly feels like a writer’s Disneyland.

And as far as the logistics go, I managed a personal blog for four years, and keeping up with it was pure chaos. Here, I can handle article drafting, publishing, marketing, and community collaboration all in a single, streamlined place. I am glad I settled on this platform.

To round up this thank you note, I wanted to log my key ‘first’ milestones, something to remember 5 years down the line.

• First Subscriber: Annicka Evans, PhD from The Biotech Tea

• First Article: Antibodies — Structure Meets Stardom

• First Comment: Tracy Mattox

• First Networking Chat: Edgar Huitema, PhD from The Super Advisor

• First Money Made: USD 25 through Buy Me a Coffee

• Favourite Article I Loved Writing: It was ‘Antibodies - What’s in a Name’ for the longest time (also my most viewed article) until this week when ‘V(D)J Recombination and Antibody Diversity‘ took over.

I always love looking at other people’s stats. It’s fun to see their growth curves and understand their journey. I hope sharing my own trajectory gives you the inspiration to keep moving forward. If you love writing, don't stop. There are more than enough people in the world who can become part of your tribe.

Thank you for this incredible joyride… it’s just the beginning.

This site is free and I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can because good science communication should be accessible, especially for students. If you enjoy what you read and feel like buying me a coffee along the way, I won't say no. ☕ And if you're not a student, consider paying it forward to one who is.

Buy me a coffee ☕️