How I Ended Up Here (Against My Better Judgment)

Hey. Hi. Or whatever time of day you’re reading this…

I’m Rupes Jasmine. Also known as Jasmine McCandless, depending on the mood, the day, or the identity crisis.

This Is Not the Life I Ordered

I’m an Indian writer who lives largely inside her own head.

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to travel the seas. Not “vacation once a year” travel.
The truth is, I wanted to be a pirate.

Unfortunately (and very predictably), I had no money. And I was born into a typical middle-class, orthodox Indian family.
Which meant dreams should follow society’s rules.
So I was leashed. Securely. Lovingly. Permanently.

I’m 23 now. I earn 40K+ INR a month. I have a work-from-home writing job.
On paper, this is called doing well. In reality, the leash is still there 🥲

I wake up.
I do my work-from-home writing job.
I end the day.
Repeat.

Now, I reached a point where I don’t know why I’m earning anymore or what the end goal is supposed to be. I don’t understand why people live like this and call it stability.

Survival is not the same as living, no matter how many productivity reels say otherwise!

So here’s the current dream:

A ship.
A few barrels of rum.
My sister & my pet bunny (the only crew worth trusting).

And then I want to disappear from this goddamn, godforsaken land of human beings and let the sea decide what happens next.

Until then, I write.
Because words are cheaper than ships and slightly easier to escape with.
And it’s the only place where the leash loosens.

What I Do (and Have Done)

SEO Medical Writer at Dr Good Deed — June 2025 to Present
Online Biology Tutor at YaClass — June 2025 to Present
Finance Content Writer at Adeptd — December 2024 to Present
Freelancer SEO Human Content Writer — November 2021 to June 2025
Academic Writer Intern at Quizzy — March 2022 to May 2022
Content Writer Intern at Beta Testers — August 2021 to November 2021

Things I Actually Enjoy [Hobbies]

Watching Hollywood movies and writing reviews on Plex; disproportionately addicted to horror.
Thinking obsessively about the next career level, because standing still feels worse than failing.
Reading books whenever there’s a power cut or the Wi-Fi gives up.
Sleeping every Sunday from 2 PM to 6 PM without apology.

Fictional Men I Have Feelings For

James McAvoy as Kevin (Split)
Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker (The Amazing Spider-Man)
Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine (X-Men)
Chris Hemsworth as Thor (Avengers)
Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector (Moon Knight)
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock (Daredevil)

This has affected my real-life standards. And the list goes on… Unfortunately….

That’s it. This is who I am right now

This page is not a brand story or a success narrative. It’s just me… working, wondering, and refusing to pretend this is the dream.

That’s all for now. Anything more would be dishonest.

If you stayed till here, you’re either curious or bored. Either way, hello!

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