Mental health tips from ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender.’ — Emotions are a confusing beast. They don’t usually make sense — and, even when they do, they’re often painful, making us wonder what we can do to feel better, wiser, and brighter. …

As told through a discussion and analysis of three powerful quotes. — In the modern technological era, we’ve become fully dependent on technology as an essential element of our lives — so much so that we have started to approach a reality which blindly worships “tech” without a proper understanding of how it works and what it’s capable of (hint: it’s not…

A dive into the lessons hidden within Anthony Marra’s powerful novel, ‘A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.’ — On my 18th birthday, a good friend of mine gifted me an unassuming, average-sized book that she felt I would deeply enjoy. Based on the title — A Constellation of Vital Phenomena — I expected a science-fiction novel that involved anything from space exploration to time travel. Admittedly, my ability…

A detailed explanation of how groupby works under the hood to help you understand it better. — In recent years, some of the most popular data sets and polls have been those surrounding governmental elections. Election season has become a time of countless charts, maps, polls, and predictions making their way through the popular media. I want you to imagine you wake up one hectic morning and…

Listen carefully. — There’s a quote by Steven Spielberg that I really love — a piece of wisdom he shared during one of his many speeches: “When you have a dream, it doesn’t often come at you screaming in your face, ‘This is who you are, this is what you must be for…

Some important realities you should know about a glorified field. — “Oh, wow, you’re studying data science? You’re set.” This is the response I often get when I begrudgingly acquiesce to people’s questions about what I’m studying for my PhD. If not verbally, then with their eyes. Technically, my program is called Human-Centered Design and Engineering, but I spend most of…

Choose your words carefully. — “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I’d love to have a chat with the emotionally damaged soul who came up with that one. This little expression has become commonplace, fed to children at a young age and reinforced to adults throughout their lives…

Familiarize yourself with the three-step process for navigating the tech landscape. — The fall of my junior year of college, I was just trying to get through my classes without crumbling under the pressure. Meanwhile, I had classmates who already had official summer internships before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those who didn’t have anything finalized still had a number of interviews lined up…

And why this realization should be more freeing than saddening. — I took an hour and a half to get out of bed today. After my alarm went off, I snoozed it 8 times, feeling powerless under the mental strain weighing me down. I stared at the ceiling with childlike hope, overthinking all of the possible ways in which I might…