May 16Accepting and Moving Past Your Emotions — Lessons from a “Children’s” TV Show: Part 2More realistic mental health tips from ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender.’ — In my previous article, I discussed the first four emotional blockages that main character Aang dealt with in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Here, I continue that discussion, talking about the final three — which are a bit deeper in flavor. Truth, blocked by lies Everyone has an inner voice that repeats little mantras and…Life3 min read
Published in On The Couch·May 16Accepting and Moving Past Your Emotions — Four Lessons from a Children’s TV ShowMental 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. …Life5 min read
Published in Digital Diplomacy·May 11A Reflection on the Awe-Inspiring and Deeply Troubling State of Modern TechnologyAs 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…Technology9 min read
Published in Books Are Our Superpower·May 3The Most Beautiful Passage I’ve Ever Read — And What It Taught Me About Human ConnectionA 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. …Books5 min read
Published in Towards Data Science·May 3Breaking Down the Powerful Magic Behind the Pandas GroupBy FunctionA 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…Data Science8 min read
Published in Invisible Illness·Apr 24Pay Attention to Your Inner Voice During the Quiet, Subtle Moments of Your LifeListen 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…Life5 min read
Published in Towards Data Science·Apr 14So, You Think You Can Data Science? Here’s 4 Things You Should Know.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. …Data Science7 min read
Published in On The Couch·Apr 93 Things You Say That Hurt People — and What You Should Say InsteadChoose 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…Mental Health5 min read
Published in Towards Data Science·Apr 8How to Get a Technical Internship — A Detailed GuideFamiliarize 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…Data Science11 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Apr 4No One Will Ever Feel Your Problems as Deeply as You DoAnd 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. …Self4 min read