The Start of TIL 24
The Start of Recording TIL Summer ‘24 - During Summer in Rochester as a Data Scientist Candidate
In the summer of 2024, here in Rochester, I decided to dedicate 40 weekdays to writing one post every day, making the most of the quiet and inspiring atmosphere of the library. My passion for learning and working on projects will guide every hour I spend there — preparing me for my journey as a Data Scientist and fueling my determination to achieve one of my greatest goals: “To become a Data Scientist who makes a positive impact on the world.”
May 1st, 2024 – I was about to start a new chapter in my life—the beginning of my recording journey. However, this critical moment came with a lot of frustration. Even though I worked hard to find a summer internship, I faced many setbacks, making it to the final interview but then getting rejected. When the emails arrived in the morning, they hit me hard, revealing my weaknesses as a candidate. I struggled to effectively showcase my strengths and make a strong case for myself.
To cope with these disappointments, I decided to focus my energy on self-improvement. I immersed myself in studying and practicing my skills to prepare for future job opportunities. At first, the pain of rejection left me feeling sad and defeated, but over time, I learned to accept the situation. Instead of staying in negativity, I promised myself to move forward with a positive attitude.
Reflecting on my experience with two final interviews, I recognized a key area where I am unprepared—my ability to explain concepts effectively. Storytelling has never been my strong suit, especially in this new field. My apprehension about stepping into the professional world has left me unprepared.
To enhance my interviewing skills, I need to build my confidence when discussing project methodologies and terminology. During interviews, I encountered several technical questions, which made it clear that I needed to grasp these concepts and communicate them in simple, relatable terms. This skill is vital for a data scientist, as collaboration with other departments often hinges on persuading them to develop business strategies based on data insights.
Even with a solid foundation from my business studies in South Korea, my undergraduate major being economics, and experience in the accounting field in the USA, I realize the importance of staying current with industry standards and market demands. I am committed to updating my knowledge and expanding my skill set to thrive in this competitive environment. This journey is just beginning, and I am eager to transform my setbacks into growth opportunities, developing the confidence and skills necessary to succeed in my chosen career!
Updated!
I’ve now extended this challenge to 100 days to deepen my understanding of Deep Learning and Machine Learning — and as of today, there are still more than 60 days to go.
I have found that I am passionate and curious about the mechanisms of algorithms. I often ask questions like “Why does this work?” and “How much should I change the hyperparameters?” I am interested in exploring the underlying foundations of data science, Statistics, ML Ops, and Deep Learning techniques, including their mathematical underpinnings. I will extend my study journey from ML & DL basic knowledge to MLOps, creating a streaming service with fine-tuning of high-end models.
That’s why I’m starting this project. I want to prepare myself to become a skilled storyteller and a data scientist/Machine Learning Engineer who understands the foundations, as it’s gratifying to study them. I’m excited to apply my skills in the real business world!
My Promise
📚 I will come to the library every weekday at around 10:30, study till 3:00, and post TIL of the day.
🚀 I will write a post to explain what I’ve learned in simple terms, record the code, or summarize the key concepts.
The journey has just begun! Best of luck on my path!
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