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, in Rochester, I plan to dedicate 40 weekdays to writing a post every day, utilizing the enriching environment of the library. I am excited that my passion for studying and working on projects will prepare me for my journey as a Data Scientist and will drive every moment spent there, fueling my determination to achieve one of my career goals as well as my personal goal— ” to be a good Data Scientist who has a positive impact on the world.”
Updated! I’ve extended this project to 100 days of postings to gain a comprehensive understanding of Deep Learning and Machine Learning. This means I have over 60 days remaining. Stay tuned for updates on my progress!</u>
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 came in the morning, it hit me hard, showing me my weaknesses as a candidate. I couldn’t show my strengths well enough to 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 must work on my confidence when discussing the methodologies and terminologies related to my projects. During interviews, I faced several technical questions, and it became clear that I needed to understand these concepts and convey them in simple, relatable terms. This skill is vital for a data scientist, primarily because collaboration with other departments often hinges on the ability to persuade 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 have discovered that I am passionate and curious about algorithm mechanisms. 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. So I will extend my study journey in 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 storyteller and a skilled Data Scientist/Machine Learning Engineer who understands the foundations, as it’s incredibly enjoyable to study them. I can’t wait 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 posting mainly to explain what I learned in simple language, record the codes, or summarize the concepts.
The journey has just begun! Best of luck on my path!
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