Self Development Visual

Time Spent Learning Data Science:

May 10th Update

When I was signing up for M.S in Data Science classes the advisor was giving me rules of thumb for expected time commitments I would likely need to make to be successful.

Having absolutely no tech background I took her rules of thumb to heart and decided that if I was to have a chance at success it would require that I treat this endeavor like a job. That idea then led me to tracking all of my time spent on studying/learning so that I could hold myself accountable to a standard of "doing what was expected".

Not just an accountability tool, this time tracker grew into a visual testament of the journey thus far, chronicling each hour, each minute, each second dedicated to learning. It has now taken the form of a vibrant calendar heatmap, with each day's color intensity reflecting the time invested in honing my new craft. Each cell of the heatmap is a chapter of this journey. The deeper the hue, the greater the effort that day. It's a remarkable way to reflect on my progress, identify trends, and continuously refine my learning strategies.

What started as a simple measure to ensure consistency has now evolved into a source of motivation and a badge of honor. Seeing the culmination of countless hours of hard work and dedication visualized so powerfully serves as a constant reminder of how far I've come, how much more is ahead, and how much I can achieve.

Echoing Lao Tzu's wisdom, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Here's to the countless steps taken, and the countless more to come! πŸš€ I highly recommend this method to anyone embarking on a learning journey. It's not just about keeping track; it's about visualizing your story and your growth. image


August 16th Update

πŸ“…πŸ€“ 2,093 Hours and Counting! πŸš€

Here's a fun trip down the memory lane with a calplot to create this mosaic of late nights, "Eureka!" moments, and the occasional "Why isn’t this working?".

Last July, I began learning R and kick started my M.S. in Data Science with DataScience@SMU . Fast forward a year, and here I am, not just tinkering with Python, Neural Networks, NLP, and Time Series (among other thrilling areas!), but even more surprisingly, doing it alongside AT&Tβ€”a Fortune 40 titan! 🌟 I'm beyond excited and still a bit in awe!

It's been an amazing journey so far, and I look forward to the next 2k hours πŸ€“

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