An update

It has been 4 years since I made my last post on this blog. That summer I taught myself about complex adaptive systems and learned how to play the guitar. In school classes I have learned C++, Java, and Matlab. It is challenging to find the discipline to regularly dedicate free-time to be productive when the alternative is having fun with low-energy tasks. I need to pave my path forward to make productive work a "path of less resistance". Or maybe I need to approach this problem differently.

I'm hoping that by writing about these things helps to solidify my resolve to build self-accountability.

1) Programming: Agent-Based Systems and Machine Learning
I believe that I need some form of project to both develop a my programming skills and give proof that I have developed these skills. I began an agent-based complex systems class back in August that I really enjoyed, but I put it on the back-burner in order to focus on my graduate school applications. I can pick up where I left off and continue to work on the neuronal plasticity model I imagined. I could also take the Machine Learning class that I've also put on the back-burner since 2012. I could do both of these things, really. I just want to do something I'll stick to. By the time I make another post, I will have made a decision between the two and have an update on what I'm learning.

2) Preparation for Graduate School Interviews
I'm trying to stay positive. I applied to many exceptional schools because I believe I'm a competitive applicant, I want a world class doctorate education, and the research these schools are doing are very interesting. I fantasize about getting into these schools on the daily, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I need to be invited back for interviews first. From what I can see now, I can do two things to prepare. First, I can read more research from the professors I've taken interest in and continue correspondence with them. This prepares me for interviews because I am beginning or continuing conversations about their research before the interview and I am further familiarizing myself with the neuropsychiatric field. Secondly, I can review the research that my current lab is working on so that I can explain succinctly what I'm currently contributing to. When I interview, I want to come off as clear and confident, and that has to be grounded in understanding. Perhaps I can write summaries of research I'm reading about and give my thoughts to each thing in a post here.

3) Writing as Practice: Story-Writing
I've had an interesting graduate school application season. It's funny that the stress of constantly getting work done spurred on the creative part of my brain. I came up with 4 somewhat original stories during this time and I'd like to develop and write at least one into a short story or something I can build off of. One story I thought of as a comic book - a kind of origin story to a new scifi super hero(ine). Another story I thought of as an interactive story (choose your own path or a videogame) where there's a base story and then there could be a web of possibilities that, little-by-little, shines light on the mystery of the world you are in. The last two stories are based on the same premise. One could be a short story. And the last could be developed to be a three act or three chapter story. Longer than a short story but not even close to a novel. This is something with a lot of potential to be fun. As a scientist in training, I need to practice my writing and communication skills. This would be a wonderful outlet for practice.

Writing in this blog is good communication practice as well. We'll see how this all goes. I'm determined.