I categorized common problems by topic and focused on learning one topic at a time.

This helped me establish a recognition system to identify the core behind the problem.

Once I have covered most major topics, I started solving problems from a mixed pool to examine and reinforce my understanding for each topic.

I would focus on three key areas:

1. Machine learning fundamentals: I would try to build a strong foundation from classical machine learning to more recent deep learning by learning from open-source courses, such as Machine Learning by Adrew Ng.

2. Programming: I would develop solid coding skills in both machine learning related programming (e.g., implementing K means) and software engineering programming (e.g., BFS). LeetCode is one good resource for such learning.

3. I would read technical blogs written by ML engineers to stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and ML infrastructure for model serving.

I may not be in the best position to advise a 20-year-old today, as many of them are doing way better than where I was in my 20s.

However, one piece of advice I would like to give the “younger version” of myself is to never underestimate the value of classroom and textbook knowledge.

While some of the contents may not seem directly applicable to industry jobs, a strong theoretical foundation provides long-term benefits, and the university classroom is one of the best places to build it.

Interpersonal skills are equally important as technical expertise in data science and machine learning fields.

I have often heavily focused on improving my technical knowledge while overlooking the importance of articulation, communication, presentation, and negotiation.

“Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamon.

Before reading it, I had a highly “engineer-oriented” mindset, focusing primarily on pure technical and deterministic approaches in problem solving. This book introduced me to different research perspectives in social science.

More importantly, it helped me understand how environmental factors have shaped the uneven development of civilization throughout the human history.

Let me invoke you into my cult

Media worth seeing

1. Mira Murati just created the first AI company run by adults apply here

2. Don’t blame me if you start seeing hearts everywhere, how to rewire your brain to find opportunities

3. How to turn your dark energy into charisma

4. Columbia Student secured internships at Amazon, Meta, and TikTok using an AI tool, Interview Coder, designed to help in coding interviews. Don’t see this type of tool as a silver bullet; the student used to make LeetCode Tutorials, he uses his tool to aid him, not to replace the grind.

Jobs and Scholarships

1. New scholarships of this week!

2. Entry level jobs!!