diff --git a/public/assets/dream-team.jpeg b/public/assets/dream-team.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79ea69a Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/dream-team.jpeg differ diff --git a/public/assets/fbswag.jpeg b/public/assets/fbswag.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4bb710 Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/fbswag.jpeg differ diff --git a/public/assets/pi-outfit.jpeg b/public/assets/pi-outfit.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e375709 Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/pi-outfit.jpeg differ diff --git a/public/assets/sw-pitch.jpeg b/public/assets/sw-pitch.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be7988f Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/sw-pitch.jpeg differ diff --git a/public/assets/sw-team.jpeg b/public/assets/sw-team.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8967aac Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/sw-team.jpeg differ diff --git a/public/assets/whitehousecc.jpeg b/public/assets/whitehousecc.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2191ba6 Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/whitehousecc.jpeg differ diff --git a/public/assets/whitehousecc2.jpeg b/public/assets/whitehousecc2.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd1f035 Binary files /dev/null and b/public/assets/whitehousecc2.jpeg differ diff --git a/src/posts/10-tips-for-successful-public-speaking.md b/src/posts/10-tips-for-successful-public-speaking.md index 27975d4..75ca378 100644 --- a/src/posts/10-tips-for-successful-public-speaking.md +++ b/src/posts/10-tips-for-successful-public-speaking.md @@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ tags: [advice] Hey friends! -So, not everyone likes speeches. Public speaking is the #1 most common fear out there. If you don’t get time to practice it often, it’s really just not fun. +So, not everyone likes speeches. Public speaking is the #1 most common fear out there. If you don't get time to practice it often, it's really just not fun. -So, here are my tips for you. I’m not just saying these. When I go out and talk to a bunch of people, I think about these all the time, and it helps. So do it. +So, here are my tips for you. I'm not just saying these. When I go out and talk to a bunch of people, I think about these all the time, and it helps. So do it. -## Don’t read. +## Don't read. -You are talking to people because you have something to say. You’re talking to them because you know what the heck you’re talking about. Speak from your head, not from your paper in front of you. In fact, try not to bring any paper at all, because they make shaky hands easy to spot. If you need notes, bring a clipboard or a notebook to help you out. +You are talking to people because you have something to say. You're talking to them because you know what the heck you're talking about. Speak from your head, not from your paper in front of you. In fact, try not to bring any paper at all, because they make shaky hands easy to spot. If you need notes, bring a clipboard or a notebook to help you out. ## Get your hair out of your face. @@ -23,32 +23,32 @@ The strongest hairspray can fail with the right amount of sweat and nervous touc ## Take your hands out of your pockets. -It’s distracting. You look nervous. If you’re at a podium, put your hands at your sides or hold onto it. If you’ve not nothing in front of you, just keep your arms loosely at your sides unless you’re making a purposeful gesture. +It's distracting. You look nervous. If you're at a podium, put your hands at your sides or hold onto it. If you've not nothing in front of you, just keep your arms loosely at your sides unless you're making a purposeful gesture. ## Plant your feet in a comfy stance. -Nothing is more distracting than watching someone pace, rock, or fidget with their feet. Also, DO NOT cross your legs while standing. Even if you have incredible balance, you’re just asking to fall over. +Nothing is more distracting than watching someone pace, rock, or fidget with their feet. Also, DO NOT cross your legs while standing. Even if you have incredible balance, you're just asking to fall over. ## Eye contact. -This is the easiest one on the list. Don’t shift your eyes around, don’t stare at the back wall. That advice is for high schoolers. Look at everyone in the eye. For every sentence you say, look at someone. Shift to someone nearby when you say your next sentence. If your transition from person to person is smooth and steady, everyone will feel like you’ve spoken to them, and spoken to them well. +This is the easiest one on the list. Don't shift your eyes around, don't stare at the back wall. That advice is for high schoolers. Look at everyone in the eye. For every sentence you say, look at someone. Shift to someone nearby when you say your next sentence. If your transition from person to person is smooth and steady, everyone will feel like you've spoken to them, and spoken to them well. -## Don’t touch your face. +## Don't touch your face. -When people make mistakes (or have their hair in their face), they touch their face a LOT. It’s distracting. Some of the best speeches I’ve ever heard we ruined because I saw someone scratching their face and playing with their hair. No. Stop. Don’t do it. +When people make mistakes (or have their hair in their face), they touch their face a LOT. It's distracting. Some of the best speeches I've ever heard we ruined because I saw someone scratching their face and playing with their hair. No. Stop. Don't do it. ## Take some time to recover. -If you make a mistake, don’t apologize profusely, don’t stammer. Audiences are very tolerant of a moment of silence. So, if you fumble, just take pause and recollect your thoughts, and then resume. It’s a much more graceful approach to saying, “oh um I forgot to mention that crap so I have to go back” etc. etc. +If you make a mistake, don't apologize profusely, don't stammer. Audiences are very tolerant of a moment of silence. So, if you fumble, just take pause and recollect your thoughts, and then resume. It's a much more graceful approach to saying, "oh um I forgot to mention that crap so I have to go back" etc. etc. ## Tell stories. -People remember them. If you want to talk about the importance of adopting puppies, tell them about your (or a friend’s) experience in buying a puppy. If you’re talking about best practices for putting together an event on campus, tell them about events you’ve hosted. Be funny, and smile with your stories. Chances are, the audience will smile back. +People remember them. If you want to talk about the importance of adopting puppies, tell them about your (or a friend's) experience in buying a puppy. If you're talking about best practices for putting together an event on campus, tell them about events you've hosted. Be funny, and smile with your stories. Chances are, the audience will smile back. ## Be CONFIDENT. -Public speaking isn’t as much about what you say as it is how you say it. Whether the audience is 5 people or 5,000, you have a reason to be there, and to make them really listen to what you’re saying. Sell yourself and your message to them. Deliver it like you’re the best person in the world to do it. Speak loudly, and smile. It’ll make the most boring speech more engaging. +Public speaking isn't as much about what you say as it is how you say it. Whether the audience is 5 people or 5,000, you have a reason to be there, and to make them really listen to what you're saying. Sell yourself and your message to them. Deliver it like you're the best person in the world to do it. Speak loudly, and smile. It'll make the most boring speech more engaging. ## Have FUN! -You’re going to be awesome at this. Go and tell people your message, and be proud doing it! +You're going to be awesome at this. Go and tell people your message, and be proud doing it! diff --git a/src/posts/agua-caliente-writing-exercise.md b/src/posts/agua-caliente-writing-exercise.md index d5fe087..39ae686 100644 --- a/src/posts/agua-caliente-writing-exercise.md +++ b/src/posts/agua-caliente-writing-exercise.md @@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Suddenly, I hear a voice behind me. There he was. Exactly as I remembered. Older, perhaps, but just as confident-looking, with smile lines around his eyes. -"Of course I'm here,” I replied, "I've been waiting for you." +"Of course I'm here," I replied, "I've been waiting for you." "You have to stop waiting for me. You know why I left." He opened the door and ushered me toward it, but I refused. diff --git a/src/posts/better-than-you.md b/src/posts/better-than-you.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..764148e --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/better-than-you.md @@ -0,0 +1,50 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: I am better than you at everything +slug: better-than-you +description: "(I'm not, actually)" +tags: + - advice +added: 2013-12-09T06:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hey. + +I think you're great. + +Really. + +I've noticed that a lot of times when you're in a tough class like calculus or physics or Russian Literature or something, something happens: It breaks you. You were a great student until you hit that class. Suddenly, you're struggling. You're not just "getting" it. You have to study harder than you're used to, and things still don't seem to make sense. + +What the heck, school. + +And then, here comes in that one person. The one person that ruins the class curve. The person who does just "get" it. + +They're the worst. + +The worst part about them is that you don't always hate them. Sometimes they're even your friend. But when you happen to glance at their last test score with yours in the back of your mind, it's all loathing. Not just for them, but for yourself. + +"Why the heck don't I understand this?" +"I thought I was smart…" +"Where did I go wrong?" +"I'm just going to drop this class." + +Don't drop the class. + +The sad part about those people is that they often are the loudest about their grades. You notice them the most. And even worse is that because everyone is trying to hide the fact that they are also suffering as much as you are, they also murmur things like, "oh yeah it wasn't so bad," or, "yeah I did better than expected." What those people don't say is, "Well… I was expecting a low F so the D+ actually is better than I expected…" etc. + +You are not alone. + +Those people who act like they're better than you at everything? + +They're not. + +Don't let that one test, that one project, that one class, and yes, that one person get you down. + +Every single person hits something that gets them to this point. You're going to be fine. + +So sit down, close Facebook and Reddit and Tumblr and Imgur and BuzzFeed and Instagram and Pinterest and Twitter and Klout and YouTube and Vine. + +Get to work. + +You can do it. diff --git a/src/posts/broke-a-bus.md b/src/posts/broke-a-bus.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44450e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/broke-a-bus.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: How my big bod broke a bus +slug: broke-a-bus +description: I am a real Spaniard now! +tags: + - personal +added: 2012-03-08T06:00:00.000Z +--- + +So, every morning the buses to school (in Spain) are pretty crowded. There aren't many regulations (actually there are none) on how many people can fit on a bus. Also, in general, it has been noted that the Spaniards are not afraid to push or cut in line to get on the bus. Normally, I usually just let them go and I get on the next bus. + +On Thursday, this was not the case. When I approached the bus, there were just so many people that I was instantly separated from my friends Tasia and Madison at the stop. The bus was clearly full, and the bus driver yelled that he was going to close the door. It was at this moment my inner Spaniard came out, and pushed onto the bus anyway. I pushed about 3 people on so that I could get on too, and then a couple people saw what I did and followed. The bus was so packed that We didn't have to hold on to anything, we were just sardines waiting to be eaten by the classroom and monotony of everyday movement. + +However when the bus pulled away, I instantly noticed that we were a little heavy in front. When the bus stopped at a red light, there was air flowing out of somewhere. The bus driver looked worried. He had a student climb out to check the tires (he couldn't get out himself because there were too many people). The student saw nothing, but there was clearly a lot of air and the bus was lower than usual. We pulled over and the bus driver called in, asking if he could keep going. His manager said no, and all of the students started yelling. Eventually the driver was convinced to keep going. The bus moved very slowly and tilted more than usual on the turns. When we finally got to the university and everyone piled off, the bus driver called in and the bus was out of commission. Supposedly there were only just a few too many students on the bus. Whoops. + +Today I decided that I wasn't going to push and I ended up missing two buses. If breaking the bus is what it takes, SO BE IT. diff --git a/src/posts/computer-science-actually-like.md b/src/posts/computer-science-actually-like.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0371e2e --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/computer-science-actually-like.md @@ -0,0 +1,91 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: What is Computer Science ACTUALLY like? +slug: computer-science-actually-like +description: "You might question CS as a major, but I'm here to tell you not to!" +tags: [advice] +added: 2014-02-25T06:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hi there cutie pie! + +So, as you might already know, I'm a computer science major, and I LOOOVE it! A lot of people, though, typically give me a cringe reaction when I say that it's my major. + +And yes, I know not everyone likes the idea of coding. They picture someone sitting at a computer all day long in a crappy cubicle staring at a screen with green text and a black background. + +Well, I'm here to tell you that you need to erase that image from your mind, because being a computer science major is SO much more than that! + +So here's some stereotypes that CS majors face, and then some counterexamples to show that they are not true. 😉 + +## You're in a cube all day staring at a screen. + +False. In all of my internships that I've had, only one of them included a cubicle. Even then, I was only in it for a couple hours a day because I was in meetings and conference rooms and other places throughout the office. The company I'm going to work for, Venmo, has no offices at all! + +Now sure, if you want an office with cubicles or offices or couches or anything, there are definitely companies out there with those, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. But you should know that because of the flexibility of the degree and the job, you can honestly work in any type of environment you want. + +## It's full of a bunch of boys. + +I am not a boy. Next. + +Heh okay, I admit there are a lot of guys in computer science. Overall in the US, only 18% of all undergraduate computer and information sciences degrees are received by women ([stat from NCWIT](https://ncwit.org/resource/thefactsgirls/)). But ladies (and guys), don't let that deter you! There are so many great opportunities in computer science career-wise, project-wise, and networking-wise that something like gender shouldn't be a decision-making factor when deciding to go into the field or not. + +## It's basically math with a computer involved. No fun. + +No. + +Okay, yes, math is a good thing to know. But it's not the end of the world if you didn't rock your trig class in high school. + +Computer science is about problem solving. You're given a set of skills with the major. Each language you learn is a tool, each idea you learn is a method of solving something. You get to be as creative as you want at that point! + +Let's say you wish there were an easier way to keep track of your calorie intake. That's your problem. You can solve it in all kinds of different ways. Sure, you can write it in a notebook or something, but what if you don't have a pen nearby? Let's turn to tech. You could make a phone application that does it for you. You could even have it look up how many calories an avocado has for you so that you don't have to do that yourself. What if you wanted to get REALLY creative with it? Let's add some image recognition to your application. You could have your phone take a picture of an avocado, recognize what you're eating, and then do the looking up of calories for you and list it on your calendar. You could make a website for it! A smartwatch application! A Google Glass tracker that publishes to Twitter! There's so many options! + +Computer science is great because of it's flexibility. Do you like art? You can work with code that only works with art ([there's a whole website dedicated to that kind of coding here](https://experiments.withgoogle.com/)). You like chemistry? You can make programs that test strengths of covalent bonds between atoms (I asked my computer science/chemistry double major buddy for that example, so it's super legit). You like math? You can work with Turing machines and algorithms exclusively. You like marketing? You can be a developer evangelist and work with events, writing, code, and competitions ([here's a blog post of someone who did just that](https://www.rdegges.com/2014/my-experience-as-a-new-developer-evangelist/)). You like foreign languages? You can make products to bridge the gap between nations. + +Also, what if you don't want to code? You can have jobs like being a technical writer, a project manager, a technical recruiter, a patent lawyer… there's so many opportunities for you even if you just know a little technical knowledge! + +I could go on and give an example for pretty much every single other subject you throw at me. Technology is constantly growing, which only means there will be more and more ways to relate computer science to pretty much anything. Not just math. + +## I don't have coding experience, so there's no point. It is too late. + +\*Touches your shoulder tenderly\* It is never too late for now. + +Not everyone goes into CS knowing things about coding. A majority of people I knew in my freshmen classes had little to no experience at all! + +Don't let those people intimidate you. You can totally learn at your own pace, in the way that you want. Having previous experience, sure, that's a nice bonus. But you could say that about literally every other field (I tried thinking of exceptions to this rule, and there are none). Don't worry about getting your feet wet, or even moving a little slowly. It's a subject that takes patience. It's so vast that some things are pieces of cake to some people, and pure torture for others. As you go through your classes, you figure out what you like, and you can gear your electives towards your preferences. + +Plus, there's so many jobs in computer science out there that you don't have to even think about being worried. + +WHAT A CLEVER SEGUE: + +## Computer Science is being outsourced all over the place, there's no jobs here. + +No no no no no. + +There are so many jobs here, it's ridiculous. + +Quick history lesson: Baby boomers started taking on a lot of jobs, computer-related ones too, many years ago. Now, they're starting to retire a lot. Millions have retired over the past 6 years. + +So, what does that mean for you, for us? JOBS! Not Steve Jobs. I mean careers. For you and me. + +The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that by 2020 there will be more than 1.4 million computing-related job openings. At current rates, however, we can only fill about 30% of those jobs with U.S. computing bachelor's grads ([Source](https://ncwit.org/resource/thefacts/)). + +That's a LOT of jobs. Get on it. + +## Computer scientists are socially awkward. + +No we're not. + +Well, some are. + +But honestly, you could say the same about every single other major out there. Why we were targeted with that one, I couldn't tell you. + +We're normal. I'm normal. NORMAL. + +## You are probably tired of reading this. + +I hope I've deterred some of your malicious thoughts about CS majors (okay I'm sure they weren't malicious, more like "curious," but whatever) and answered some of your questions! + +You should totally give computer science a try. You don't have to major in it if you don't want to, but you could just try a class. You'd be surprised at how fun it is. + +Get jiggy with it. Peace out, girl scout. +(Crap, I just reread that… maybe I AM one of the weird ones…) diff --git a/src/posts/crush-procrastinating.md b/src/posts/crush-procrastinating.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a4dcc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/crush-procrastinating.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: Crushing Procrastination in 3 Steps +slug: crush-procrastinating +description: You should be doing that thing. You know that. +tags: + - advice +added: 2013-11-04T06:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hey. I get you. You're attractive, and you're reading this. + +You're also probably not working on something you should be. + +That's okay. + +BUT, procrastination is still a pain. There's all kinds of ways to combat it so that you don't end up suffering until the minute before something's due. The phrase, "Due Tomorrow? Do Tomorrow." is not something to live by. Instead think, "I will obey Cassidy." + +1. Prioritize! When you tell yourself, "Psh this is nothing, I'll do it tomorrow," you should actually block off some time the next day to work on it. Scheduling things gives you the structure and the dedicated time you need to actually make some progress. +2. Focus! Pick a task or assignment you've been putting off, and work on it for 20 minutes without looking up or stopping. Take a 5 minute break, and then do it again. This will help you form habits that will eventually allow you to be more productive, and feel like it too! +3. Get friends! If you're tempted to procrastinate, ask a friend (or enemy, I guess…) to hold you accountable. Tell them what you want to accomplish, and your deadline. Ask them to check in with you for updates on your progress. You'll be much more motivated when you know someone's keeping tabs on your work, especially someone that you respect. + +I bet you're gonna rock this whole "not procrastinating" thing. I believe in you. diff --git a/src/posts/crushing-the-impostor-syndrome.md b/src/posts/crushing-the-impostor-syndrome.md index 79a789e..1dd59e7 100644 --- a/src/posts/crushing-the-impostor-syndrome.md +++ b/src/posts/crushing-the-impostor-syndrome.md @@ -2,9 +2,7 @@ layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro title: Crushing the Impostor Syndrome slug: impostor-syndrome -description: >- - Sometimes you don't feel like you're good enough, and that you're fooling - everyone. You're not alone. +description: Sometimes you don't feel like you're good enough, and that you're fooling everyone. You're not alone. tags: - advice - musings @@ -19,7 +17,7 @@ So, I hope you enjoy! Hey friends. You look really good today. Nice shirt. -So, the other day, someone I work with (a genius, I might add) told me that they didn’t actually know anything about their job. I laughed it off and said they knew so much more than I did, they didn’t need to worry at all. Then they laughed at what I said, and said that I knew more than them! +So, the other day, someone I work with (a genius, I might add) told me that they didn't actually know anything about their job. I laughed it off and said they knew so much more than I did, they didn't need to worry at all. Then they laughed at what I said, and said that I knew more than them! What the heck. @@ -27,35 +25,35 @@ They are lying. Or are they? -This is a phenomenon called the Impostor Syndrome. You achieve things, you do assignments, and you go through school and work, hoping that nobody will realize that you have no idea what you’re doing. You say, “oh, I got lucky on that one,” or, “someone helped me along with that one,” or, “what I did really wasn’t that big of a deal.” +This is a phenomenon called the Impostor Syndrome. You achieve things, you do assignments, and you go through school and work, hoping that nobody will realize that you have no idea what you're doing. You say, "oh, I got lucky on that one," or, "someone helped me along with that one," or, "what I did really wasn't that big of a deal." Have you ever thought that? If not, good for you. Stop reading this and go enjoy your summer. If so, welcome to the rest of the world. -Impostor syndrome is a real thing. Search for it all over the internet and you’ll find papers upon studies upon books upon articles of countless people going through the same thing. +Impostor syndrome is a real thing. Search for it all over the internet and you'll find papers upon studies upon books upon articles of countless people going through the same thing. -> “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’” – Maya Angelou +> "I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they're going to find out now. I've run a game on everybody, and they're going to find me out.'" – Maya Angelou -Sometimes in classes and at work, I feel like I’m the only one who’s struggling. I’m the only one who’s not sleeping at night and spending countless hours on a single assignment or paper or program. Everyone else seems to just get it. It’s like I’m lying to everyone that I belong at that level, including myself. When I try to confide this in others, they just say, “don’t be silly, you’re great at this.” And all I can think is, “Crap, I’ve fooled them too.” +Sometimes in classes and at work, I feel like I'm the only one who's struggling. I'm the only one who's not sleeping at night and spending countless hours on a single assignment or paper or program. Everyone else seems to just get it. It's like I'm lying to everyone that I belong at that level, including myself. When I try to confide this in others, they just say, "don't be silly, you're great at this." And all I can think is, "Crap, I've fooled them too." -> “The beauty of the impostor syndrome is you vacillate between extreme egomania and a complete feeling of: ‘I’m a fraud! Oh God, they’re on to me! I’m a fraud!’ So you just try to ride the egomania when it comes and enjoy it, and then slide through the idea of fraud.” – Tina Fey +> "The beauty of the impostor syndrome is you vacillate between extreme egomania and a complete feeling of: ‘I'm a fraud! Oh God, they're on to me! I'm a fraud!' So you just try to ride the egomania when it comes and enjoy it, and then slide through the idea of fraud." – Tina Fey -Students don’t just feel this. Everyone encounters this at some points. But why? Why do we feel like this? Dr. Valerie Young says that, “The thing about ‘impostors’ is they have unsustainably high standards for everything they do. The thinking here is, If I don’t know everything, then I know nothing. If it’s not absolutely perfect, it’s woefully deficient. If I’m not operating at the top of my game 24/7, then I’m incompetent.” +Students don't just feel this. Everyone encounters this at some points. But why? Why do we feel like this? Dr. Valerie Young says that, "The thing about ‘impostors' is they have unsustainably high standards for everything they do. The thinking here is, If I don't know everything, then I know nothing. If it's not absolutely perfect, it's woefully deficient. If I'm not operating at the top of my game 24/7, then I'm incompetent." -> “You think, ‘Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don’t know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?’” – Meryl Streep +> "You think, ‘Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don't know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?'" – Meryl Streep -One day a couple of months ago at my internship, I wrote this fairly simple application for my team that would make one of their projects run more smoothly. When I showed it to them, I was terrified that they’d just be like, “that’s nice, Cassidy,” then go on with their work. But then a miracle happened. They were impressed. They asked how I did it. They asked if I’d talk at a lunch about the language and algorithm I used. I’m not saying this to brag. I’m saying this out of pure shock. +One day a couple of months ago at my internship, I wrote this fairly simple application for my team that would make one of their projects run more smoothly. When I showed it to them, I was terrified that they'd just be like, "that's nice, Cassidy," then go on with their work. But then a miracle happened. They were impressed. They asked how I did it. They asked if I'd talk at a lunch about the language and algorithm I used. I'm not saying this to brag. I'm saying this out of pure shock. I came to a realization that can be explained by the following. I assumed that everyone around me was a super genius programmer, because they seemed like it. But in fact, everything I knew was not in their repertoire. I could teach them as they were teaching me. What?!? ![Impostor diagram](/assets/impostorsyndrome.jpg) -So, how do you destroy the Impostor Syndrome? Here’s a few tips. +So, how do you destroy the Impostor Syndrome? Here's a few tips. -Be confident. Don’t just wait until you feel confident to act like it. Admit when you don’t know something, and be authentic and accept that you don’t need to know everything. -Communicate and seek encouragement. It sounds like silly advice. But sometimes, you need a pep talk. When you’re feeling down about yourself, tell a parent, a teacher, or a close friend. Be willing to accept their encouragement and don’t just tell yourself that they’re just being nice! If you accept and internalize what they say, you might just live by it. -Take risks, and get out of your comfort zone. When you tell yourself that you “fooled them again” or that you “got lucky again,” you’re going to start avoiding taking on challenges and opportunities just in case you won’t be able to pull it off like last time. Take that hard class with the difficult professor, take on the tough assignment at work, join a team that you feel is better than you are. You learn the most when you challenge yourself! -So, with that, good luck. I know this was a lot to take in, but I want to tell you that you are great. You are smart. You’re about to go to the best university in the world (in my opinion anyway, people probably have others), take on impressive courses, join clubs I never could, and be successful. +Be confident. Don't just wait until you feel confident to act like it. Admit when you don't know something, and be authentic and accept that you don't need to know everything. +Communicate and seek encouragement. It sounds like silly advice. But sometimes, you need a pep talk. When you're feeling down about yourself, tell a parent, a teacher, or a close friend. Be willing to accept their encouragement and don't just tell yourself that they're just being nice! If you accept and internalize what they say, you might just live by it. +Take risks, and get out of your comfort zone. When you tell yourself that you "fooled them again" or that you "got lucky again," you're going to start avoiding taking on challenges and opportunities just in case you won't be able to pull it off like last time. Take that hard class with the difficult professor, take on the tough assignment at work, join a team that you feel is better than you are. You learn the most when you challenge yourself! +So, with that, good luck. I know this was a lot to take in, but I want to tell you that you are great. You are smart. You're about to go to the best university in the world (in my opinion anyway, people probably have others), take on impressive courses, join clubs I never could, and be successful. -## You’ll do great. +## You'll do great. diff --git a/src/posts/design-iphone-app.md b/src/posts/design-iphone-app.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ad69f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/design-iphone-app.md @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: Design Your First iPhone App +slug: design-iphone-app +description: It's not too bad to start building the phone app of your dreams! +tags: + - advice + - technical +added: 2013-10-21T05:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hey good lookin. + +So, I'm a computer science major. Introducing myself that way usually sends people running for the hills. "I'm not tech savvy," they say. "I could never do that," they say. + +They are wrong. + +Anyone can code, if you put your mind to it. So, I'm going to show you the first steps you need to make an iPhone app of your very own. I'll keep it general and let you follow more specific tutorials and such, but if you follow these steps, you're on your way to building your own app. If you've got a great idea, and you're good at the business side of things, there are plenty of learning resources and opportunities to help you with actually creating the next big app! + +First of all, be sure you own a Mac. If you own a PC, you're kind of out of luck. Don't worry, I didn't have a Mac for a while, so I just learned on lab computers and borrowed them! + +If this is covered, it's just a few easy steps: + +1. **Get an App Store Developer account.** + You can't sell an app that you can't list on the store. You have to set up an account that costs about $100 a year. Even if you don't launch your app for a little while, it's good to do. An App Store account provides access to helpful tools and resources for development. + +2. **Map out your app.** + What's the look and feel of your app? What will the home screen look like? What pages do you need? What do you expect out of your users? How will it flow from screen to screen? + There's a great app called [POP](https://marvelapp.com/pop) that helps you figure this out. You just draw out what each screen will look like on paper and take pictures of your drawings, and then it treats your sketches as a real app! It really helps you figure out the flow and design of things. +3. **Put it together!** + The next, fairly intimidating, step is actually coding the app! But don't let that scare you. If you're willing to learn, you can totally learn to code with one of the following resources: + + - [Treehouse](https://teamtreehouse.com/) + - [Skillshare](https://www.skillshare.com/) + - [Codecademy](https://www.codecademy.com/) + - [Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/) + +If you put your mind to it, you can learn it! + +If you aren't up for coding but you still want your idea to exist, you can hire a team. Yes, that sounds expensive, but even in just talking to friends and classmates, you might find someone! + +There's plenty of options for you to make your great ideas a reality. Good luck! diff --git a/src/posts/dream-major.md b/src/posts/dream-major.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c97e4de --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/dream-major.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: Finding your dream major in college +slug: dream-major +description: What if you could study exactly what you wanted to? +tags: + - advice +added: 2013-11-14T06:00:00.000Z +--- + +It's hard to pick a major sometimes. It's scary too. I mean, you're not DEFINITELY stuck with your choice for the rest of your life, if you don't like it. But imagine if you loved your choice from the start, and that you can get your dream job right out of college?? + +I feel like that kind of happened to me. I asked myself several questions, and the job I got for after graduation is exactly what I want to do with my life! + +So, I thought I'd pass along those questions. Who knows, maybe you'll find something new about yourself. + +1. I've always wondered what it would be like to do \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and I think it's interesting to me because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +2. If I had to go back to school tomorrow, I'd major in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +3. My co-workers and friends always say I'm great at \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +4. The thing I love most about my current schoolwork/job/major is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +5. If I had the right skill set, I'd definitely try \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +6. If my parents/boss/roommate/manager/professor would let me, I'd do more of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +7. If I had a free Saturday that had to be spent just "working" on something, I'd choose \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +8. When I retire, I want to be known for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. +9. If I could choose one friend to trade jobs/majors with, I'd choose \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. + +What'd you come up with? diff --git a/src/posts/fb-hackathon.md b/src/posts/fb-hackathon.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c26b50 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/fb-hackathon.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: Facebook's 2012 Summer of Hack +slug: fb-hackathon +description: I got to check out the Seattle Facebook offices for their summer hackathon! +tags: + - events +added: 2012-08-10T05:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hey everyone! + +So my friends and I were invited to the Facebook offices in Seattle for their Summer of Hack 24 hour Hackathon the other day. From Saturday 1PM to Sunday 1PM we had out our computers and just coded. It was SO fun! My friend Luis and I made a browser game where stars fall from the sky and you have to catch them, and you can tweet your score. Other people made things like Mac applications and collage designers!  It was so fun!  It took me FOREVER to recover from the lack of sleep though. + +[Here's the code for our game!](https://github.com/cassidoo/Star-Catcher) + +But, to make it all even more worth it, I got to walk away with a nice bundle of swag.![](/assets/fbswag.jpeg) diff --git a/src/posts/feedback-is-awesome.md b/src/posts/feedback-is-awesome.md index 2f9db40..f3a21af 100644 --- a/src/posts/feedback-is-awesome.md +++ b/src/posts/feedback-is-awesome.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ layout: "../layouts/BlogPost.astro" title: "Feedback is awesome" slug: feedback-is-awesome -description: "I love getting feedback from people. You learn most from it." +description: "I love getting feedback from people. You learn most from it." added: "Feb 22 2014" tags: [advice, musings] --- @@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ This made my day! I love getting positive feedback like this, it only makes me w And then, I also got an email from one of the higher ups at Intuit today: > We were just talking about you the other day, in relation to the Women in Technology initiative in QuickBooks Product Dev. We rolled out a formal goal of mentorship and sponsorship to develop a pipeline of women ready for director, group manager, principal engineer, and architect roles. Since we started... we have two new women group managers, a new woman principal engineer, and several new first-time managers. We have a monthly lunch with the women PD leaders, and we feature various guest speakers— mostly women execs at Intuit. Intuit also hosted a Girl Geek Dinner... -> Btw, your work on ...[things I worked on at Intuit]... default template is now live in QBO. So you’ve got a legacy at Intuit from your internship. +> Btw, your work on ...[things I worked on at Intuit]... default template is now live in QBO. So you've got a legacy at Intuit from your internship. Between the two messages, I don't know which one made me more happy. I love hearing that my views on mentorship are being spread, and that my work I'm doing is making a real impact. diff --git a/src/posts/grace-hopper-baltimore.md b/src/posts/grace-hopper-baltimore.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7805fc --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/grace-hopper-baltimore.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: Grace Hopper in Baltimore! +slug: grace-hopper-baltimore +description: I'm at a huge women in tech conference! +tags: + - events +added: 2012-10-03T05:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hey everyone!! + +Right now I'm at the [Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing Conference](https://ghc.anitab.org/) in Baltimore, Maryland!! I got sponsorship from Microsoft to go and so far I'm having SO MUCH FUN. I have some friends here who came with me last year and also my sister! They got sponsorship through the Iowa State Computer Science department. + +This morning we had our welcome in the Baltimore Convention Center, it was super glamorous. + +Throughout the day we have seminars and sessions and later a career fair full of tech companies. It's an awesome way to network with people and really celebrate women in computing! + +So while you may be enjoying the lovely Midwest, I'll be here in the humid East for the next week!! + +SEE YA! diff --git a/src/posts/hackisu.md b/src/posts/hackisu.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5c76ae --- /dev/null +++ b/src/posts/hackisu.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +layout: ../layouts/BlogPost.astro +title: HackISU Hackathon!! +slug: hackisu +description: We had the first ever Iowa State hackathon! +tags: + - events +added: 2014-04-08T05:00:00.000Z +--- + +Hello my darling kumquats! + +I hope you're enjoying the spectacular weather outside. + +This past weekend, Iowa State held its first HackISU hackathon, the largest the campus has seen yet! We had around 150 student hackers come in for the weekend and make some incredible things. + +For those of you who are like, "WAIT. You make people hack into computers?" No. We don't. A hackathon is a span of time in which you simply make something (or "hack" it together). Hackers were given 24 hours to come up with the coolest hacks they could, and they certainly didn't disappoint! + +Throughout the event we had a bunch of food and swag to give out, sponsored by some awesome companies from all over the country. + +The event was organized by some groups on campus, the Computer Science/Software Engineering Club (I'm the president of that group, hollerrrr) and CyHack. It was such a successful event, and I was super proud of our team who put it all together. + +What kind of cool hacks did we see?? Well, there were some incredible ones! + +The winning team made what they called a "Hackulus Leap," which was a hacked-together Oculus Rift-esque virtual reality device controlled by your head, a tablet, a headpiece, and a Leap Motion device! We had everything from games to skydiving apps to lights that changed with music to productivity apps like Tweet shorteners. + +Isn't that awesome?? It's amazing what you can do in 24 hours. We had all kinds of majors too, not just programmers and hardware hackers! We had some economics majors, some mechanical engineers, designers, advertisers… everyone was welcome. + +HackISU will only get bigger every year, and I hope you join us next year! diff --git a/src/posts/here-come-the-2013-mashups.md b/src/posts/here-come-the-2013-mashups.md index 12f3a45..3cf736c 100644 --- a/src/posts/here-come-the-2013-mashups.md +++ b/src/posts/here-come-the-2013-mashups.md @@ -20,6 +20,6 @@ So, I wanted to share with you my three favorite 2013 Mashups so far! I love mas [DJ Earworm's United State of Pop 2013 (Living the Fantasy)](https://soundcloud.com/dj_earworm/united-state-of-pop-2013-living-the-fantasy): I don't usually listen to DJ Earworm, but this is probably my favorite of his yearly mashups yet! It's really epic sounding group of 25 songs from this year. -[#AnDyWuMUSICLAND Mashup 2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jWmB5Uy0g): This one is SUPER fun. It might be because I like that he included a Les Miserables song in there… along with 64 others!! Something also cool about this one is that he lined up not only the songs, but the lyrics too [(here’s a link to them)](https://andywumusicland.tumblr.com/post/69081318879/andywumusicland-mashup-2013-best-60-pop-songs). +[#AnDyWuMUSICLAND Mashup 2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jWmB5Uy0g): This one is SUPER fun. It might be because I like that he included a Les Miserables song in there… along with 64 others!! Something also cool about this one is that he lined up not only the songs, but the lyrics too [(here's a link to them)](https://andywumusicland.tumblr.com/post/69081318879/andywumusicland-mashup-2013-best-60-pop-songs). -So, I hope you enjoy the end of your 2013 school year, and I can’t wait to see you all again in 2014! +So, I hope you enjoy the end of your 2013 school year, and I can't wait to see you all again in 2014! diff --git a/src/posts/how-ace-an-interview.md b/src/posts/how-ace-an-interview.md index fd70868..b5f3dec 100644 --- a/src/posts/how-ace-an-interview.md +++ b/src/posts/how-ace-an-interview.md @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ layout: "../layouts/BlogPost.astro" title: "How to Ace an Interview" slug: ace-interview -description: "Interviews are scary, but they don't have to be. When you're on the spot, it's best to be prepared. Let's prepare you." +description: "Interviews are scary, but they don't have to be. When you're on the spot, it's best to be prepared. Let's prepare you." added: "Mar 04 2014" tags: [advice] --- @@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ So, I thought I'd give you some advice based on what I've learned. Right now. ## Study the usual interview questions, and fit in your own experiences. -All you have to do here is go on the internet and search, “common interview questions.” -Everything from “describe a time when you worked on a team” to “what was the most fun presentation you’ve ever had to plan?” is asked to everyone, engineers and business majors alike. + +All you have to do here is go on the internet and search, "common interview questions." +Everything from "describe a time when you worked on a team" to "what was the most fun presentation you've ever had to plan?" is asked to everyone, engineers and business majors alike. Make sure you follow STAR: _Situation_ (what was the situation you were in), _Task_ (what was your job, or task, to tackle the situation), _Action_ (what were the actions to ultimately took), and _Results_ (what were the responses you received and the results you achieved)! Now, if you're thinking about technical questions (which I'm a computer science chick too, I get it), my only advice here is to talk a LOT. Too many engineers just go up to the white board and start coding then and there without explaining what they're doing. @@ -25,23 +26,27 @@ The _thought process_ is what these companies are looking for, not just correct It's better to have a good thought process and bad code than good code and a bad thought process. ## Know your story well. + Instead of reflecting all the time on interview questions and rehearsing answers, try reflecting on your school and career chronology until now! -Think about how you got started in your field, struggles you overcame, what you’ve learned over the years, where and how you developed certain skills, what you’re most proud of, etc. +Think about how you got started in your field, struggles you overcame, what you've learned over the years, where and how you developed certain skills, what you're most proud of, etc. When you know your story, you can answer almost any question about anything because of your personal experiences and what you know already about yourself. ## Follow the PIE. + I mean this in both senses of the word. Pie is delicious. BUT, what I really mean is, the best interviewees are the ones who are _Positive, Interested, and Engaged_ in the interview conversations. If you keep worrying about the next question and saying things perfectly, you might forget to have your positive game face showing. -Just remember to smile! If you look like you’re happy to be there, they’ll be more happy to interview you. +Just remember to smile! If you look like you're happy to be there, they'll be more happy to interview you. ## Consider what the company (or organization or school, whatever) wants. -When you’re at the career fair, ask companies what they look for, and what their culture is like. -You don’t want to think, “oh yeah I’ll just keep practicing, if I know what I’m talking about and can show it, they’ll hire me.” -Yes and no. You do want to show them that you know what you’re talking about. But, they also want to feel that you are likable, and that you’ll fit in at the company! + +When you're at the career fair, ask companies what they look for, and what their culture is like. +You don't want to think, "oh yeah I'll just keep practicing, if I know what I'm talking about and can show it, they'll hire me." +Yes and no. You do want to show them that you know what you're talking about. But, they also want to feel that you are likable, and that you'll fit in at the company! Focus more on demonstrating aptitude while being likable rather than just spitting out perfectly crafted answers. -Laugh with them, relax a bit, and let them see your personality! I mean, I like you, so why wouldn’t they? -You personality is one of your skill sets that people often don’t count. Believe me, it counts for a lot. +Laugh with them, relax a bit, and let them see your personality! I mean, I like you, so why wouldn't they? +You personality is one of your skill sets that people often don't count. Believe me, it counts for a lot. ## Breathe. -You’re going to rock this! Just know that if it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world, and if it does, that's even better. Have FUN and good luck! + +You're going to rock this! Just know that if it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world, and if it does, that's even better. Have FUN and good luck! diff --git a/src/posts/how-to-ask-for-help.md b/src/posts/how-to-ask-for-help.md index 595b117..8daa3fc 100644 --- a/src/posts/how-to-ask-for-help.md +++ b/src/posts/how-to-ask-for-help.md @@ -9,34 +9,34 @@ tags: [advice] Hey cutie. Your laugh makes my morning, and your smile makes my afternoon. -So, I’ve helped as a peer mentor, as an impromptu tutor, as a friend, and just as an upperclassman with a lot of homework problems. From math to science to computing to whatever, you’ll often run into something that you just can’t figure out, and you need to ask for help. +So, I've helped as a peer mentor, as an impromptu tutor, as a friend, and just as an upperclassman with a lot of homework problems. From math to science to computing to whatever, you'll often run into something that you just can't figure out, and you need to ask for help. -As both an asker and a helper, I’ve discovered the best techniques for asking for help, that will actually get you help. +As both an asker and a helper, I've discovered the best techniques for asking for help, that will actually get you help. ## First: Actually try something. -People who you’re asking will be giving you help, not a solution. -The first thing someone will probably ask you is “What have you tried?” -If your answer amounts to “not a lot”, they have a perfect excuse to flat out say, “then why should I help you?” -If you try something, then you show that you’re at least moderately familiar with your problem, that you know what won’t work, and it’ll give the helper a guide for how they could explain something to you. -If you’re totally lost on what to try, search for your problem online to get some familiarity. +People who you're asking will be giving you help, not a solution. +The first thing someone will probably ask you is "What have you tried?" +If your answer amounts to "not a lot", they have a perfect excuse to flat out say, "then why should I help you?" +If you try something, then you show that you're at least moderately familiar with your problem, that you know what won't work, and it'll give the helper a guide for how they could explain something to you. +If you're totally lost on what to try, search for your problem online to get some familiarity. ## Narrow down your problem. -If you know that just one part of the problem is your issue (because you tried something), make sure you tell your helper (this sounds like I’m talking about some sort of designated buddy system... anyway...) what that small part is. -Now, don’t show them something so small that they can’t help you at all, but give them something fairly small to work with. -If it’s a coding problem, chances are they won’t want to go through 10,000 lines of code. -If it’s a math problem, they probably don’t need to see ALL of your steps getting to where you’re at. Et cetera. -I mean sure, be able to describe the larger context of your problem, but then focus on your problem area when you’re asking for help. +If you know that just one part of the problem is your issue (because you tried something), make sure you tell your helper (this sounds like I'm talking about some sort of designated buddy system... anyway...) what that small part is. +Now, don't show them something so small that they can't help you at all, but give them something fairly small to work with. +If it's a coding problem, chances are they won't want to go through 10,000 lines of code. +If it's a math problem, they probably don't need to see ALL of your steps getting to where you're at. Et cetera. +I mean sure, be able to describe the larger context of your problem, but then focus on your problem area when you're asking for help. -## Don’t be a lazy recipient. +## Don't be a lazy recipient. -When someone is helping you, they’re donating their time and effort into making sure you understand something. -Don’t sit there on your phone while they look at your screen or read your paper. +When someone is helping you, they're donating their time and effort into making sure you understand something. +Don't sit there on your phone while they look at your screen or read your paper. Be an active learner, and talk through things with them. At the same time, be patient. -Unless you’re paying them for their time, you’re not simply entitled to their help. -I’m guilty of getting impatient if I don’t understand something right away. -Let them explain how they think about the problem to you in their own way, chances are they might have a different idea than you do, and you’ll come to a mutual solution together. +Unless you're paying them for their time, you're not simply entitled to their help. +I'm guilty of getting impatient if I don't understand something right away. +Let them explain how they think about the problem to you in their own way, chances are they might have a different idea than you do, and you'll come to a mutual solution together. Lovingly. -Hopefully you’ll get the help you need on that nasty problem! I believe in you. +Hopefully you'll get the help you need on that nasty problem! I believe in you. diff --git a/src/posts/html-css-tutorial-part-2.md b/src/posts/html-css-tutorial-part-2.md index 9b14b20..15c23f3 100644 --- a/src/posts/html-css-tutorial-part-2.md +++ b/src/posts/html-css-tutorial-part-2.md @@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ So, you have some of the CSS basics down already. You're so smart. It's really a #### Classes -Let's say that we have 8 `

` tags on our HTML page (hint: open style3.html in the **3 - Styles** folder). -If we want to style each of these tags differently, we can use _classes_. A class is actually an HTML attribute that you can name whatever you want. -Check out style3.html to see the classes I added to the `

` tags on the page. When you add a class, the user doesn't see it. +Let's say that we have 8 `

` tags on our HTML page (hint: open style3.html in the **3 - Styles** folder). +If we want to style each of these tags differently, we can use _classes_. A class is actually an HTML attribute that you can name whatever you want. +Check out style3.html to see the classes I added to the `

` tags on the page. When you add a class, the user doesn't see it. But, you can style specific classes to do what you want, instead of having all `

` tags be the same. How about we style one of the classes specifically? It's simple. Just take the class name you made up (I'll use the `poemtitle` class for my example) and add a period `.` in front of it to select it in CSS, like so: @@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ How about we style one of the classes specifically? It's simple. Just take the c } -And there you have it! Even though you might have different styles for your paragraphs, you can style the ones of class `poemtitle` individually. -For this example, let's make all paragraphs with the font family Arial, the `poemtitle`s font weight `bolder`, the `author`s the color `#555555`, and the `poem`s in `italic`. +And there you have it! Even though you might have different styles for your paragraphs, you can style the ones of class `poemtitle` individually. +For this example, let's make all paragraphs with the font family Arial, the `poemtitle`s font weight `bolder`, the `author`s the color `#555555`, and the `poem`s in `italic`. Try doing it on your own if you can (just put your code in the given `