P is for passion, problem-solving and... programming?

It has been a while since I worked on a project so enjoyable that I have lost track of time. Something that involves creative problem-solving, and seeing the immediate results of changes to this or that, engages a part of my brain that shuts all other distractions out. It's really quite something else.... Read more about If Surface Scratched, then Dig Deeper

400 students make Harvard history

so say the Harvard Gazette headline, and I thought to myself: "Pretty awesome to be one of 400."... Read more about One of Four Hundred

Aiming for Ataraxia

When someone tries to drag you down, pull them up instead. But, if they resist and insist on spreading their toxic energy, spoiling your serenity, don't let it be. Just walk away, and let the black hole of their making swallow them up.... Read more about Don't Let the Dark Side Win

Things don't always go as planned. The tricks to enjoying a fulfilling life are to go with the flow, and appreciate the happy accidents.... Read more about Sunday Pancakes

I try to live each day with a clarity of mind and purpose, with humility and gratitude for the gifts in my life. While it may not always be possible to have a day as perfect as I define it, I still try to achieve a certain state of serenity, so that I may sleep peacefully at night, and try it all over again the next day.... Read more about August Affirmations

Murphy watches as the rain continues to fall in the backyard, making the large, green leaves of the ginger plants quiver, shimmer and dance. Daddy’s shirt, though loosely draped over him, gives Murphy some comfort and security. He seems a bit relieved that the thunder stopped, but apprehensive it would start up again at any moment.... Read more about Between Fireworks and Thunderstorms

Since I've Been Gone...

A lot has happened in a year. Such is life, I suppose, when you are busy living it instead of writing about it. Here are some highlights, in thoughtfully randomized order.... Read more about A Year in Bullet Points, More or Less

Standing next to Fortitude. A homecoming of sorts. It has been over 12 years since the last time he stood there.... Read more about Welcome Back to My Sanctuary

When my friend James told me that he got accepted to Yale a couple of months ago, I thought that I couldn't be more proud of him. Then, I came across this Gazette profile, and learned more of the struggles he went through before finally making his way to Harvard. Next week, he will be graduating along with several of my other friends.... Read more about This Journey's End Begins Another

Pardon the run-on coming right for ya

Extending the Role of HES

EdSurge recently interviewed Huntington "Hunt" Lambert, dean of the Division of Continuing Education and Harvard Extension School, to talk about "How Harvard Is Trying to Update the Extension School for the MOOC Age."... Read more about EdSurge Interviews Dean Hunt Lambert

Guess What Happens in May

For months now I have been listening repeatedly to the Hamilton: An American Musical soundtrack, an absolute masterpiece in storytelling. Every time specific parts of certain songs are sang, it never fails to hit me in the same manner... Read more about Oh, Hey. It's May.

... and switch gears for the new semester.

Why wallow in your woes when you can swim up to the shore?

... Read more about My Black Hole Sun, Five-Seven-Five

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

This quote is credited to the filmmaker Woody Allen. Regardless of your spiritual belief or religious affiliation, the quote, I believe, is a lesson in humility. It means that no matter how tightly we grip the steering wheel of life, to drive at full speed toward some desired future, we are not always in full control.... Read more about Life Has a Way of Stepping In to Change Your Mind and Your Plans

Vanity Lane article is Harvard Gazette Editor's Pick

What an honor it has been to have another article be featured on the Harvard Gazette news website under the "Editor's Pick" and "Popular" categories. I am so proud of La'Toya for pulling off a successful show during the Harvard ARTS FIRST Festival, and thank her for being such a gracious and talented subject.... Read more about Walking Through Wide Open Doors, Part II: Pirouette Among Peers

Lessons learned in student government

Working with governing student organizations and a number of clubs this past year has been a wonderful and enlightening experience. For a shy introvert like me to end up collaborating with both the Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA) and the Harvard Graduate Council (HGC)—to help advance their membership communications and social media initiatives—has been quite rewarding and somewhat ironic.... Read more about A Candid, Open Letter to HESA Board Candidates and Voters

Thoughts about the kind of leader I want to represent our student body

I have spent most of the day reading statements and watching video posts by candidates who are running for the 2017-2018 HESA Executive Board. Common themes and concerns were brought up—things that are significant to many non-traditional and distance students.... Read more about On Which Candidate to Consider for Leadership, or How to Earn My Vote

Several years ago, when I used to work for an energy law firm, I initiated and helped lead a large migration project to upgrade our legacy systems to the more modern and robust tools that would help our then fast-growing company to be more productive and efficient in a number of ways.... Read more about Things You Find When You Google Yourself

I found a door slightly ajar

When I first registered at the Extension School, and got my Harvard email address, I had a light-hearted conversation with my husband. I said some things half-jokingly along the lines of

... Read more about The Universe Can Be Generous, If You Open Yourself Up to Its Blessings

Masquerade Ball article is Gazette Editor's Pick

This lovely lady did most of the work. La'Toya Princess Jackson, Vice Chair for Communication at HGC, often writes on behalf of the Harvard Graduate Council, contributing to the Harvard Gazette as well as other publications. Although I may have contributed a sprinkling of tidbits here and there, this was her piece, and I am grateful that she freely shared the credit.... Read more about Walking Through Wide Open Doors

And that beating thing in between...

The devil carved a fork on the road upon her feet not unlike the last time, but perhaps now with sharper edges and bigger gaps in between. Her body swayed toward one side, while her heart and mind swayed the opposite direction.... Read more about Left Shoulder, Right Shoulder

It's the first day of Winter.

Stay warm and cozy with your favorite hot beverage, or book, or person, or puppy - or all of the above.... Read more about Warm & Wonderful Winter Wishes

Reflecting upon what it means to be here as I look toward the Masquerade Ball

I am constantly amazed at the enthusiasm and grit the people at Harvard possess. Outside of the University, many of them hold full-time jobs; take care of their families; are active in their communities; may be struggling with emotional, financial, health, or societal issues; may have various other obligations, and yet still manage to continue with their studies in an institution known to be exceptionally demanding and highly competitive.... Read more about Wear a Mask and Show Yourself

In this week's Quantitative Reasoning lecture we covered the topic of Exponential Growth and Decay. During the review of the formula below, Dr. Graeme Bird noted that the variables spelled the word "yarn."... Read more about Silly Tricks & Tips on Taking Notes and Memorizing Formulas

Because it is fascinating, intimidating, and a necessary evil

In about two weeks, while most everyone else in the nation (who have yet to cast their vote) will be deciding who should be the next President of the United States of America, I shall be preoccupied with a more short-term and less crucial (but, nevertheless personally important) kind of result: my second Quantitative Reasoning midterm exam grade.... Read more about Mathematics as a Second Minor

As a tactile learner, it helps me to better absorb and retain knowledge when I write my notes by hand. Sadly, technology has played a huge part in my dwindling ability to write legible notes quickly and completely. With its convenience and the speed with which it displays my thoughts on screen, the keyboard has become a very close friend to my fingertips.... Read more about On the Values of Writing Notes by Hand

I was absolutely delighted to receive two emails from the University today, one approving my Field of Study Proposal in Economics¹, and the other my ALB Minor Petition in Finance². Receiving the official confirmation definitely made my day!... Read more about Field of Study and Minor Declaration

Finally got to see the film adaptation of Michael Lewis' The Big Short, and in my head were two dominant thoughts: 1) Thanks in part to Mishkin, Eakins, Watson, Nicolais and Valois, I actually know WTF they were talking about in the movie, and 2) WTF.... Read more about Movie Night: The Big Short

Summer textbooks have arrived! I love the "Useful Formulas" at the very end of my Investments book. These will most certainly come in handy.... Read more about ECON S-1452 Summer Textbooks

This week we learn about Game Theory. Prisoner's Dilemma. Let's face it. I could never pull this off on account of my BRF* condition.... Read more about Prisoner's Dilemma: Split Or Steal

Thanks to Jodi, a teensy-weensy-annoying little gap has been filled. I can accept the Marginal Revenue as simply given, but I really wanted to know exactly how we got there. Now, I do!... Read more about Deriving Marginal Revenue from the Demand Curve

Gathering place for students of ECON E-1010 Microeconomics (Spring 2016) with Professor Bruce Watson.... Read more about Microeconomics Facebook Group

I wonder if Mike Rowe has a brother named Mack... Ha-ha-ha!!

On a related note, my Economics class rocked! I love how it circled back to stuff I learned last year in Finance, helping tie things together in the bigger picture.... Read more about Principles of Economics Rocked!

This week in Principles of Economics we are covering Monetary Policy - Money, Banking, and the Role of the Fed; Open Market Operations.... Read more about This Week In Economics

My phone was abuzz earlier today with text alerts and emails from school officials (about 20* of them). Feeling very grateful and relieved that classmates, faculty and friends on campus are safe and okay.... Read more about Harvard Campus Bomb Threat

Two...err... One more week to midterm, and here's my eager (hyper) study buddy!

Murphy, our adopted yellow Labrador mix, often reminds me to take a study break by bursting into my home office and proceeding to jump up on my lap.... Read more about Murphy, My Midterms Study Buddy

They seem to grow in size each semester (my future desk monitor boosters). Looking forward to the first day of Econ next week!... Read more about Economics Textbook

I did not expect to receive an official decision until July, so this was a nice early treat to get in the mail...

... Read more about Mailbox Goodies (Admissions Packet)

Congratulations!

You have been admitted as a degree candidate at the Harvard University Extension School.

... Read more about Happy Monday! (I Got In!)

Orphan Black is fascinating. If I had known about this show before the semester, my final thesis might have taken a slight twist.

I previously mentioned that I was switching away from Boko Haram due to its disturbing nature. Some of you would probably find the final topic I had chosen to be comparably disquieting. It’s entitled “Beauty and Biotechnology: Embracing the Evolution of Human Enhancement.”

... Read more about Embracing Genetic Engineering

This sends a powerful message about body-shaming and our current culture of narcissism, which has been precipitated and exacerbated by Photoshop and social media.

Watch the short video she produced, and tell me you don't wish you could make such instantaneous changes to your body.... Read more about Selfie Generation and Body-Shaming

Incoming Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari:

Living in a bubble

Having not owned a television for many years now, using the Internet as my primary source of information, makes it easy for me to curate the content upon which I feed daily, tuning out most news broadcasts.... Read more about Stepping Outside of My Comfort Zone

"The choice between life and death is a deeply personal decision of obvious and overwhelming finality."

What are your thoughts on Euthanasia?
(A Facebook Discussion)

... Read more about What Are Your Thoughts on Euthanasia?

Sometimes it pays to listen to your gut.

I dropped one expository writing class, which focused its theme on tropical rain forests and the wilderness, for another expository writing class, after leafing through *yawn* pages of the required textbooks (see photo).... Read more about Selecting an Expository Writing Class for the Topics Covered

Week #4 Principles of Finance Lecture Notes:

What gets triggered when the Federal Reserve Bank
Buys or Sells Bonds?

... Read more about Notes: Open Market Operations (OMO)

Happy to report that I have received my third honor code certificate from edX for completing Leaders of Learning (GSE2x), a MOOC based on Harvard Graduate School of Education's Spring 2014 class, L102 Leaders of Learning: The Neurobiological and Institutional Bases for Transformation of the Learning Sector, which was also led and taught by Professor Richard Elmore.... Read more about Leaders of Learning Honor Code Certificate

Wonderful! Listen to the eloquence and intelligence of these children. It's amazing how much DESIGN factors into the effectiveness of a learning environment. This is just one of the few things we consider in GSE2x: Leaders of Learning for HarvardX.... Read more about Design Factors For Effective Learning

My Financial Markets and Institutions textbook arrived today. It will be my close companion throughout the Fall 2014 semester in my Principles of Finance (MGMT E-2000) class, the second admission course I am taking to get into the degree program.... Read more about Financial Markets and Institutions

Here's a fun and fascinating Q&A with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates at the University of Washington Business School. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. If you haven't seen it yet, here's your chance.... Read more about Q&A With Warren Buffett and Bill Gates

If you've read Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do, the book by Michael J. Sandel, you may remember the story about "The Afghan Goatherds."... Read more about Doing the Right Thing

Quotable

Perhaps it was a serendipitous click upon a newsfeed link that led me to edX.org eleven months ago. The perpetual pupil living inside my head was immediately spellbound after watching a short course preview video on the site.

During the online registration, when asked about my goal for signing up at edX, I responded simply with this:... Read more about The Mind is a Beautiful, Hungry Beast

I've read Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch many times. It is in my Top 3 Most Favorite Books to Reread list. A paperback copy I purchased in London many years ago is pictured below during one of my lunch breaks at Starbucks.

The required textbook for Essentials of Management (MGMT E-5100), the first of three admission courses I will be tackling to get into the degree program, arrived today.... Read more about The Big Red Book (Or Seat Booster)

Just received my certificate of completion for the Energy 101 course from the University of Texas at Austin via edX.... Read more about Energized! Earning a Second edX Certificate

Earned my ER22x: Justice course certificate from Harvard University via HarvardX/edX.... Read more about First One Down, More to Go

The right thing to do would be to enroll in Justice ER22x, a free online course from Harvard through edX, which begins on 12th March 2013.... Read more about What's the Right Thing to Do?