Bit by bit, and slowly by slowly, I'm headed somewhere...and I know it. So...I graduated from school, finally. And for all the right reasons, school was an impediment to my constructing Carerra's Chronicles. I'm now free-er than ever...for now. Still, I'm determined to build this thing. I'm currently adopting the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement via small, consistent, and incremental changes over a long time, thus motivating me to take this process slow by slow. I'm not creating something drastically huge or implementing humongous changes instantly...but rather fine-tuning stuff bit by bit. If it's the website, one small section per day. If it's a blog, one paragraph per day. Worst case: one edit, sentence, or idea per day. I noticed two things: The bits are stacking up. The best part is that it's all unconscious & 'behind-the-scenes' growth while I focus on what I can do. By the time I realize it, it's already a significant change. It's molding a subconscious habit. Since I'm well over my 21 days of cultivating a practice, it's now ingrained in me that I must tweak Carerra's Chronicles daily...and I've done this for four months now. From this habit, I've improved my skills repertoire of web development & design, writing, communication, and vision, among other skills. Slow progress > no progress. This is self-explanatory. When I work this way, time is on my side; it's only a matter of time until this blows up - compounding will play its bit in the meantime. I'm playing the long-term games - the infinite games. My goal isn't to win, but rather to keep building and inspiring people alongside me. That will get me ahead, God willing. Rome wasn't built in a day, but over decades. Similarly, I'm making my own Rome. I'm optimistic about how all this will turn out. While I don't know how long it will take, I'm ready to embrace the journey. What I know for a fact is that bit by bit will get me there...one day. Until then, I'll take it slow. And take it easy. . . . ~T.K.K

Tips for a Successful Loan Application Running the numbers Personal loans typically range from $1,000 to $50,000 or $500 to $100,000. Forbes Advisor recently surveyed 1,000 US consumers, revealing that more than 80% of Americans borrow less than $20,000. Subsequently, the most common reasons for taking a loan are debt consolidation (22%), covering living expenses (21%), and home improvement (20%.) A 2021 FDIC Survey on Unbanked and Underbanked Households unveiled that the number of households with personal loans had decreased from 10.8% in 2019 to 8.0% in 2021. Additionally, 72.5% of households in 2019 and 72.3% in 2021 had a personal loan. According to the Federal Reserve, the average interest rate for a 24-month personal loan was 11.48% in February 2023. Consumer Affairs states that the average rate on a personal loan is 10-32%. According to the Motley Fool, new borrowers take out an average of $6,656, while the average loan is $9,896. How exactly do you apply for a loan? Know your "Why?" Create a budget Scout for options Assess and compare your options Submit your application Receive your funds Pay it back 1. Know your "Why?" Why do you need a loan? It could be one of the following reasons: Covering an unexpected expense For a significant purchase - a house, car, etc. Starting a business. To fund your education (student loan.) Debt consolidation - using a larger debt to pay smaller debts. Betting against your investments - something rich people do. Miscellaneous - weddings, home improvements, medical bills, etc. Understanding your need for a loan is crucial to examining the rest of it. 2. Create a Budget After understanding your why, create a budget that evaluates how much you need and have a reasonable (over)estimate for unexpected costs. You'll also want to mind your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio to determine if you have enough cash flow to sustain new debt. Typically, a DTI of 30-36% is feasible; anything less is much better. Rule of Thumb: Round each cost to the next $100 and hike your budget by 20-30%; any surplus would be the first instalment towards repaying the debt. 3. Scout for options Search for different lenders whose options match your needs by inputting relevant info such as your name, address, and income. Lender-searching is now possible through some one-size-fits-all websites that do the weightlifting for you - Bankrate, Experian, Forbes Advisor, and Credit Karma. Just input your basic info, and they'll shortlist your options. Factors to consider when searching for a loan Loan Purpose: As explained in "Knowing your Why," consider why you're applying for the loan and gather the lenders specific to your need: the more specific the lenders, the more your options. Interest Rates: It's important to compare interest rates from different lenders and understand the terms associated with each loan. Defining each term below: i) Interest: Percentage of a loan you'll pay as a fee for borrowing that money. ii) Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The total cost of borrowing money, including interest and fees, expressed as a percentage of the total loan cost. Lenders MUST disclose their APRs on their websites as part of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) that discloses their interest rates as APRs. Rule of Thumb: Always consider the APR; it's greater than the interest rate. Fees: Be mindful of additional fees as listed below: i) Origination Fee: A one-time fee for initiating the loan, usually 1-8% of the loan amount and deducted from it. ii) Prepayment Fee: This is a penalty you'd pay if you pay off a loan too soon. Lenders do this mainly to compensate for the lost interest they would have earned from the loan's entirety; good thing most of them don't do this. iii) Late Payment Fee: Self-explanatory. Usually 1% of the monthly payment or $15, whichever is greater. iv) Returned Payment Fee: A fee charged if a scheduled payment is cancelled because you don't have funds in your bank account. This fee covers the cost of processing the already-cancelled monthly payment. Note: Interest Rates + Fees = Total cost of the loan. Evaluating this cost will help you rate its affordability. Loan Amount: AKA the Principal. Chances are that you won't get the exact amount you want because of origination fees, so borrow a little bit more to cover that cost. Repayment Terms: A term is how long the loan lasts. Also called the period, it's how long you'll take to pay off the loan. Terms vary in 12-month cycles and can go for 12 - 84, lender-dependent. Each term has its monthly instalment, so choose the one that makes sense for you and fits your budget. Note: Terms and APRs are directly proportional. The longer the term, the higher the APR..and vice versa. Rule of Thumb: Lenders have different loans with different APRs at different monthly payments lasting different terms. Credit Score: You'll need a decent credit score to apply for a loan. Most lenders will consider a fair score of 630 - 689, with others looking at an excellent score of 690. According to Nerdwallet, the typical minimum credit score to apply for a personal loan is 560-660. Lenders will scrutinize all ends of your credit score (amount of credit, number of accounts, credit history, etc.) to determine your creditworthiness. Thus, the higher your credit score, the better your approval odds and the lesser your interest. Review your credit report for accuracy beforehand, improve it if needed, and apply for your loan. Lender Reputation and Customer Service: Know your lender before selecting one; read their reviews, analyze their reputation plus customer satisfaction, and gauge their reliability. Considering their customer service standards is vital, as fast and responsive support can ease the loan process. All in all, a reputable lender with excellent customer service guarantees a smooth borrowing experience. Flexibility: A minor consideration but still pivotal, a loan's flexibility can help you make extra or deferred payments, especially during unforeseen events. Prequalification: See below. Depending on how fast you need the cash, the approval and disbursement times can be another decider, and though uncommon, autopay discounts are another. 4. Assess and compare your options You'll receive multiple options from several lenders depending on your qualifications. Comparing loans among lenders helps you evaluate your choices and determine which fits you best. You'll compare the above-listed factors to choose your preference. Prequalifying An ideal way to check if you qualify is by prequalifying - seeing if you qualify for particular loans. Just like you know when the food is ready by tasting it, you know you're eligible for a loan by prequalifying for one. ("Tasting" the loan.) Prequalifying calculates your loan options, terms, and providers. This way, you decide which lender best suits your needs, the principal you can access, and interest rates, among other factors. The best thing is that prequalifying doesn't hurt your credit score. Note: Most lenders prequalify their applicants - a difference-maker that filters out those that don't. Prequalifying helps for three reasons: The lender soft-checks your credit to determine eligibility without implicating your credit score. From a soft credit check, you'll know where to improve your credit - amount of credit, history, accounts opened, etc. A lender that does not prequalify will automatically hard-inquire your credit, denting your credit score, with zero approval guarantees; nothing to gain and everything to lose. 5. Submit your application After comparing your offers and settling on the most appealing one, finalize and submit your application, ensuring all your info is correct. Sometimes lenders might ask you to clarify some information or request additional documents, so ready yourself for that. After applying, the lender will perform a hard credit check which will temporarily dink your credit score, regardless of whether they approve or deny your application. Depending on the lender, you'll get your decision within seconds, minutes, or days. Review the loan agreement The loan agreement can come immediately before you apply or after they approve you, and it's one that you'll sign electronically. It basically spells out, "This is what you're getting yourself into with this loan." The agreement details your APR, loan term, instalments, penalties, and other information. Upon agreeing, hit "submit." 6. Receive your funds Once approved (hopefully), you should receive your funds on your lender's stipulated timeline. Approvals range from minutes to hours to days, while disbursements occur within minutes to 24-72 hours after approval. Ideally, direct deposit is the best way to receive your funds once disbursed, so set that up in advance. If you're not in a rush, mailing a check is another option, though slow and unsafe. 7. Pay it back Lastly is to pay back the loan as set in the agreement. You can do this either through instalments or lump sums. If you have any loan surplus, use that to start paying it off, and also depending on how long the loan is, include your payments in your monthly budget. Recall the APR and other fees - they come into play here. About the APR, you must pay off the loan ASAP before interest accrues on your account. About the fees, while most lenders don't have prepayment fees, they might have origination, administration, and late fees, all of which you pay in your adjusted APR. Automating your payments immensely helps; you always pay on time (racking up your credit score) and might qualify for autopay discounts, lender-dependent. Carerra's Take Personally, I'm not a fan of getting into debt in any shape, form, or manner, but times happen when the inevitable happens and getting into debt is a reasonable choice. Plus, there's good debt and bad debt. Maybe you're moving across the country for a job relocation. Perhaps something tragic happened that your emergency savings aren't enough for. Perchance, you need a short-term student loan to finish your degree. Whatever you need the debt for, ensure it's for a sensible reason. Have a straight budget, plan to pay it back ASAP, and the rest will work out. And, of course, not financial advice - do your due diligence and consult an expert for a personalized solution. All the best, . . . ~T.K.K References How to Get a Loan from the Bank in 5 Steps - NerdWallet How To Get A Personal Loan In 8 Steps | Bankrate Personal Loan Calculator: Estimate Your Payments – Forbes Advisor 5 Personal Loan Requirements And How To Qualify – Forbes Advisor Best Moving And Relocation Loans of 2023 – Forbes Advisor How to Get a Personal Loan in 6 Steps - NerdWallet

Some deep secrets about life… Purpose At almost every stage of life, we’re constantly finding something greater than ourselves. It could be either pursuing a meaningful career or excelling in personal relationships, and funnily enough, no two people’s purposes are similar. Until when we strike our graves, life is a continuous journey of refining and rediscovering our purpose. Mortality Despite our brain’s wiring to think that we are immortal, the reality is the opposite. At some point in our lives, we constantly contemplate “the other side.” But, until then, it’s our temporary existence on planet Earth that reminds us to enjoy the present more and cherish the moments with our dear ones before they, too, expire. Interconnectedness We are more connected to the greater universe than we think; from the ecosystem to animals and finally to humans, the cycle continues. Understanding this can breed empathy and more understanding of one another and the entire universe. Free Will How much are we free to do what we want? How much is too free? How much freedom is harmful? Will my “freedom” hurt others, myself, or both? Finding the balance in between is vital…and hence our decision-making ripens. Gratitude and Positivity It’s easy to wrap ourselves in negative self-talk and overwhelm ourselves with challenges. It happens; we’re human. Focusing on what we’re grateful for and harnessing positivity can transform our lives and create a sense of peace and inner tranquility. Connection and Community Naturally, we’re social beings, and our relationships with others are fundamental to our well-being. Whether spending time with family and loved ones or connecting with like-minded individuals, strong relationships are vital to living a fulfilling life. . . . ~T.K.K

A Q&A would be a good way to get me started on an intro: What's your main life philosophy? I'd say...doing my best in the best way I can in everything that I do, living a life as per the Will of God. Something I would change about myself more spiritually and emotionally? Being in the moment. It’s easy to become too future-oriented too soon that you miss out on the little things happening now and the people that matter to you. It’s best to have a balance of such. Introvert or extrovert? Intro. Favorite pastime as a child? I enjoyed creating dominos from videotapes stacked alongside each other - hitting one end with a ball, and the rest follows. That experience had me considering a career in Physics - the good old days (chuckles.) Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up? If not, then what did you always dream of doing as a child? Apparently not. As a child, I dreamt of being a pilot (as almost every child does), but that was only for two months. Then again, high school showed me that Geography and I were a mismatch. I then wanted to be a doctor, but that also lasted two months; I mean, the sight of blood doesn’t quite sit well with me. What's your favorite book of all time? The Rising by Ryan D'Agostino. Covering the life of Bill Petit - a man who had it all going well for him in life -, the book teaches about the resilience of the human soul despite the deepest of transgressions faced. Bill faced a life-changing moment that nearly killed him, only for him to resurface as a completely transformed human being trying to make sense of how he strengthened his soul from a crushing ordeal. The Rising is a must-read for all. I'm proud of how original and authentic I remain in all circumstances. I don't fold to the rest just because, but instead, I can always stay true to myself no matter what. Favorite movie? Disney Pixar Soul. It made me rethink life. Favorite artist? Damma Beatz. He's not your typical DJ, but rather one who makes awesome beats without necessarily needing credit. He's one of those DJs mainstream trap fans find underrated, but I think that helps because that's more masterpieces for me. :) When, to you, is a person ready for marriage? Good question; I recently asked my parents this question. I believe that a couple is ready for matrimony when their values coincide - they shouldn't compromise their own value systems but rather complement each other. I also consider getting their houses in order first, figuring out all other aspects of their lives first - their careers, finances, and other priorities - then marriage is a feasible next option. What are you most thankful for? The gift of life and just living in it. I'm also grateful for the wins and lessons accomplished in between. The wins reflect how far I've achieved and grown as a person, and the Ls show me my gaps in growth, encouraging me to learn and develop myself more. What are some hobbies you like to do when you’re alone? I'm one to play Chess and the piano. I'm also reading the latest financial articles on the stock market and the state of the economy and also listening to some motivational and personal development podcasts. Physically, I play a lot of football (what Americans call soccer.) What's one thing people misunderstand about you? People generally mistake me for a rich person because I can afford most of the stuff I want. Though flattered by that, I'm not rich (yet); I'm just another commoner hustling to get the next dollar. :) What would your one-sentence biography sound like? Here's my LinkedIn headline: || Founder & CEO, Carerra's Chronicles | Business Analyst @ BNY Mellon | B.A. Mathematics, University of Washington, 2022 | The GOAT of NSBE | Takeoff Institute Fellow, Summer 2022 | Leader, Visionary, Optimist, Son of God. || What would you say are you most proud of as well? I'd say that I'm proud of how original and authentic I remain in all circumstances. I don't fold to the rest just because, but instead, I can always stay true to myself no matter what. Part 2 is coming soon.

Some more trivia about me: What do you think about when you're by yourself? I think of the next thing on my to-do list for the day; I'm that productive. Other times, I'm contemplating my future, imagining my life a year from now, in five, or even a decade. I'm also constantly thinking about growing Carerra's Chronicles. Do you go to college? If so, what's your major? Was it the same from the start, or did you change your mind? Yep, I do go to college. (Edit: I just graduated.) I started with an Associates in Computer Science at Highline College, graduating in 2020. I then transferred to the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, to complete my Bachelors in Mathematics, expected graduation in 2022, God willing. About the switch, I got midway through my CS degree when I realized that Java wasn't my thing (yet), so I pivoted to Math. Math was my favorite subject in college and high school, and it still relates to Computer Science in numerous ways. Furthermore, Math is overarching - it's literally everywhere - so I could do whatever I wanted with it post-graduation. Thus, it was a no-brainer to select it. What's been your biggest mistake so far in life, and what did you learn from it? My biggest mistake has been people-pleasing, naivety, and not being assertive when I needed it the most. To some extent, I cared about others' perceptions over mine. I did learn a few things, though. First, whether you do good or bad, people will still have an opinion of you regardless. Some could be favorable, others...not so much, hence they are opinions for a reason. Secondly, life is limited, so it's better spent pursuing your interests instead of those enforced by others upon you. "Don't give up. You're going places. Hang in there, buddy, because I've got you." A favorite place you'd love to go to? Venice, Italy. I love their canals. :) What qualities do you admire about your parents? Collectively, I love that my parents are pretty loving of me no matter what stage of life I'm in. Individually, my mum is impactful, affirmative, and action-oriented, while my dad is intellectual, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. I love them abundantly. Mum, Dad, God bless you both. Describe your childhood best friend(s). Peter and Alex- shoutout to wherever you are for being genuine Gs during primary school. I also owe one to Gadson - eight-plus years of friendship. What's your biggest pet peeve? Self-entitlement. The galaxy revolves around no one. What three things do you value most about a person? I value their authenticity, life goals, and character when meeting a person. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Probably Manhattan-NY, Seattle-WA, or Bali-Indonesia. What's your favorite beer? No bebo cerveza. (Spanish: I don't drink.) What's one thing about the world that bothers you today? International wars; I don't understand how wars will prove a point in the 21st century anyway. What's something you would tell your former self? "Don't give up. You're going places. Hang in there, buddy, because I've got you." Part 3 loading.

What's your favorite clothing brand? Not that I care about them much, but perhaps J Ferrar, Meijiana, and Nike. Your favorite subject in school? Math and Physics. Dogs or cats? Cats. What's one thing you'd do if you had $1,000,000? I'd divide it accordingly, depending on my situation. $200,000 would go into the stock market - some index funds, ETFs, and dividend stocks - and Ethereum. I'd reinvest $10,000 into my business and some $50,000-$100,000 for my mortgage. I'd then retire my dad with $100,000 and save the rest for proper future use. What are some goals you have for the next five years? Entrepreneurship, growing my business, financial freedom, working at a big tech at Microsoft, Google, or Apple - and perhaps a master's degree. Were your parents too strict with you? I wouldn't say so; they were okay. My parents were easy-going in their raising of me and did their best. Still, they could pinpoint where and why I went wrong, so I learned. Looking back, their parenting paid off. Just keep doing your best and keep doing you. When you look back, you'll be surprised by how much you've evolved and who you've become. Favorite gemstone? Diamond. Thing's priceless and far more valuable than gold. If you believe in reincarnation, who or what would you want to be in the other life? An angel. What's your daily mantra- something that keeps you going? Just keep doing your best and keep doing you. When you look back, you'll be surprised by how much you've evolved and who you've become. How do you wish to be remembered? I want people to remember me as someone who did his best, gave his all, and had a lasting impact wherever he stepped. I want to be recognized as one who willingly performed God's will. Lastly, what's a quote you like? I recently read this line from one of Carl Sagan's videos, and I found it quite comforting: "To live in the hearts of others is to never die in those we leave behind."

In my last college quarter, my Math instructor said something that would dumbfound me for the rest of my life. "When things get too complicated, revert to the First Principles." ~Sara Billey, P.hD. That was eye-opening for me, considering it was the first time I heard of "First Principles." Mastering the basics of something, whether beginner or total expert, is crucial to understanding the whole concept, and that's what the 101 Series is for - taking you back to the basics, to the first principles. The 101 Series will uncover everything from the ground up, starting with the fundamentals to the nuanced understanding straight after. My goal will be to clearly and understandably explain the topics without omitting the key details, and I'll achieve that through simplicity, rationality, and observing the facts. "The beginning is the most important of the work." ~Aristotle And there's only one way to find out. . . . ~T.K.K

This is a beginner's crash course into understanding cryptocurrency basics, so I won't be too technical in explanation. My pardon to the experts who feel I've left out the important and intricate details; I'm writing this in a way a five-year-old would understand best. :) Background Different governments own different currencies; the US Dollar ($), the Chinese Yuan (¥), British Pound (£), South African Rand (R), Indian Rupee (₹), Kenyan Shilling (KES), etc. Each government has its jurisdiction over its currency and plays with it however they like. The world reserve currency is currently the US Dollar- used in global trade, economic comparison, etc. This has its drawbacks, though. Whatever happens in the US economy practically affects the world, if The Great Depression of 1929 and The 2008 Global Financial Crisis are anything to go by. The 2008 crisis, especially, is more resentful for two reasons: it's the more recent of the two, and it adversely affected millennials' ability to make money to date. Their American Dreams were crushed to the ground, their bank accounts either frozen or liquidated. On the other hand, the government bailed the same banking institutions responsible for the crash in the first place while acquiring over 70 more insolvent ones. It was a dark time in recent history. People had enough with the government and the then banking system. They wanted a way out but weren't sure how so. The crash caused many effects worldwide but catalyzed one that completely revolutionized global finance. It initially started in tiny bits in 1983 in the formation of anonymous cryptographic electric money ecash, becoming Digicash twelve years later. Digicash was encrypted such that no government, bank, or third party could trace it. 1998 birthed "B-money," an anonymous electronic cash system, while bit gold, not too long after, came out demanding a "proof-of-work order" solution that one could cryptographically solve. The nail on the coffin came in the post-crash era of 2009 when the fully automated foolproof cashless system came to play. This technology has since been decentralized and publicly available in yet another system unfathomable to human understanding (yet). It made silent moves in the early 10s, but headed into the 20s, has become a revolutionary technology of the past decade and the next to come, and because of it, finance is reimagined. Enter Cryptocurrency. What is Cryptocurrency? Easy Answer: Cryptocurrency is some digital money that the world is talking about right now, but I don't really care much to know much about it. I just know it exists. Cryptocurrency (short: Crypto) is a decentralized digital currency secured by cryptography to prevent counterfeiting and double-spending of a currency. By a decentralized cryptocurrency, no entity or intermediary exists between the sender and recipient of the currency. A cryptocurrency is digital; it is coded from computers and has no physical attribute to it. This means that you will never see a physical cryptocurrency unless you consider some commemorative coins from Amazon. Common cryptos examples include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Tether, and many more. Who created cryptocurrency? Who made it? Easy Answer: Satoshi Nakamoto, Vitalik Buterin, among others. Different cryptos have different creators, so the number of crypto creators varies, but the blue-chip cryptos' inventors (Bitcoin and Ethereum) are relatively famous. Bitcoin's creator is Satoshi Nakamoto. Satoshi, however, is anonymous; no one knows whether Satoshi is a syndicate or an individual. It gets even more interesting to learn that Satoshi disappeared in 2011, never to be heard of again. A 21st-century mystery, I believe. Ethereum's creator is Vitalik Buterin, who imagined creating a platform that showcased more uses of blockchain other than creating Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin (and I agree), Vitalik wanted to incorporate blockchain with software development and connect tangible assets (properties, stocks, real estate, etc.), digitize them, and encrypt them into the blockchain. His bet is starting to pay off seven years later as more developers unleash new capabilities of the Ethereum blockchain. When was crypto created? How long has it been around? Easy Answer: 2009. The first crypto, Bitcoin, came out in 2009. All else followed since; Dogecoin in 2013 and Ethereum in 2014. Another, like Polka Dot, came out last year (2020). All this proves that at any particular time, new crypto is evolving. PS: From here, I'll exclude the technicals and narrate the basics for a novice's understanding. I might explain the technicals in a later post, but that's for another day. Where does it come from? Where is it made? Easy Answer: From computers. Most supercomputers connected to the blockchain network are usable for mining cryptos. Unfortunately, the entire process is quite powerful and energy-consuming, to the dismay of environmentalists. The good news, though, is that more mining facilities are turning to green renewable energy, which should be good for legislation. It's just a matter of time until so. Once mined and bought, users store their cryptos in a wallet. A crypto wallet can be either digital (.i.e., an app) or physical, A.K.A, a cold wallet, which resembles a flash drive. To access a wallet, one has their own individualized key for personalized security of their wallet and coins. How is it made? Easy Answer: By mining. Crypto is obtained through mining. Not the literal mining like coal, gold, oil, etc.., but rather, 'digital mining.' Cryptocurrency digital mining is done by verifying crypto transactions and solving complex algorithmic mathematical code in computers. Bitcoin is mostly mined this way; the more verifications and solutions a miner creates, the more Bitcoin earned. That way, Bitcoin is the miners' salary- the same Bitcoin being mined. After retaining some of it, the miners will sell the rest to fund their expenses- buying better mining equipment, maintenance costs, rents, etc., and the entire process recurs. Interesting to note is that, unlike any normal currency, Bitcoin has a fixed supply of 21 million- there will be at most 21 million Bitcoins in existence in the world one day, and this could be as early as 2021- this year- or as late as 2140- in 119 years. Basic economics from the law of supply and demand teaches us that with less supply and constant (if not more) demand, the price will increase, which will be Bitcoin's case. Thus, the scarcer Bitcoin gets, the more precious it becomes, and so does its cost. At the time of this writing (August 14th, 2021), Bitcoin's price is $46,719.03. I want a $500,000/coin by 2025. Some prominent mining companies include Marathon Holdings, Riot Blockchain, and SoS Limited. Why was it made? Easy Answer: Read below. Cryptocurrency is revolutionizing finance as more people seek alternatives from fiat currency- government-backed currency or just normal money. Thanks to blockchain technology, people want crypto for its decentralized nature- not tied to any central authority like a government or a bank. Because of no central entity, you have reduced transaction costs and heightened security within the blockchain network. Furthermore, the masses want a public transparent currency whose transactions all can see on a blockchain. Not to mention, scarce crypto like Bitcoin will serve as an inflationary hedge- people want their money to retain its buying power during inflation. For example, inflation rises at 3% annually, and Bitcoin returns (at least) 10%. Investors will then stash their money into Bitcoin for the net 7% growth (10-3), which would deflate an inflating economy and thus optimally reduce commodity prices, and the cycle continues. So, in a way, Bitcoin is helping the economy. The social movement wants Dogecoin to be a real currency for probably two reasons. One, it shows people's healthy, childish, and fun side, that no one is ever too mature to joke with a meme currency. This leads to two, in a case where Elon Musk prospects, "Fate loves irony." Dogecoin, started as a joke to mock cryptocurrency, is on path to becoming a real currency, 180ing its purpose. It reminds me of the famous analogy of the stone, which the builders rejected, becoming the cornerstone. Will Dogecoin become a real currency? I don't know yet, but it would be fun seeing so, especially since Mark Cuban's Mavericks do take Doge as ticket payments. What I do know is that it will hit $1 at some point. Question is, when exactly? Only time will tell. What are the pros and cons? The pros and cons- probably my favorite segment in analysis. Pros Still a relatively new space. It's fun holding a relatively new and high-performing asset class in your hands. People are still trying to understand it and perhaps criticize it, which is acceptable. After all, people didn't quite make of the internet during its inception. Also, compared to other asset classes (stocks, real estate, bonds, crude oil, etc.), which have been around for decades, crypto has been around for only twelve years, making it still relatively young. It is high-performing. Bitcoin alone stood out as the best performing asset class of the 2010 decade with an over 17,000% growth. Of course, returns aren't guaranteed and are always atypical- everyone will get different results, so it pays to invest properly. Still, the serial proven winners of the space are Bitcoin and Ethereum, closely followed by the likes of Cardano and NEO, and they're continuing to win big. It is decentralized. Crypto's decentralization is arguably its best attribute for a couple of reasons. First, you don't have to worry about a government, banks, or any intermediary interfering with your holdings. Two, eliminating the middleman reduces transaction costs that would have otherwise gone to bank-processing fees, brokers, or legal teams (e.g., lawyers verifying a transaction's legitimacy.) Third, it is swift. Bank transactions can take days, if not weeks, to clear; crypto does so in minutes. Cryptos will disrupt the entire financial services industry, and it's up to the latter to blend innovatively into the space before obsoletion. Always open. Unlike the stock and equity markets that are open for limited times (NYSE operates from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm EST), crypto markets are open 24/7, so there's always a price movement to track at any moment. Sweet interest on coins. You can earn interest on your coins. Block-Fi allows you to earn 5% interest on Bitcoin and on average 10-15% on altcoins, significantly much better than savings accounts today. An average savings account grants a 0.04% annual return on your money (not taking into account lowered interest rates), while inflation creeps in at 2-3% annually. Thus, in the best-case scenario, your money grows by (0.04 - 2% =) -1.96% per year, meaning if you had $10,000 in January 2021, it would be worth $9804 by January 2022. There is a social movement behind crypto. Crypto, at this point, is like the 'currency of the masses,' free of any legal authority and detached from fiat. Retail investors right now are on a mission to take Dogecoin to a dollar and create a mainstream usage behind it, despite it adding zero value to the blockchain. People love seeing an innocent dog on a yellow coin, I guess. I think it's funny seeing how over 18 million human beings want a coin with a dog on it to go to the moon...metaphorically and literally. Cons It is heavily volatile. Crypto is insanely volatile; if not monitored properly, cryptocurrencies can cause heart-attack levels of fluctuation, no exaggerations. Bitcoin, for example, dropped as low as 93% in 2018 and 50% in 2021, despite both years seeing different prices of the coin. While I believe that it (and the whole space) will still appreciate, so will it still be volatile along the way. The volatility can be gut-wrenching but can also build character, I believe, as one learns the painstaking lessons of investing in practically anything. Otherwise, crypto is not for the fainthearted. A few tips on surviving volatility: do not buy a coin at its all-time highs (ATH), do not FOMO in (Fear Of Missing Out), only invest an amount you are willing to lose, dollar-cost-average in, HODL (Hold On for Dear Life), don't sell, lower your expectations, and don't invest emotionally. It's susceptible to scams and money laundering. Scammers are on the prowl to scam innocent, unaware investors of their hard-earned money, and an easy way to do so is to manipulate the ongoing crypto hype. These scammers appear in different forms; unknown street brokers, phishing emails, YouTube comments, and even creating questionable cryptos for their pump-and-dump schemes. An example of the last scam is what part of the FaZe Clan did with their presumptuous Save-The-Kids token. Tip here: trust your gut. If you don't trust someone or something with your investment, most likely you're right, and always protect your capital. It's a victim of public influence. The crypto space suffers massive influence from famous personalities who toy with it however they want. In recent times, Elon Musk has been a market mover for the crypto market through his funny but weirdly cryptic tweets. For instance, he regularly tweeted about Dogecoin, and the coin would explode up to 30% intraday. Elon is also the main instigant of Bitcoin's price action this year when he first tweeted in mid-February that Tesla would begin accepting Bitcoin payments, only for him to revert his stance three months later, citing environmental reasons. Furthermore, Bitcoin (and all cryptos) suffered a huge crackdown in China days after Elon's tweet. Before then, China was responsible for over 60% of the total Bitcoin mining, after which all the miners escaped the country to resettle abroad. While this was a blessing in disguise, it still hurt millions of investors in the process. Unregulation has its flipside too. Just as there is the good in crypto being decentralized and authority-free, there is also the bad in that. Cybercriminals and hackers can hack an open and vulnerable blockchain and steal as much as they want. It gets more interesting because most authorities cannot interfere with something outside their bounds. The worst-case scenario: the hacker might end up Scott-free. Tip: secure your holdings onto a secure exchange. Block-Fi, Kraken, or Gemini are good examples of that. The uncertainty still rules the space. While crypto is still new and many are learning it, it doesn't take away the uncertainty, or FUD (pronounced 'fahd' as Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt), from the entire prospect. Understandably, most stakeholders are retail investors, and no one has a crystal ball to predict the next price movement. So it makes sense that this uncertainty brings about skepticism of all sorts by media personalities, long-term investors, and governments. Unless we travel a few years to see the crypto prices, the little man can do to shake off the ongoing uncertainty. Tip: again, not only invest an amount you are willing to lose, but also invest in something you massively believe in. A normal investor might know something about some coin that some prominent hedge fund might not, and that could be the difference in succeeding in a trade. Don't go by other's feelings, but by your own instincts. Bonus con: There is the whole legitimacy of Tether that makes the whole space questionable. It's a 'bonus con' because I'm still trying to understand the controversy and will probably sketch up a new post about it. If you do know what it's all about, don't hesitate to contact me or leave a comment down below. "What's in it for me? How will it benefit me? Why should I care that cryptos exist?" People have varying opinions on cryptocurrency, and that's fair. Still, I could think of some reasons why anyone and everyone should get even the slightest taste of this realm. It gives a sense of ownership. It's fun holding a coin, or even a piece of it. It instills in you a sense of pride of how early you are in it because the rest of the world is cranking out its code on what it is. Then again, it's one of the easiest asset classes to purchase and own other than stocks. For instance, compare buying crypto to real estate, gold, bonds, etc- crypto is quite accessible even to newbies. Furthermore, Bitcoin is termed as 'the digital gold,' and investors are flocking to it as an inflationary hedge as they are to gold. Depending on the country you're in, different brokerages exist to extend crypto services to you. It's the evolution of something new. Crypto (especially blockchain) is analogous to the continuation of the internet. Blockchain, which bore crypto, has a unique way of storing and sharing information that is decentralized, publicly transparent, and secure, much like an 'Internet 2.0." Personally, blockchain has me reminiscing on how I wish I were around during the 90s internet boom, but I wasn't even born yet. Crypto gives me that opportunity to do so. Crypto is here to stay. We might as well acquaint with crypto especially as financial institutions are noticing the scene. If anyone wanted to kill crypto, they should have done so during its inception, or in 2018. 2018 was the worst that could have ever happened but Bitcoin still hit ATHs this year. Plus, people want a free currency to avert financial crises such as inflation or a repeat of the 2008 economic crash, proving that crypto is here to stay. What are my thoughts about it? Easy Answer: I like it. I think the above article is pretty obvious about my stance on cryptocurrencies: I am a big bull. (I want it to go up in value.) I quite think it is the future of monetization as we know it, and it gives people more freedom with their money. Of course, there are thousands of coins out there that everyone is looking to as the next winner, and it gets tedious at times conducting countless research. Hence, my shortlist is as follows: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Maker, Cardano, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Uniswap, Matic, Polkadot, Binance Coin, Algorand, Neo, Monero, and Pancakeswap. If you're looking for a winner, you can start from this list; I've done the homework for you. It's also interesting that companies are creating their own coins, not necessarily cryptos, to reorganize their financial structures; companies like Facebook and its Diem, and major US banks creating their own stablecoins for business transactions. We'll wait and see what happens moving forward. I'm also looking into stablecoins such as the USD Coin, Fed Coin, and Tether. While I'm yet to understand their value to the blockchain at this point other than been pegged to an asset or a natural currency, I'm a bit wary of Tether. I agree that some massive flaws in the crypto field still exist and need amendments. The pump-and-dump schemes, counterfeit coins, tax evasion attempts, exchanges hackings, illicit dark-web transactions, and terrorist financing- such activities are tarnishing the entire crypto space's legitimacy, contrary to its intended purpose. If some executive non-governmental crypto council met to deal with these kinds of activities, then that would be a plus. All in all, I believe that cryptocurrency is transforming global finance, giving the average joe some more financial leverage in the 21st century. It should be easier to transact and transfer money without worrying about an intermediary in between. It's a new dawn of innovation that we are waking upon, and let's see how things emanate five years from now. All the best, ~Carerra, 2k21. What do you think? Do you think crypto is here to stay or not? Why do you say so? Let me know in the comments below. {NOTE: THE ABOVE CONTENT IS STRICTLY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE RISK ENGAGED IN TRADING SECURITIES AND ASSETS. PLEASE CONDUCT YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND CONSULT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISION.}

Imagine a world where you could design anything and bring it to life. Now imagine yourself doing that using a computer. For many devices that we use today, someone innovated them. Your car, your laptop, your TV, and even your phone that you're using right now was someone's brainchild, and a computer materialized it. Your favorite app, your child's favorite mobile game - someone conceived it. The metaverse, robots, Zoom - somebody designed that from start to finish. Imagine the possibilities. You could forge anything with the right imagination, and at the end of the seven minutes of reading this, you'll possess all that power - you'll choose how to use it. Welcome to Computer Science 101. Definition Computer Science (CS) is the study of computers and computing systems. It touches on computer technology and its aspects of software and hardware design, development, and applications. Additionally, Computer Science is more software than hardware because it is more agile, adaptable, and affordable, making it all the more profitable too. The Origins Computer science stems from the 19th century when Western scientists invented mechanical calculators to automate calculations. The course itself, though, emerged during World War II when scientists invented computers to crack war codes. Cambridge University holds the first ever established computer science degree program (1953), while the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) CS department is the oldest in the world (est. 1964.) Some famous computer pioneers, past and present, include: Grace Hopper (1906-1992) - produced the first text-to-code compiler. John McCarthy (1927-2011) - coined the term "artificial intelligence." Tim Berners-Lee (1955- ) - invented the internet, or the World Wide Web (www.) Linus Torvalds (1969- ) - devised the Linux operating system. So what does Computer Science entail? Because computer science studies computing systems, there's no telling how vast this field can go. Rather, here are some prevalent areas within CS that dive deeper: Algorithms and Data Structures. An algorithm is a way a computer executes tasks, and data structures are the mechanisms for storing data in a computer's memory. "Data Structures and Algorithms" is a popular CS course and one of its more essential units. Programming Languages. A programming language, AKA a coding language, is a tool that compiles code. Programming languages have many features at a user's discretion, so the more languages one knows, the better! Some common languages include Java, Python, C++, and C#. Software Engineering (SWE.) Software Engineering is the designing, developing, testing, and maintaining of software systems. Most aspiring computer science majors settle here intending to become software engineers. According to the National Science Board report of 2016, 70% of US computer science graduates end up as software engineers straight out of college. Software Architecture. Software architecture is the high-level structuring of a software system alongside its components, modules, and systems data. It also considers the relationship between its facets relative to the entire software system. Artificial Intelligence (AI.) AI is the development of intelligent and automated systems alongside machine learning, language processing, and other techniques to computerize human intelligence. AI aims to simplify life by automating monotonous real-world actions to give humans the freedom of time, effort, and choice. Operating Systems (OS.) These are the software that controls how hardware works. For example, PCs run on Windows, Androids run on Android, and iPhones on iOS; Windows, Android, and iOS are operating systems. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI.) This is the design of interactive computing systems such as user interfaces (UIs) and user-centered processes. Computer Networks. This studies the communication protocols and technologies that connect computers and devices in a network such as the internet. Why is Computer Science so popular today? Technological advancement: Considering how rapidly technology is evolving today, there is a colossal demand for computer scientists to fill computing roles that utilize software systems today. Digital transformation: Businesses want to streamline operations and digitize their processes, so they'll hire computer science experts to initiate the necessary structures for that. Wide-ranging impact: Computer science is multi-dimensional - it applies to many fields in numerous ways, such as creating online courses in education, designing telehealth portals in healthcare, and analyzing heatmaps in agriculture. Since it's interdisciplinary, you can steer CS to impact the fields you dream of conquering - a specimen of how CS solves real-world problems. Career versatility: Computer science allows one to pivot into different roles like software development, data analysis, and program management - many options. Entrepreneurship potential: A computer science background goes a long way in a booming tech field with countless startups emerging daily. Computer scientists can start by exploiting their CS expertise at a startup and iterate their tactics until eventually starting their own thing. That, or they can also work at any company, gather the necessary resources (ideally capital and connections), then venture into entrepreneurship. Either way, computer science plus business is a deadly combo in today's market. Passion for innovation: In CS, there's always space to innovate, a chance to model something new, and a moment to make meaning out of nothing. Just as rapidly as tech is evolving, so do the innovations that come with it, making CS a dynamic field of study. Job opportunities: For all the reasons (and many more) mentioned above. Computer Science-related Majors Computer Engineering (CE) - Computer Engineering combines computer science and electrical engineering to establish computer systems. Some CEnonyms include Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Computer Science (or Systems) and Engineering (CSE.) Information Technology (IT) - Famously CS's cousin, IT focuses on computer-based information systems, their design, development, and management. Software Engineering (SWE) - This is the engineering of software systems alongside their development, testing, and maintenance. Data Science - One uses data-driven techniques to extract, analyze, and compute data from large sets, i.e., "the computer science of data." Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) - AI studies computer systems that imitate both human intelligence and specific tasks. Concurrently, Machine Learning fixates on the algorithms that learn from processed feedback to predict specific outcomes - think, "the machine is LITERALLY learning." Mathematics - Discrete Math involves definitions, theorems, and proofs, which apply multi-dimensionally in abstract ("pull-out-of-thin-air") subjects, computer science included. An essential subject is Linear Algebra which plays with linear equations, matrices, and vector spaces. In computer science, Linear Algebra develops the concepts of image processing, cryptography, machine learning, and more. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) - HCI is the study of the computing systems integrations in people's lives to help them (people) efficiently interact with computers - think, "computer science with emotion." Cybersecurity - the study of protecting computer systems from external attacks, alias cyber-attacks. Game Development - developing and designing games. Robotics - all things robots. How to get started in Computer Science Develop foundational knowledge. Start from the basics and learn all you can about computers: hardware, software, operating systems, etc. Learn a programming language. Knowing any programming language is a crucial entry into computer science because the languages are relatable. An ideal start would be Python, then Java, then C++; if interested in web development, HTML, CSS, then JavaScript. Build projects. Craft something using your coding expertise: a portfolio of projects, databases, or an app. With an app especially, you can make passive income by building one and either selling or patenting it. Join online communities. Working on your own won't cut it, so you'll have to collaborate to learn better. Online communities such as Discord, Quora, and Reddit help in learning and sharing CS content. Get a mentor. Mentors are crucial to success, especially in a field as complex as computer science. You can find mentors in your desired pathway at professional events or on social media (i.e., LinkedIn), connect, and learn from them. Take online courses. When you have the chance, online classes can expedite your CS experience - bonus points if it has certification. Spots like Udemy, CodingDojo, and W3Schools can enhance your computer science understanding and earn your coding credential for credibility. Participate in hackathons or coding contests. Nothing teaches you better than the challenge ahead of you. Hackathons and contests can mentally prepare you to harness your coding prowess and give it your all. These competitions have elite coders, but who knows - you could be the winner! Get hands-on experience. Usually, after a quarter or two of schooling, you'll want to apply your skillset in the real world (Isn't that why you went to school?) A CS internship can leverage your programming mindset into an existing company, and if done right, you'll inevitably earn yourself a full-time offer. Attend conferences or workshops. There is never a shortage of opportunities to connect with peer professionals and learn their insights. STEM diversity conferences such as Grace Hopper, AfroTech, and the NSBE conventions have seminars that provide prolific CS tips. Read books and articles. READ! READ! READ! You can never go wrong with reading informative books that dive deeper into coding essentials. Contribute to open-source projects: Sites like GitHub or StackExchange house already-built projects under continuous assessment. Here, you can contribute your knowledge alongside other CSers building something on the internet. Explore new technologies: Computer science is all tech, and tech is ever-evolving. Staying updated on the latest technology can inspire one to learn its possibilities and ignite one to create or improve on an existing version. Some blogs that cover the latest tech include TechCrunch, Wired, CNET, and The Verge. Collaborate with others. Again, you can't make it on your own. Collaborate on your projects, open-source software, and applications, and note how you incrementally learn along the way. Get certified. Certification is a plus in establishing your prospects, and LinkedIn, Coursera, and edX (just but a few) can start you off right away. Carerra's Take Computer Science is an interesting subject to learn, coming from first-hand experience from my Associates degree in it. I eventually opted for Math for my Bachelors when Java got too complex for me then, though I'm currently considering a CS comeback. However, I think Math is harder than CS - debatable - so that's inviting me to retake CS; I'll consider when my next CS move will be. At the bare minimum, basic programming knowledge is good enough to categorize you in the 0.5% of the world that knows how to code. It's a resourceful skill to have, and 30% each of Java and Python is a good start. Summary In just over half a century, CS has evolved from cracking war codes to creating the next level AI, from mechanical calculations to billion-dollar applications, and from the first PC to the conceptual metaverse. With its diverse specializations, computer science applies to multiple fields today, unveiling infinite possibilities and never-ending demand. Anyone can pursue computer science, and with the right mindset, you just might create the next big thing. . . . ~T.K.K

Entering a relationship has considerations that will prove its worth. Self-Introspection. Only you can define yourself; decide whether or not you’re ready for a relationship and the cycles behind it. Respect. Respect should be mutual and a two-way street. If you can’t respect each other, the relationship won’t work long. Intimacy. How close are you to each other? How vulnerable can you be without judging each other? Can you trust each other with your secrets? Such questions test your intimacy. Boundaries. Tied to respect are boundaries. If you can respect your partner, you can appreciate their personal limits. If not, something’s amiss. Your support system- friends and family. A partner should be an addition to your life, not a subtraction of whoever’s holding your life together. Life Priorities. Suppose you have too much going on in your life presently to focus on a relationship. In that case, you might want to rethink your priorities. Set yourself up first, then dive right in when you’re settled. Shared interests and hobbies. Do you have shared interests? If so, great! If not, are you okay with her doing what she does? Is she okay with how you spend your spare time? Their attitude towards you, your family, friends, and vice versa. How does she treat them? With love and joy, or contempt and disgust? How will you work around that? Also, does she like how you’re viewing her circles? Their family background. What must you know about the family that will price into your relationship? Do they treat each other okay? Are they separated? How do the parents treat each other? Past relationships. Is there something from your past relationship that you think could have worked better? What did you learn from it? What worked and what didn’t? The same goes for her; if something from a past relationship might trigger the new one, address it ASAP. Marriage. Are you serious about your relationship making it to the end of the aisle? Will your partner now be your partner for life? Are you committed to making it to matrimony? Finances. How do you both approach anything money? Are you investing it, hoarding it, saving for a rainy day, or planning to pay your kid’s tuition with it? Spendthrift or a miser? Will you approve of your partner’s financial habits, and will she reciprocate? Political Views. Which side do you pick? What policies do you (not) like? Will your opinions affect your partner, and is she okay with them? Also, will you agree with your partner’s political perspectives? Will they affect you? Gender Roles. Who will do the dishes? Who will wash the laundry? House chores? Who will volunteer to look after the baby today while the other goes to work? Who will pay the bills? Religious Beliefs. If you’re in an inter-religious relationship, are you okay with her religion, and is she fine with yours? What will your parents think about this? Will they value it? Why or why not? Careers. What career path do you plan on taking? Will it give you time to be with your partner and your family? Does your partner approve of it? Similarly, do you agree with your partner’s job choice? Family Planning. Do you plan on raising a family? When do you want to have your first child? How many children? How will you pay for their expenses, tuition, etc.? Are you both comfortable with the idea? All other life arguments. Life with a partner is not a walk in the park; there will be several uprisings along the way, but your relationship’s strength lies in dealing with the bad days as you would with the good. What do you think? Anything else to add? . . . ~Carerra

The best and easiest way to decide something is by answering the three fundamental questions on the best and worst-case scenarios.

My adventure leading Region VI of NSBE, highlights, and takeaways. Overview National NSBE has six regions, with us – UW- in the sixth region, alias, Region VI. Each region has a Regional Executive Board (REB.) Like chapter execs, regional execs lead the region, in which case Region VI has ten states. The REB oversees all activities governing the region and the chapters within while also planning for major conferences; the Regional Leadership Conference (RLC,) the Fall Regional Conference (FRC,) and for this year, the National Convention. I am the Secretary and also Telecommunications Director of Region VI. As the secretary, I send correspondence and email updates to all regional members, and as the telecoms director, I create the informative websites used during regional conferences. Usually, REB members have one role, but we had two each due to extenuating circumstances this year. The personal importance of the task I joined the Regional Executive Board (REB) to challenge my leadership IQ, and so far, it’s paying dividends. However, an excruciating challenge arose with less-than-usual board members to cooperate. Typically, the REB has 25 officers with varying objectives. However, this year, we only had five – a fraction of the number. It thus fell on us- the Fantastic Five, as we called ourselves- to perform the roles of a much larger team. The importance of my REB involvement was to help keep Region VI running. This was a dire circumstance that no one expected, thanks to the pandemic, so we had to put everything in order and raise our stakes to keep Region VI alive. Tasks accomplished We hosted the Summer Regional Leadership Conference (RLC.) RLC is a regional leadership retreat held every Summer, and it unites chapter leaders from the entire region for annual training before the new academic year. We pulled off a string of events ranging from keynotes to workshops to professional development sessions. Because it was virtual and during the Summer – when most students deviate from schoolwork – we had 23 conference attendees, excluding panelists and dignitaries. (An average year has at least 75.) We successfully hosted the Fall Regional Conference (FRC.) FRC is much larger than RLC as it connects all collegiate members from the region. Our small team’s results were outstanding; in over 48 hours of the conference, we witnessed 403 attendees from across the region, excluding panelists and recruiters. Under normal circumstances (i.e., in-person,) the number of FRC attendees ranges from 1,500 to 2,000, so 403 online was quite impressive. Region VI RLC was the second-most attended conference after Region V raked in 568 participants this year. Region IV was a distant third with 256. In my capacities as secretary and telecoms, I sent out around 12,000 emails to the Region VI membership in three months and created two websites that catered to the two regional conferences. What we’re on track to achieve We are three weeks away from hosting the NSBE National Convention. The National Convention is the biggest NSBE event in that NSBE members nationwide congregate at a venue across the US. Historically, these conferences have united over 10,000 black engineers and created long-lasting connections and friendships. With the forum being at Region VI this annum, we’re on track to deliver our first in-person conference in over two years, bringing immense joy to NSBE members nationwide and worldwide. Leadership Competencies gained Serving on the REB brought out my leadership competencies of: 1. Systems Thinking 2. Decision Making 3. Personal Contributions 4. Collaboration 5. Organizational Behavior 6. Follow-through 7. Responsibility for Personal Behavior 1. Systems Thinking Making connections between individual parts in a system to anticipate how their relationships affect each other and the system as a whole. When I engaged in systems thinking, I compared regional and chapter operations. Then, for the most part, I evaluated how I could utilize my regional influence to benefit UW, which, at the time, was flailing. NSBE policy doesn’t dispute this act, and I wasn’t operating in bias, but rather, for my love for NSBE-UW. If anything, NSBE policies encourage regional leadership which concurrently motivates constituent chapters to step up and contribute to the loop of things. Thus- and historically proven- the more regional executives a chapter produced, the more engaged the chapter became, and UW proudly lived up to that this year. From the regional level, I learn how different chapters coordinate themselves. I also knew of recruiters wishing to sponsor Region VI at the conferences and applied similar methodologies to UW NSBE. From the Chapter of the Year, I understood what propelled them to that status - their creativity and activeness- and then reciprocated those tactics into managing UW NSBE in our events and meetings. Since then, our overall participation has improved. 2. Decision Making Making each decision appropriate to the context situated. Decision-making is an important quality to possess, and with the REB, it was no different. The most painful decision to make was transitioning FRC from hybrid to entirely virtual, and we did that less than two months to the date. In mid-September 2021, the Delta variant surged, causing much uncertainty in the process. Furthermore, most speakers, recruiters, and sponsors opted to remain virtual, demeaning the possibility of in-person attendance. Lastly, as much as we wanted, our small team was incapable of planning a physical event in that short timeframe. Had we had the required number of board members, the odds would have largely tilted to our favor, except that they didn’t. In the end, a virtual conference was what we ended up with, contrary to our initial hopes. Of course, we didn’t want a repeat of RLC, but we barely had a choice given the circumstances. 3. Personal Contributions Contributing one’s ideas, strengths, knowledge, and abilities to meet a specific group need enhances productivity and effectiveness. Each group’s needs and tasks differ and call for unique individual assets to best address these needs. Leaders give of themselves to make their organizations better. When I initially joined the REB as the Telecommunications Director, I had little knowledge of executing my role despite knowing its expectations. However, learning that it entailed building and maintaining websites, I knew I possessed the skillset to perform the task. In a team where everyone functioned independently, we trusted each other’s instincts that we were trying our best. This allowed us to be creative in our approaches and analyze what worked best from our judgments. In my case, I was proud of how I created two websites from scratch despite not knowing initially how to utilize the resources at my disposal. Intriguing enough, I learned it all on the job. I discovered Google Sites by trial-and-error, exploring its features, and thereafter creatively creating something that the REB would be proud of- not the fanciest thing, but a thing worth fancying. 4. Collaboration Working with others toward a common objective through the sharing of ideas and distribution of responsibilities across team members to reach the goal most effectively. Collaboration was an essential part of the REB, and we played it smoothly and synchronously in our operations. We had weekly meetings in planning for RLC and biweekly for FRC. We updated each other on our progress, achievements, setbacks, and improvement points in these meetings, setting the collaborative basis for the next meeting. A typical routine would look like this: The President would ask her Vice for help in contacting local recruiters for a forthcoming event. Once confirmed, they pass the recruiters’ info to the Programs Chair to add them to the program. The Programs Chair would then give me the itinerary to email the membership while posting on the website before submitting it to our TORCH chair to post on Instagram. 5. Organizational Behavior Making meaning of individual and group behaviors and their impact within an organization and then using this understanding to navigate the organization effectively. Our size helped us understand each other’s motivations and inner workings and how they all contributed to accomplishing our tasks at hand. Most board members were new to regional affairs, so it took us a while to acquaint ourselves with the higher stakes. However, we all had leadership capacities at either our individual chapters. Adding the diversity factor to the mix, we implemented our regional roles to reflect our schools. This attribute helped us specialize in our tasks depending on our strengths and capabilities. I learned more about regional affairs this way. I also learned how my fellow board members think and operate, and they learned from me likewise. That way, we developed a more profound and intimate understanding of each other and were readily available if one felt short of their tasks. I also learned about their institutions because they again ensemble the spirit they represent. 6. Follow-through Seeing things through to the end, even in the face of adversity, to carry out a commitment to complete a task and demonstrate trustworthiness and dependability. Planning the FRC was pretty hectic, but everyone on the board capitalized on their ability to follow through with their parts till the end. We had a lot of tasks to complete, and for many of them, we weren’t even qualified for, mainly because we didn’t sign up for them initially. So thus, we first had to take a dual role alongside our initial positions; our President became our FRC Chairperson, the Vice President Treasurer, the Programs Chair the Apex Chair, and myself the impromptu Secretary – that was how I landed both roles simultaneously. After taking two roles, we had no choice but to try our best in them and follow through with all our tasks no matter what. This part, especially, was not easy. We missed a couple of deadlines, overlooked some decisions, and lacked enough personnel for support. Furthermore, we occasionally missed some planning meetings to our detriment. However, that did not stop us from accomplishing our tasks, whether perfect or imperfect- we obligated ourselves to get them done. What motivated us to accomplish our tasks regardless was that it technically couldn’t get any worse for us, so we had nothing more to lose. But, again, we also saw it best to die trying than never trying at all. So, whether it was counting our finances, registering attendees, or PR to recruiters encouraging them to attend an event, we ensured that we covered it all from beginning to the end. 7. Responsibility for Personal Behavior Taking responsibility for one’s behavior by admitting mistakes, apologizing, rectifying the situation, and accepting the consequences of one’s actions to correct the problem and learn from the experience so as not to repeat it in the future. Inasmuch as we tried our best to host our successful conferences, we also came short of ourselves at times, some of which were at the small team's expense. Still, it was easy to own up, admit, reflect, and move on even better. The process was overwhelming, which, again, was out of our control. However, we could change our approach to it and learn from it. Thus, we didn’t mind owning up to our shortcomings because the whole board was imperfect. Not only did this help us understand each other, but it also fostered a meaningful connection among ourselves. As a result, we could tolerate each other even better, know our capabilities, and help out when needed. Our performances mostly improved once we imposed accountability on ourselves, which still thrives today. Lessons learned and future-oriented statement More than ever, working on the REB re-emphasized the importance of working on a team, which gives its all and does its best under the circumstances. As such, no man is an island, and I learned that from the REB. So many things could have gone right, whether having a larger team or in-person conferences. However, we were insanely proud of our achievements and even prouder of the leaders we emerged into. The circumstances weren’t what we asked for, but the ending was more than we desired. I am confident it will lead me to a team wherever my career leads. I’m optimistic that it’s a team whose ideals I share – a team with people whose minds I correlate. In the workplace, collaboration is vital, and teamwork is essential in accomplishing a group task. With people around for support, I am confident that I’ll have all the resources and the tenets to succeed at the workplace, meet other fantastic people, make some friends, and thrive in the future, God willing.