Why write a blog?
TLDR: I don’t actually hate writing.
If people ask what classes I like and which I don’t, I typically answer something like the following: “I generally enjoy anything technical, like CS, chemistry, and physics. I’m not a fan of history because and I absolutely abhor English and writing.” But that’s not the full truth. The part that’s missing is the why.
Let’s tackle the simple one first: I’m not a fan of history because I don’t like to dwell on the past and I can never remember dates or the chronological order of events (so I was always really bad at it in school). However, I absolutely adore things like museums and articles that do one of two things: (1) present a cohesive, engaging, and entertaining narrative and (2) analytically review a certain historical event or time period to come away with points relevant to today’s world.
Now, onto the technical classes. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had the curiosity of a scientist and the ingenuity of an engineer. Maybe it’s good genetics, good parents, or plenty of things to take apart as a kid. In any case, the formulaic, yet artful nature of science and math has always come naturally. However, what felt most natural to me was programming. For the first time ever, I could fully express my thoughts. I liken it to drawing out a decision tree on a whiteboard. If this is true, then what about this? Ok, then that leads to that outcome. Now what about this? How do these compare? What if this value changes? How does that affect the final result? I think like a computer does: seeing several different outcomes at once and the paths that lead to them.
So, that leaves English and writing. Let’s start with reading: I adore it, but I can never find the time to go cover-to-cover. It definitely doesn’t help that I read pretty slowly and thoughtfully. And I have to really be passionate about the book to have any hope of finishing it. So yeah, I suck at doing assigned readings. But, if you put something interesting in front of me, you’ll be hard pressed to pry it out of my hands until I’ve finished. That’s how I read my first book from cover to cover in about four years (but that’s a topic for another blog post (essay?). And what about writing? I’ll openly admit I typically despise writing—but why? It’s surprisingly simple: I despise bullshit. Or, in more PG terms: I can’t bring myself to lie.
To me, words have tremendous value. If I’m not passionate about it, I can’t physically force myself to put my words onto a page. Simple as that. So, anything I post on here, know I’m being sincere. Conversely, I won’t promise a focus on any specific topics or any regularity of updates. Right now, I’ve got a few ideas I’d like to get out of my head and onto the page. If we’re lucky, maybe sometime will find value in my ramblings. Or at least enjoy photos from my adventures. Or laugh at my n + 1 attempt at making sourdough.
Why now?
I’ve got a lot on my mind. I also have exactly zero free time, but it’s not like that’s ever stopped me before.
Why should you read it?
You probably shouldn’t. I’m writing this more for myself than for any of you. There’s many more talented writers out there that write with much greater consistency, quality, or authority. One such writer I’m fond of is The Code Hen, whom I interned with last summer. He’s way more talented than I’ll ever be, tackles more interesting issues with better analysis, is just generally more intelligent, and has a unique perspective as a Taiwanese student at Harvard.