How to Fix a Broken World
The fact that we live in a broken world is undeniable. Perhaps the biggest problem is the matter of the individual: “What can I alone do to make a change?” There are two paths forward in a broken world. The first is anarchy and rebellion. The second is systematic change. While the first option would certainly be exciting, what this world needs is change. This begs two questions, however: what needs to change, and how do we change it…
There Is No Future Without Hope
The following is my speech given at The First Meeting of the Public of Russia and the USA held by Committee 2017 in Istanbul on November 7, 2023. Please keep in mind the context of the speech and the fact that the message is a call for change — nothing is intended to be political…
Humans, Humanity, and Suffering
This past year, I have been shown a prevalent aspect of this world that was never quite so personal in the past. Since having gained perspective from the events of my time in Iceland, I now see too often what I’ve always only wondered about: suffering. Suffering doesn’t mean endless sadness or despair, though that is certainly included. I’m specifically referring to general unhappiness or hopelessness…
The Search Part 3 — Is Everything for a Reason?
A lot happened in Hveragerði. A lot also didn’t happen. I was there for two weeks. I didn’t actually want to stay there when the time came, but Iceland has a housing crisis. If I canceled that stay, my only other choice would have been to leave the country. I had booked an apartment in Kópavogur for a month (basically Reykjavík), and I knew I wanted to be in a place with more people and more going on. But I had two weeks in Hveragerði to get through first…
The Search Part 2 — Writing in Iceland
Earlier in the year, before my move to Iceland, I read Factotum by Charles Bukowski. It was a strange book, but I ended up learning that he also wrote poetry. Bukowski was quite the character, as personified in his books, so I was curious as to what his poems were about. The first poem I read, I Have This New Room, stood out to me. This was my first time engaging with poetry, and I was impressed by its ability to express so much in so few words…
The Search Part 1 — Academia
In my career, I have done a little bit of everything.
Professionally, I have degrees in computer science and math. I started my PhD in computer graphics. I developed desktop apps and mobile apps. I worked in machine learning and published papers on biodiagnostics – work that my university selected me as a "World Changer" for, showcasing me on promotional material and nominating me for scholarships…