Hello Steemit community! I am brand new to this (blogging in general), but when I stumbled across Steemit and started to read some of your posts, it felt like a welcoming community and a fun way to try something new….so here goes!

This guy needs a haircut

About Me

I am from Chicago….was born, raised, and lived there for 36 ½ years (well, technically in the first western suburb of Chicago, but it’s just easier to say Chicago). The last ½ year of my life though has been spent living in Dundee, Scotland where I am studying for a MSc degree in Data Science. Of all the places in the World, why Dundee, Scotland!? Even the locals are surprised a "lad" from America would choose to come to Dundee. So I'll tell you why...but not today. I’ll save that story for another post.

For the past 12 years I have worked in education. My first 4 years were as an aide at the high school level while still in search of what I wanted to do with my life. After encouragement from my co-workers and the teachers I was working with, I went back to school full-time to complete my degree that started 6 years prior. When all was said and done, I completed my 10 year college “plan” with a bachelor’s in mathematics and secondary education.

A “cool” nerdy tattoo.

Stats

I guess you could say I am a math nerd…and committed to it. I mean, I do have a tattoo of π and the first 30 digits around my wrist! I've contemplated going beyond the 30 digits and have a tattoo sleeve all the way up my arm...but then the question is, after how many digits do you stop? It is an infinite number. But I "played it safe". I felt there may be a scenario (maybe a job interview, parent-teacher conferences, or my current teaching job frowned upon it) where I would need to cover it and could accomplish that with wearing a watch and not be forced with the constant need to wear long sleeve shirts.

**Side note: My school administrators loved it. It actually created great classroom discussions in my math classes about what is π, and we had annual contests in my class to see who could memorize π to the most digits. It gave me instant "street cred" too on the first day of school with the students.

I always liked the math and the sciences in school…it just sort of ‘made sense’, which is a compliment to my logical, analytical mind. So after those 4 years as an aide, I got to have my very own rules and classroom to run. Next week, I would be entering my 9th year as a teacher, but that crazy thing called ‘life’ delivered a crossroad while in Scotland.

I Actually DO Like the Scottish Haggis

My wife and I have been in the UK since December. My masters program started towards the end of January and I have been spending everyday working and studying the data science concepts. Admittedly, I have not minded that at all, as it’s actually been pretty fun! I get to combine my mathematics background while applying more of a statistics aspect, plus I am learning about computer programming. I have progressed leaps and bounds these past 6 months with what is been mostly new technical skills. I have a long way to go and still a lot to learn, but I’ll get there. After recently finishing up all my assignments, I’ve indulged in a few independent “mini-projects” to practice with some of these concepts I’m learning and try new ones out…and I’ll share with you my little projects in future posts.

Why Choose Stress?

I would describe myself as a cautious introvert, and when it comes to risks, I’ll order up a side of ‘conservative’ to go along with it….more often than not, I’ll play it safe. I am a laid back, easy going, go with the flow kinda guy, who appreciates consistency and routines so I'll know what to expect...no surprises, please. And I have fallen hard for data science while taking this masters program these past 6 months. It’s like that moment in life when you see that beautiful girl at the karaoke bar and ask her for her number…then not regretting that you let that moment pass by because years later you got to marry that girl (yes, that was just a shameless shout out to the wifey for lifey 😉).

You see, I had to decide between returning to teaching, or take this other career path that won’t really start until I graduate in mid-January. It’s scary for the “play it safe” guy to not take the known, established path and give up a secure job and income for the unknown. I recently submitted a resignation to my school, which felt more like a “it’s not you, it’s me” break-up. But you only have one life, so when I stumbled upon something to be passionate about, I couldn’t just let it pass me by. At the moment, it’s causing more stress than I feel I can handle, but then I just remind myself every new path naturally will start with some stress.

Everything is AWESOME…and heavy.

-n-Lats

I’m also a gym, fitness and health enthusiast. It’s where I can just get an hour or so to myself and sometimes I get lucky and lose my thoughts and forget everything else that’s going on around me. Then sometimes if my mind can’t wander, it gives me time to think or reflect. While I have no formal background in health or nutrition, I’m always reading articles or blogs to keep me motivated or knowledgeable about health. One thing I have learned is that everyone has an opinion or philosophy on how to get or be healthy.

So…here’s my opinion

Don’t aimlessly follow everything you read or watch in a documentary. Rather, just find what you identify with, what makes sense to you and your lifestyle, and if it differs from someone else…that’s OK. Don’t push others to follow your same belief. But whatever you choose, (whether it be a paleo diet vs high meat protein diet, lots of cardio or no cardio, free weights or cable machines, CrossFit is great or CrossFit is a cult), just be informed, be safe, be open minded, and have a reason to follow a philosophy other than “I read in a magazine that you should…” or “I was watching this documentary and they said…”.

So that’s me, Stats-n-lats. I look forwarding to contributing and following your posts!