What does leadership mean to me? Leaders aren’t born, they are made, and it’s the circumstances surrounding them that make them. In any natural situation, even historically, some will fret, and others will scamper away. Some will hesitate, and others who wait. And then, some will stand in regardless to take charge because the situation calls for it. I am one of those. It’s not just who can lead, but who will lead? My Definition of Leadership What does leadership mean to me? Leadership, to me, means standing out when the rest are standing in. Again, not in bad taste, but rather, it’s all about will. “Who will carry us through this? Who is brave enough to solve this? It’s already terrible right now, but who is resilient to see us through?” These are some of the questions I ask myself when a situation arises. Through this ideology, it’s not surprising (at least to me) that I’ve taken countless leadership roles since I could remember. Whether it be from a Physics group assignment in a high school class, conducting the choir, or leading many colleges on the West Coast- I’ve done it all. Of course, I’ll admit, there were other times when I was a leader just for the title and pride rather than the responsibility itself, and those times didn’t end well for me. So while I have a variety of experiences to accompany this notion, my one-liner advice for anyone taking this route would be not to be a leader on resume, but one of responsibility- else, it won’t end pretty. My Principles of Leadership My leadership principles (how I view leadership) rotate around initiative, learning, responsibility, accountability, empathy, teamwork, and excellence. Initiative - Leadership starts from here when one is willing to take the initial step to lead and take responsibility. This part sets the basis for "who is who," thus getting to know stakeholders first. Learning - Learning is a part of almost everything in life, and with leadership, it's no different. We all start somewhere, so even when starting the job, we're still learning that way. As we progress, we're either learning how we can improve ourselves or even understanding how our acts are impacting others. There is no learning shortage in leadership. Responsibility - After learning comes responsibility. Here, one specifically knows their stake and roles when performing a particular task. It gets serious from here. Accountability - Owning to one's tasks and their fair share of responsibility and following through with it until completion. Empathy - When a leader empathizes with their subjects, they can imagine and take into perspective the person's situation and capability towards the matter at hand. With this outlook, a leader can make a more befitting decision that caters to their subject while still remaining on track to the goal. Teamwork - No man is an island. Similarly, if you want to travel fast, travel alone, but if you want to travel far, travel with others. Teamwork is essential in a leadership setting because it is a pivotal basis of leadership. In other words, if you can't lead anyone other than yourself towards a common goal, then is that leadership? Excellence - As long as one tries their best to achieve a task, then there is a lot to celebrate. In most cases, the results are satisfactory. Nonetheless, if the reverse happened, the fact that one had the heart to still attempt it is worth applauding. Evolution Over Time My leadership theory has drastically changed from what it was like 4-5 years ago. Back in high school, I thought leadership entailed having a fancy position or title to accompany my name. It gave me a relatively high seat to watch my subjects below but not look down on them. Leadership had a rather prestigious connotation, which would sway one egotistically if not tended to well. Don’t get me wrong, though; I’m not implying that it changed my personality- it never did. I was still the happy, helpful, and young chap then as I still am right now. :) In fact- and not to toot my own horn- most of my friends and people addressed me as probably the humblest leader of the cohort then. Now that I think about it, the virtue stands true, not only in leadership but also in any form of success in life. A mantra I live by is, “the higher you go, the humbler you have to become.” First forward a couple of years later, the meaning of leadership has consciously evolved. I’ve used leadership to emanate my voice and take the initiative when others couldn’t. Of course, sometimes I still got into leadership positions for the wrong reasons, but then my self-awareness came in; it consciously helped me figure out the possible-end product of what I would venture and whether or not it was worth it. Ever since I viewed my decisions from that lens, I’ve saved myself from a myriad of possible stress-inducing situations “just because I wanted to be a leader on resume.” Today, my leadership style is more mature and purpose-driven. It’s one with a mission, vision, passion, free flow, and accountability. Like my old self, I’ve added doses of humility, vulnerability, and relatability to it such that I don’t lose sight of who are most important to me- my subjects. From my past burnout experiences, my current leadership style allows me to know my limits and capabilities and not bite off more than I can chew. Finally, I strive not only to lead my team to infinite success but also pray not to be too indispensable- I want to leave a legacy in the next cohort of leaders, teach them everything I know, and pray that they become far much better than I could ever be.

Who am I in the context of being a Husky Leader? My Core Values Leadership Leadership, to me, means taking charge of a situation and guiding others through it, either because I can or if no one else is willing to do it. I've found myself taking the initiative countless times in dire situations that called for it. In whatever commitments I partake in, I have this sense of urgency and team-building which I leverage towards creating a shared goal. Motivation Whenever I think about motivation, I find it the inherent will to do something. "Will I like the outcome? Will it be worth it? What's driving me to do this?" These are some questions that reaffirm my motivations. Everyday, I strive my best to succeed and attain my goals. Sometimes I win, other times I learn (Nelson Mandela quote), but most of all, I refuse to give up. Rather, I garner the consistency and resilience to work relentlessly towards my goals regardless of my circumstances. Whenever I feel like giving up, I first remind myself where I came from, how far I’ve come, and then instantly visualize where I’m heading. I also recall the people who look up to me and how bad I’d be letting them down if I let myself down. Enough said- I move on. Faith By faith, I acknowledge my compliance to God from my spiritual upbringing. My spiritual conviction leads me to God by praying during stressful times in challenging life situations. I also realize that I cannot control the outcome of things, nor can I predict tomorrow despite how hard I try. I understand that I may have a Plan A, but God has others and puts them so that life meanders me a different course than expected. A Swahili saying for this goes, "Jitihada haiondoi kudura," meaning "Hard work does not reciprocate God's Will." For this reason, my favorite is adjective is God willing. Optimism Naturally, I'm a happy-go-lucky person who enjoys seeing the silver lining of things. I understand that life isn't a smooth ride as expected to be, but I live by the mantras of "this too shall pass" and "it only gets better." By optimistically having a positive attitude in life, I encourage myself and others on the same. Years down the line, I want to be in a comfortable world of peace and love. It's debatable if the world is getting better or worse, but on my end, I choose the latter because I want to. Intuition Intuition has me listening to myself - my conscience - more often than not, and most of the time, my inner me is correct. I use my intuition and ethics to rationalize complex life scenarios that I'm stuck in, so long as I can bear the outcome. By honing my intuition and meditating over the years, I've grown thoughtful of myself, my thoughts, and emotions. I've also paid attention to my surroundings, the people I'm with and make simple but effective decisions with clarity of mind. My Unique Leadership Identities STEM and Technology Leader I never quite visualized myself as a technology leader beforehand, but being in a professional organization such as NSBE qualifies me as one in my own right. NSBE stands for the National Society of Black Engineers. A STEM organization, NSBE has honed my leadership skills in both technical and non-technical areas. For example, I may lead team projects within the club, conduct informative meetings, or construct informational websites for conferences that redirect 3,000 students on the West Coast. I know I'll be with NSBE for a long while, and for as long as I do, I'm happy to learn my merits as a Technology Leader and see what more I can contribute in such a diverse field. Avid Mathematician Math has been my favorite subject in school for as long as I can remember, but in recent years, my liking for it has come under question. Fortunately enough, it's such second-guessing moments that immensely build my character, and for that, I'm grateful. One such character-molding moment was back in college during my Calculus II class. Calc II revitalized my entire approach to advanced mathematics from the setback I suffered in Calculus I. It altered my thinking and analytical strategies towards the subject and possibly relate them to real-world situations. Furthermore, it's amplified in me some skillsets that can market me in the job market - skills like analysis, critical thinking, Mathematical projections, and collaboration. Inspirational Thought Leader I embrace the gift I have of inspiring others to be their best selves, and that satisfies me as well. I like to share my positively unique thoughts with others, hoping that I've made at least one person's day. Myself, I'm still a student of life, so I learn as much as I give; it might be through reading, talking to successful people, or watching an inspirational podcast. By whichever means I discover, not only do I apply what I've learned, but I also teach others the same while sharing my thoughts too. Some role models in this field inspire me by their actions: Tony Robbins, Shade Zahrai, and Ali Abdaal, to name but a few. Long term, I hope to develop my voice and inspire others just as they have done for me. My "Why" The "Know Your Why" concept is one popularized by Simon Sinek, and it's in which he emphasizes that people should have a "why" - a reason for getting out of bed every morning and a reason to do what one is doing. By knowing your why, thus, Sinek assures that one is likelier to lead a fulfilled life. It's only recently that I realized my why (after probably 6 or 7 years of searching,) and that is to inspire people through my actions and thoughts. Everywhere I've been, I've left some positive impact, effortlessly or not, which has been positive. While I initially don't take much note of myself instantly impacting my environs, I notice the praises and appraisals from my friends, colleagues, and family. Knowing what I bring to the table is one thing; seeing my impact from the eyes of others is another. It's then that I realized I have a gift of inspiring others, and if all goes well God willingly, I may create a career from it. Future Goals: How I Envision Engaging in Leadership in the Future I have short-term and long-term career goals, which entail some leadership aspects. In the short term, I seek to attain a (non)technical job that would still hone my leadership - something like consulting or project management would do. Just as I've had fun leading NSBE, I'd be happy thriving in a team-building environment and investing in our team's individual talents and capabilities to achieve a common goal. Long term, I want to build a company out of this, hence my plans for Carerra's Chronicles. While I'm still planning precisely what it would entail, I'm sure that it would continue with my leadership and positive influence among many; think the Inspirational Thought Leader from above. Either way, I understand some personal aspects of my leadership that need improvement. Currently, I'm working on my communication, especially in communicating effectively. I know that leaders have an excellent way of influencing people with their words, and I want to hit that saturation point too. Another quality is empathy. Born from a silver platter, I admit that I might not entirely imagine people's situations until I experience them myself. Till then, it helps me keep an open mind towards all, learn where they are coming from, and feel how they feel. Thus, I can lead in a way that reflects an understanding of their circumstances. Thanks for reading, . . . ~Carerra

The Thrill of Leading UW-NSBE. What did I learn from it? Overview NSBE stands for the National Society of Black Engineers. NSBE’s mission statement is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. NSBE has different chapters nationally, of which the University of Washington is one. I am currently the Vice President of NSBE-UW, where I conduct club logistical roles. Easier said than done, the VP role is the club’s lifeline. It’s where most of the fun yet highly technical stuff in NSBE occurs, and it requires the utmost flexibility, stamina, and precision to execute. The personal importance of the task NSBE has rapidly changed my life for the fleeting time I’ve been around, and I’ve honed my leadership skills here. Being a first-generation immigrant, culture shock engulfed me, taking a while to adjust. While adapting, I lost my voice, turning timid in my interactions. However, with time, the more I found myself within this alien world, the more my attributes returned, and the clearer my purpose became. I gradually grew this way through the years, and I’ve regained it all, especially in my ultimate college year, knowing that my career lies next. And what better way to revitalize myself than being the VP of a premier honorary organization? Tasks accomplished I have accomplished the following tasks in my Vice President office as so far: Attended a successful Engineering Launch in early Fall and recruited eight members. The Launch featured 32 Engineering Registered Student Organizations seeking to recruit STEM students campus-wide. However, only five of them (including NSBE) included people of color. Despite the numerical disadvantage, some fellow Blacks interested in STEM joined NSBE covering up for six of our recent graduates. NSBE hosted recruiters in its general body meetings; some exemplary recruiters included Goldman Sachs and NASA. Furthermore, we are currently in talks with Meta (nee Facebook.) Distributed 1321 internships, full-time offers, and graduate school opportunities from NSBE and other databases. Attended and represented UW-NSBE at two West Coast regional conferences (NSBE Region VI): the Regional Leadership Conference (RLC) and the Fall Regional Conference (FRC). What we’re on track to accomplish: Host four affinity group mixers with the Society of Hispanic Engineers (SHPE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Coalition of Minority and Women Engineering Societies (CMWES), and the Black Student Coalition (BSC) Cookout. Profile Black Scientists and Engineers for Black History Month and our Alumni for Engineering Week. Attend the NSBE National Convention dated March 23rd – 27th, 2022. Leadership Competencies gained Of the many possible leadership competencies from my tenure, my most outstanding ones were empowerment, mission, vision, initiative, positive attitude, confidence, and excellence. Empowerment Sharing power, information, and resources with others to harbor ownership, accountability, and commitment regarding a task or process led to higher-quality work, more outstanding timeliness and follow-through, and more significant commitment to the mission and team. I share many resources and insights in my capacity as Vice President, depending on what members need. Mostly, students hope to receive a job offer related to their field of study, so I share internships or full-time openings to their liking. Others inquire about graduate school support, so I disseminate all available resources while referring them to senior NSBE graduate students to mentor them along the way. Following the adage, “with great power comes great responsibility,” the Vice-President role is a high intensity, high-risk-high-reward one; if you can handle the heat with the position, then opportunities will come rewarding your way. My predecessor told me that I would receive too many opportunities to enjoy; she was right. NSBE members also empower me to do a better job. I strive to improve myself and repeatedly ask for my performance’s feedback and how better I can address people’s needs. Some suggest more employers. Others resume reviews, and others more food during meetings. It’s all a two-way street where we assist each other to achieve what we so desire. Mission It is developing an individual or organizational mission statement that reflects the values of the individual/organization. It serves as a framework for decision-making. NSBE’s mission statement clearly defines members’ expectations, and I am no exception. Wherever I go, I recall that I am not only a Vice President but also an ambassador, and I have to fulfill the mission in all my partaking. The words “…culturally responsible…excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community” precisely strike home for me. Respectively, I uphold morals and ethics, both NSBE’s and mine, and strive hard in my classes to excel academically, which, in most cases, I do. In addition, I am fortifying my personal and professional acquaintances (e.g., LinkedIn. The Career Center) for prospects to succeed professionally. Lastly, I always like to impact everything I do, whether at school, home, or in interpersonal interactions. That way, I end up positively impacting my community. Vision It is developing a statement that defines the aspiration and direction of an individual, organization, or community to guide actions and decisions. I transferred to the University of Washington in Fall 2020 at the height of the pandemic and joined NSBE the following Winter Quarter. Months later, after becoming Vice President and learning of NSBE-UW’s history, I obliged to revive the club to its former glory. If not, then offset the basis for future cohorts to achieve so. I rely on a past I didn’t experience to create a vision of what I won’t see, not negatively but optimistically. My vision for NSBE-UW is a place for all upcoming engineers to learn from and nurture each other, empowering one another to achieve their dreams. This embodiment was what the past NSBE had, and one I wish the future NSBE gets. Until then, I take the honor to mend the bridge in between; to help make NSBE greater than before. Initiative Taking charge of a situation, voluntarily and unprompted by others, especially when one has the expertise or opportunity to do so or when others cannot. There are moments in NSBE when I have no option but to take charge and drive forward the matter, not for self-gain but for the chapter’s benefit. The remote nature of operations curtailed people from attending many events, with two notable ones being the Regional Leadership Conference and the Fall Regional Conference. UW was a phenomenal attendee to both in the past, but things changed thanks to the Coronavirus. When I learned of the vitality of these conferences, I had to step in when either nobody else could do it or no one was available. Anybody could attend either conference- no restrictions applied. The only commitment one had to make was the time and willingness to attend; not even entry fees were a problem because the whole event was virtual. Still, I don’t quite understand why people couldn’t show up despite constantly promoting the event to our membership. I was the only UW student from the entire tri-campus setting to attend both conferences and represent NSBE. Hopefully, by encouraging others to attend these conferences, I assuredly won’t be the last, nor will it be the last time UW NSBE will participate in them. Positive Attitude Exhibiting an optimistic outlook by identifying the positive aspects of a situation and displaying a “Cando” attitude to foster a sense of hope, inspire oneself and others, and maximize the positive aspects. Sometimes I make mistakes, and plans may not go as expected. Consequently, I lose hope for a moment but return more robust and positive after building on the feedback from the past lessons. We started 2021-2022 slowly with meager attendance numbers. It felt discouraging at first, but I learned how, why, and designed how to improve, masking it with a positive attitude and keeping myself headstrong. As each meeting passed, our numbers gradually increased as more minority students learned of NSBE and its power. I never lose hope in my optimism or positivity because I know that better things lie ahead, and improving my circumstances is one of them. Confidence It is appearing sure of one’s beliefs, knowledge, convictions, and capabilities to assure others of one’s competence. Once I’m aware of an event or a procedure in place, I am confident about it, and I wholeheartedly assure others. I always assure Diane, our advisor, of our club undertakings, especially our meetings. I also take my time to deliberate to my fellow board members on the necessary tasks needing accomplishment. Finally, to the membership, I constantly notify and remind them how they can fulfill their NSBE expectations and their potential outcomes and acclaimed benefits. When I am sure of things, I like to be confident about them. Of course, I can’t predict the outcome. Nonetheless, I hope most of them turn out well, and I convince myself that I’ll celebrate, survive, and learn from the result regardless of the aftermath. Excellence It gives one’s best effort to put forth one’s best work. I always put my best foot forward and do my best to achieve all that I can with NSBE. One of my mantras is always giving my 110% to the club and not settling for anything less. Referring to an anonymous quote, “I want everything under my name to be excellent.” Combining my previous attributes, leadership competencies, and all that I do for the club, my co-trustees- board members, advisors, and even club members- commend on my excellence. They mention how much I’m willing to give to the society. I see my merit, but I see it better in the eyes and hear it better from the words of others. I invest my passion and desires into NSBE, and the efforts with which I do so convert into the excellence that the next generation of black engineers can embrace. Lessons learned and future-oriented statement My activeness and involvement in NSBE as Vice President reminded me that I am human. First, no commitment, whether in a professional or personal setting, should derogate who I am as a human being, and I can’t evade this. Instead, I’ve learned to acknowledge my limits and create room for mistakes since mistakes are life. Second, I shouldn’t rush anything, but rather, work in my capacity and travel at my pace because I am still human at the end of the day. I’ve also learned how to maintain my optimism, a positive attitude, and one that feeds on resiliency to surge forward no matter what. I also appreciate being myself in a larger dynamic, and I pray that motivates others, too, to be their free selves and contribute to the wholeness of all. By empowering others, I grew more generous towards others. I realized that there is power in sharing and that you don’t lose anything by helping others. Thus, I’m willing to give more than I have because I know someone else will benefit from it. Career-wise, I know where I’m headed. In the short term, I could venture into a team-based consulting technology company where I can use my competencies to lead and direct others towards achieving a common goa- think project management. Long-term, I envision myself in entrepreneurship, starting my thought-leadership company and brand focusing on personal development, motivation, and inspiration. This is where my attributes and competencies will shine, and it’s a place that shall manifest my personality towards the world. Looking at better things ahead, God willing. “The less we have, the more we give. Seems absurd, but it’s the logic of love.” ~Mother Theresa.

My experience from my Calculus II class, and my takeaways from it. Overview Calculus II, the second class of the Calc series (out of four), focuses on integration. Integration is simply “elevating” or creating a bigger function than what you have. For example, if you have a function “a,” you integrate it to get “A.” The opposite of integration is differentiation, which is in Calculus I. Differentiation is the direct reverse of integration, so getting “a” from “A.” I barely passed Calculus I class the Summer prior, and I had to get back on track to perform at my best, Calc II included. The stakes were pretty high, but I knew I had it in me to succeed, and thus, delivered it in Calc II, which is the essence of this example of work. I got a 2.0 in my Calc I class; I ended up with a 3.8 in Calc II. The personal importance of the task Calculus II is a quintessential class for advancing in most STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields and my case was no exception. Furthermore, I had just switched to Mathematics from Computer Science; I had to take Calc II in either case. In my situation precisely, I had to excel in my Calculus II class because I had just come from a devastating Calc I experience. I wanted to reignite my faith in Mathematics- that I could do Math once again - and succeeding in Calc 2 would give me the much-needed confidence to surge on with my degree. Tasks accomplished I did quite a handful in Calc II. I took all the measures I could as I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. From the basics, I was punctual and ever-present to class. The instructor filtered class attendance into the course grade, so attendance was mandatory. I ensured to turn in my homework on time. The class’s homework was on WebAssign (like the Canvas for STEM courses), computerized and automated such that it grades you immediately on input. This way, the instructor never quite saw your homework unless you approached her during office hours for assistance. Homework was around 12% of the total grade, and if you did everything right, both homework and attendance were free points. I liked collaborating with Jay, my study buddy. He was experienced, knowledgeable, and knew his thing in Math. Jay and I initially connected in Calc 1, and we sprouted an alliance ever since. He was very instrumental in my grade improvement in Calc II and all the classes that followed, given that we were both Computer Science majors. Jay, too, transferred to UW, but we went our separate ways because our paths changed major-wise. We still talk, though. For exams, I strictly followed the instructor’s advice and study recommendations. I followed her topics keenly and executed them strategically while practicing for exams two weeks prior for better preparation. If they worked, great! If not, try another way. Leadership Competencies gained My exhilarating Calc II experience garnered me the competencies of self-understanding, resiliency, optimism, reflection and application, analysis, synthesis, and excellence. Self-Understanding Enhancing one’s understanding of one’s personality, beliefs, capacities and interests so as to develop a greater depth of understanding of oneself in order to engage in more authentic and productive behavior. Taking this class engaged me to understand my limits and note my capabilities, especially coming from a class I thought I loved but the outcome proved otherwise. I’m not sure how I got the heart to attempt the class despite bombing Calc I, but I usually think I could have avoided most of my Summer circumstances. I reasoned that I regrettably took a full credit load over the Summer, plus the instructor was unfriendly, based on his class reviews. I also admit that I was afraid to drop the class despite the leeway because I invested so much into it that people would notice my absence if I dropped. However, I am equally glad that I still took the class because I could have faulted my graduation plans if I missed that quarter. Regardless of that setback, I believed that Calc II would be a unique experience and better if I envisioned it that way. I knew that nobody else would save me unless I saved myself, and I had no choice but to march headstrong into Fall Quarter, not knowing what to expect from Calculus II. Resiliency Bouncing back or recovering after a setback for both one’s well-being and success and being better able to face stress, challenges, and adversity in the future. I knew that I had failed Calc I, and I acknowledged that. I determined to bounce back in Calc II. Calc II in itself was a class on resiliency where I had to take my experiences in Calc I, convert them into lessons, and act them out in Calc II. I made some mistakes, and others were out of my reach, but most importantly, I was willing to learn from my failures to rewrite my success. I asked questions in class whenever I couldn’t understand a concept. I visited my instructor during her office hours more times than I ever did in any other of my previous classes, and I spent more time on the homework, solving each problem meaningfully. Overall, I delved into the intricacies and the small stuff of my studies and left no pebble unturned, no matter how tiny it was. Every moment counted, especially if it had me correcting my previous wrongs, then so be it. Optimism Exhibiting an optimistic outlook by identifying the positive aspects of a situation and displaying a “Cando” attitude to foster a sense of hope, inspire oneself and others, and maximize the positive aspects. Tied to the initiative competency, I had reason to believe that Calculus II would be better than Calculus I. The instructor had a far much more positive review than my Calc I professor; she was fun to be around, relatable, tenured, and also the head of the Mathematics department at Highline College. I had much faith in her. Aside from my instructor, I was also glad to receive much academic help during the class. My friend, Jay, was one of them, and to whom I credit for his friendship. Another resource was the MESA Center at Highline College. MESA stands for Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement; it caters to a community of college students who empower each other with resources such as tutoring and workshops, all to help students in their classes. Not only did I get academic assistance from MESA, but I’ve also fostered professional connections and personal friendships with whom I still communicate today. In all, I became optimistic during Calc II because I attained the much help I couldn’t find in Calc I. I learned from my mishaps, and while I couldn’t guarantee my success in the class yet, I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying myself and taking my time in it. Reflection and Application Reflecting on experiences, considering the learning gained through reflection and acting in accordance with this learning. Heading into Calculus II was a clear cut way for me to reflect on my Mathematical interests after Calc I. It had me thinking what went wrong, and how I could remedy the situation. I assessed and noted some factors that detered me from performing in Calc 1: a schedule overload, an unengaged instructor, no tutoring resources, and also not much time invested in teaching myself the subject. Once I noted these four impediments, I quickly made adjustments for me not to repeat the same in Calc II. I reduced my credits in-take per quarter to something lightweight then went for a more engaged instructor who I liked - Fardad Razmehr. Afterwards, I enrolled for the MESA and received weekly Math tutoring from their workshops, and then finally, I cleared my schedule of most non-essential activities for me to focus on studying Math solely. Analysis Dividing and examining information in detail to have a more comprehensive understanding of the information as a whole in an effort to identify causes, factors, features and impacts of the information. They say Math is purely mental - I couldn't agree more with that statement. Calculus is all about thinking mentally and applying the methodologies one has learned into an applicable result. In other words, as much as it's a plug-and-chug given the formulae to find the answer, it's more than that - it entails reasoning, logical arguments, systematic processes, and repeating until one finds a solution. These are some of the applicable criteria in Mathematical analysis. Whenever I faced a new concept, I first wondered if I ever encountered it before in perhaps a precious class, whether in high school or Calc 1. After that, I would (re)learn it to understand it's applicability, then practice it on a few questions. Most of the time, I got the answer right, but if not, I dug deeper to learn what made the answer wrong. If it still didn't make sense to me, then I collabed with my friends to brainstorm on the same. Synthesis Identifying a central theme by integratingseparate elements into one unified whole. This gives one a perspective that would not otherwise emerge if each piece of information were examined discreetly. Calculus II was entirely on integration of functions, or rather, "transforming a function upwards from A to B." Envisioning it this way, I understood that every concept I had to learn in this class must add up to the mega-concept of integration. Analyzing and compressing everything to one was not an issue. I started by learning the integration techniques like integration by parts, direct integration, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, among other techniques. I also processed the Riemann Sum, a fancy way of saying, "all the numbers in this sequence will add up to X," for example. Finally, I enjoyed applying them to real-life scenarios which, undoubtedly, need Mathematics. Some examples include how long it would take a tank to fill if two taps poured water into it at, say, X liters per minute, with one emitting water out of the tank at Y liters per minute. Another practical example was finding the area of a farm if two land owners agreed to expand their borders by this much. Excellence It gives one’s best effort to put forth one’s best work. I think at this point, I can characterize excellence as one of my inherent attributes. During my time in Calc II, I never let anything up, mainly because I had little to lose. This scenario reminds me of a quote similar to the following words, “There is no man more dangerous than the one who has lost it all- it cannot get any worse for him, so he will take far much greater risks and succeed much higher than he fell.” In Fall 2019, I was that man. Whether be it in asking questions, doing homework, or seeking the teacher’s office hours, I neither relented nor hesitated to up my best. Instead, I made sure I always put my best foot forward and acted humble enough to seek help and acknowledge my failures and weak points. This act did me a favor in most cases as I constantly went outside my comfort zone to understand 1-2-3 or another basic yet indirect formula. I became determined to learn, and nothing could deter me from trying my best in so. Lessons learned and future-oriented statement Calculus II built not only my GPA but also my resiliency. In both hindsight and foresight, I’ve realized that life, just like Calc II, will be no walk in the park. There will be highs and lows, upsides and downsides, but resiliency will push me through such scenarios in life. If I can survive such a class using what tools I have at my disposal, then managing life, too, shouldn’t be much of an issue. Resiliency and problem-solving will be two vital career skills for whatever career I venture into, either employed or self-employed. In either case, I hope to inspire my team and colleagues with my outlook on solving problems headstrong as they arrive. I also hope to learn from others who have experienced the same situation in one way or another. Of course, I understand that I won’t quite know everything, but that won’t stop me from learning better alternatives. That way, I’ll learn people’s thought processes in overseeing such situations, then apply them to mine for the best outcome.

Originally asked on Quora, below is my reply. Understand that you are your own boss; only you have the power to control what you react to and what you don’t. The sooner you realize this, the more you’ll learn what’s worth responding to and what’s not. Control what you can and leave what you can’t. It’s not worth the stress. Visualize your life long-term, e.g., in ten years- unless it’s life-or-death, your stressors aren’t that big of a deal. Like #3, use the Rule of 5- if it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes thinking about it. Stressing decreases your lifespan, so just laugh the problem off instead. The basics: meditate, deep breathing, sufficient sleep (7–8 hours), exercise, proper dieting, and practicing anxiety management techniques. Ergo, take care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually, and in some cases, financially too. I learned this one from my teacher: if something goes unexpectedly wrong and you can’t fix it, say, “Oh well.” It’s instantly and psychologically enriching- try it. It’s not the end of the world if you fail. However, we’ve all done that at times, so you might as well embrace the fact sooner. ~Carerra, 2k21.

A short letter to mark the beginning of Carerra's Chronicles. Dear Reader, I hope you're doing well right now. I'm Titus, the owner of this page- Carerra's Chronicles. Depending on when you're reading this, I officially launched this site not too long ago. You're probably seeing this a few days, weeks, or months after her birthday...and it's only just the beginning. Long-term, I see abundant positivity from here, where a fraction of the world can learn a thing or two. After all, I created this space to share my thoughts with the world and improve my writing plus communication, and so far, it's working. Short-term, I'm expecting nothing, so I'll expect anything. I mean, it's just a matter of consistency, constantly improving myself, lowering my expectations, and delayed gratification. Hence, I'll return to this post in a year to gauge my growth. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope that you'll learn something from here, and I pray that I'll impact your life one way or another. Myself, I'd also love to know more about you and what makes you 'tick' - it's such interactions that make me open-minded. Gladly, it's only getting better. Take it easy, God bless you, and have fun around! :) Until then, see you on the other side. ~Carerra, 2k21.

It's an excellent way to increase your value, confidence, and self-esteem- being proud of yourself first. We live in a world of unique perspectives- different races, ages, cultures, generations, geographies, etc. The only one-size-fits-all is that we're all human beings. You could be a Chinese Asian; your Mandarin culture vastly differs from anything in the US. You could be a Latinx in South America but don't know just how different you are from a Botswanan or Cameroonian. No two people are the same, not even twins. That's where uniqueness is born- when you realize that you are equal to no one else. Anyone can be anything they want in life, and it starts by realizing your innate self and who you are as a person. "What drives you? What improves you? What drains you? Your strengths? Your weaknesses? Your value systems?" Whatever your combo, no two humans share the same combination of characteristics, and that's one basis of uniqueness, which everyone has. Stand out in any way you can, whether it be in music, a sport, an art, your business- whatever it could be. Don't be afraid to share yourself with the world; it needs more of you, and, like a jigsaw puzzle, you're the missing piece that completes it. Be proud of who you are and where you come from, and those who are proud of you too will, in one way or another, aid you in getting to where you're going. People value uniqueness and appreciate authenticity, so the more you are proud of yourself, the more others follow your vibe, learn from you, and know what makes you. That's the minute for today. ~Carerra, 2k21.

El Salvador became the first country globally to make Bitcoin a national currency, but the crypto market flash crashed soon after. On September 7th, 2021, El Salvador made history by officially legalizing Bitcoin as a national currency. Unfortunately, some mishaps occurred during the enactment of the grand Digi-token, causing its price to sink, and so did the entire crypto market. Bitcoin dropped nearly 12% from $52,000 to $46,300, erasing $130 billion from its market cap. Ethereum tanked from $3,900 to $3,450, and Cardano from $2.87 to $2.48. Why did El Salvador buy Bitcoin? Elsa- El Salvador, Elsies- El Salvador Citizens (El Salvadorans). The El Salvador Congress approved of the Bitcoin Law on June 9th, 2021, making Bitcoin legal tender for the following reasons: For cheaper and faster payments on their remittances, For nationwide economic development, To encourage foreign investments, and; To spare her economy from the inflationary effects of the US Fed Reserve. After all, El Salvador still uses the US Dollar as its national currency. Elsa bought 550 Bitcoins in two phases; 400 on Monday evening and 150 more on Tuesday- an instance when President Nayib Bukele tweeted that they 'bought the dip.' El Salvador plans on building 200 Bitcoin ATMs and 50 kiosks nationwide for easy BTC-cash conversion, plus a few more in the US for their US residents. Concurrently, the government launched the Chivo app for El Salvadorans to do their Bitcoin transactions. Unfortunately, Chivo malfunctioned momentarily after its debut due to sudden excessive demand, so the government temporarily de-installed it to add more servers onto the platform. The funny yet excellent thing, though, is that the government incentivized everyone who opened a Chivo account with $30 worth of Bitcoin. *Chivo, to El Salvador, means "cool." In the real sense, it means " a Billy Goat," but they thought the app was cool. **Remitting- sending money abroad. Why do some El Salvadorans dislike Bitcoin? The Bitcoin Law got a mixed reception on its D-Day, with the El Salvadorans split on it. Many Elsies dislike the government's approach to the digital asset as much as the coin itself, and their arguments are pretty legit. They argue that: Bitcoin doesn't cater to the working class' needs. The volatility in the space could affect their pensions, remunerations, and salaries. They don't want a currency 'used in money-laundering and financing illegal activities.' Bitcoin transactions, to them, are a way of avoiding capital gains tax, which, when you note its unregulated aspect, makes it a valid point. Less than 50% of El Salvadorans have internet access, implying that Bitcoin is only accessible to those with the internet. 70% of Elsa's people have no bank accounts, so the fact that they can't own a piece of the digital asset is scary enough. In 2001, the Elsa Congress replaced the Salvador Colon with the US Dollar as Elsa's national currency without the citizens' consultation. Elsa doesn't want history to repeat. Both the IMF and the World Bank are wary of Elsa's buying of Bitcoin; they disapprove of it, citing environmental and transparency reasons. They also fear the rise of financial problems like money laundering and illegal economic activities to Elsa's fragile economy. Any Counterargument? Both Elsies in and out of the country will benefit from the Bitcoin Law. Elsies outside El Salvador can send more money through Chivo with no transaction fees. Meanwhile, Elsies in the country can now receive more- they get the total amount which initially had transaction fees subtracted from the paid amount. Everybody wins. El Salvador has two national currencies to choose from; if not Bitcoin, use the Dollar. Unless otherwise, neither is mandatory. Remittances into Elsa contribute to 16% on average of her annual GDP, with 2020 being 23%; this number should spike after her Bitcoin acceptance. The Dollar is currently diminishing in value because of the rapid inflation in the United States. At this point, it makes no sense for El Salvador to solely depend on the Dollar whose stimulus checks they aren't receiving, but instead, their inflation. Pros and Cons Pros Saves on remittance fees. With Bitcoin decentralized, there is no transaction intermediary; it should cost you nothing to send a Bitcoin to someone else. From this, Western Union and co. will lose $400 million per year in remittance commissions. After all, they weren't kidding when they said that blockchain is revolutionizing the entire fiscal industry. Testing the waters. Being a developing country, El Salvador has little to lose, so any tentative investment counts. From this, other governments in Latin America are watching how Elsa will capitalize on her crypto. Furthermore, President Nayib Bukele is a former businessman and a prominent investor; he knows a thing or two about where his money goes. Thank you, El Salvador, for taking one for the team. Let's see how your bet goes. Dollar Dissociation. El Salvador can still use the Dollar, but it's only a matter of time until it diminishes in value from inflation. It's for this reason, and others, that Bitcoin is an excellent inflationary hedge against fiat. Crypto Catalyst. El Salvador using Bitcoin is a colossal example of crypto going mainstream. More mass usage and acceptance of the currency will catalyze another bull run for the crypto market. A rare resource. A rare asset appreciates in value from less supply and more demand, and if you invest in it, your net worth grows. In this sense, Bitcoin is approaching its fixed supply of 21 million coins, making it rarer than it is. This dynamic will skyrocket BTC's price and raise El Salvador's GDP. (There's a con to this below- HODLing.) Cons Subject to volatility. It's a no-brainer that Bitcoin is heavily volatile, one reason the Elsies refuse it. High risk, high reward, or high loss. El Salvador will be a laughing stock if Bitcoin goes south like in 2018 when it plunged 70%, which I doubt will ever happen again. Cost of international relations. El Salvador accepting Bitcoin has severed her ties with the World Bank and the IMF, both crypto antagonists. It'll be difficult for Elsa to request loans from these bodies moving forward due to her aggressive investment. Government control. Since the El Salvador government owns Chivo, they can track people's transactions, automatically deduct payments, or freeze people's accounts in the worst-case scenario. The fear of privacy breaches exists here. HODLing. Bitcoin is more of an investment than it is an exchange medium. Once it appreciates, Elsies will most likely HODL their stakings, reducing monetary circulation and costing the economy. ***HODL in crypto means "Hold On for Dear Life." It's an intentional misspelling of HOLD, but it still means the same. My Recommendations The government should expand the internet to all of El Salvador for Bitcoin access. While it's a reach to instantly develop a developing country's infrastructure, still, the more people who can access the internet, the more widespread Bitcoin becomes in El Salvador. The government shouldn't YOLO its entire economy into Bitcoin. BTC is still speculative and has immense volatility, so the government should invest in it sparingly while holding sufficient cash in reserves. Financial institutions in El Salvador should help create bank accounts for unsupported citizens. Currently, 70% of El Salvador citizens have no bank accounts; a set-up bank account would help them convert their monies into Bitcoin and vice versa. Lastly, financial education is as vital as ever in a radically changing world. According to an institutional survey, 9 out of 10 El Salvadorans do not know what Bitcoin is. If they learn more about cryptocurrencies and how they operate, then they will have a more informed stance on the subject, whether or not they like it. Closing Thoughts A national government accepting Bitcoin is quite interesting, and it will continue being so for as long as it lasts. It will definitely save the country millions in remittance costs, but that's not enough to convince the innocent working class of El Salvador of its potential downsides. I think El Salvador pulled a good move with the coin adoption, and I pray that their bet pulls off. It can insanely help El Salvador's economy in the long run and potentially create room for foreign investment. If anything, President Nayib still has his knack for investing, so he sure knows where he is putting his money. To the rest of us, this was just a tiny dip along the way. Hopefully, we bought in. See you on the other side. ~Carerra, 2k21. What do you think? Do you think El Salvador did the right thing? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below. {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 RESEARCH AND CONSULT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISION.}

Background There's a lot of hype surrounding electric vehicles (EVs), with many currently under production. However, were it not for the global semi-conductor shortage plaguing over 169 US industries today, the EV sector would have certainly advanced well this year. Part of the White House's Build Back Agenda is a 50% target of Electric Vehicles Sales by 2030. The gear (no pun intended) turns to the EV and clean energy directions to achieve the 2030 Net-Zero Climate Objective. You also have the ambitious Zero Emissions Transport Association (ZETA) advocating for 100% EV sales by 2030, which is interesting. From the above, EV adoption will play a massive role in achieving zero carbon emissions by 2030. I pray this happens. The electric vehicle space is lighting up with big names such as Tesla, Volkswagen, NIO, Audi, just to name a few. However, there is one up-and-comer with a new industrial perspective that shouldn't be slept on. The name: Rivian. About Rivian Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Rivian is an electric automaker company that produces electric sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickups. Founded in 2009 by R.J Scaringe, Rivian is considered a startup for two reasons: it has only two makes; the R1S SUV (above) and its flagship R1T Pickup Truck (below), and it's relatively new compared to vets like General Motors, Ford, and Tesla. Rivian specs Rivian Commonalities Both the R1T and the R1S have a cool glossy metallic outlook appealing to the eye- the kind that screams, "this is electric!" From the pics, you can also tell how low the car is. From a physics perspective, its center of gravity (CoG) is deliberately low to minimize rollovers in case of an accident- a reasonable argument. Rivian also has an optional transparent panoramic roof etched atop the vehicle. This clear roof gives a beautiful oversight view of mother nature above who looks down below at human beings in the car. Even sweeter is seeing the overarching tree branches above. Imagine if it rained. :D (The mini-video is from Rivian.com/R1S) Rivian vehicles have a Driver+ feature. Driver+ is a hands-free driver assistant that automatically controls the car as per your preference; braking, accelerating, or turning a corner, without you touching the steering wheel, like Tesla's autopilot. Some caution, though; it doesn't warrant you taking your eyes off the road or losing concentration. That said, it won't allow you to use your phone just because you're technically not driving the car anymore. There's a driver-focused camera monitoring your concentration, alerting you to hold the steering wheel when needed...even with Driver+. Rivian also has internet accessibility. The vehicle has Wi-Fi plus 4G connectivity to keep you connected on your trek. Attached to the car's internet are Amazon Alexa and Echo, your vehicular assistants. Do they have Siri and Google Assistant, though? It'd be sick if they did. :) Wireless charging, too, exists for those who forgot their chargers at home. Furthermore, the Rivian developers automatically update the vehicle system at no extra cost. In performance, Rivian is pretty powerful. 0-60 mph in three seconds for a truck is quite impressive- just like a sportscar. Add that it's a quad motor, and I concede that Rivian is truly meant for adventure. R1T Pickup Truck I'm not a pickup fan, but the R1T amuses me greatly. Rivian was created for the adventurous ride and abandoning the highway norm, venturing into the unknown piles of earth. The Rivian R1T is that vehicle that will have you quitting your home just to live in the car. The interior is no less flashy. The R1T has an ash-wood on the front surround and smudge-and-stain resistant vegan leather seats and headliners. You could literally walk in with muddy shoes, rinse off the carpets in five minutes, and they'd still look brand new. Seriously though, don't do that- walking into a car with dirty shoes. Additionally, the R1T is so electric that after unlocking the vehicle, your driver profile automatically adjusts the steering wheel and your seating position to your comfort level. The seats (and the steering wheel) also have optional heating and cooling options depending on the driver's liking. Even for an EV, this is top-notch. The rear passengers also have their mini-display to access. Through that, they can adjust their sides' temperatures; left, right, front, or back. That way, it's not only the driver who decides the car's temperature. :) Rivian was built for adventures, so anyone can bring all they want to the trip. Consciously built for space, the R1T has 68 cubic feet of storage volume within the truck. Rivian's skateboard platform has the engine, chassis, and drivetrain at the bottom of the vehicle, creating space for a front trunk for you to pack your essentials. There is also a gear tunnel behind the rear doors, above the rear wheels, and across the truck's width- it allows you to pack longer items such as skis, rods, etc. Suppose you plan to cook during your trip. In that case, the gear tunnel has a camp kitchen- a pull-able mini-kitchen in which to stack your utensils and ingredients and cook up a delightful meal thereafter. The Rivian R1T has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds (~5,000 kgs) or one elephant. There are currently three packages of the R1T: the Limited Launch Edition (fully reserved), the Adventure Package ($73,000), and the Explore Package ($67,500). The Adventure and Explore Packages begin their deliveries in 2022. R1S SUV I like the SUV more than the pickup- I don't fancy pickups much. The R1S' maximum towing capacity is 7700 pounds (~3492.66 kgs)- that's pulling a rhino and a hippo together. It's a seven-seater vehicle with 108 cubic feet of storage within. The Rivian R1S also has a height adjustment feature that adjusts the vehicle height when needed. The max height is 14.2 inches for climbing hilly and rocky terrain, and the lowest is 8.1 inches to help you unpack. Pretty cool feature, if I do say so myself. Why is Rivian a big deal? Rivian, I believe, will be a big deal in the automotive industry for a couple of reasons. Rivian prides itself on its unique quad-motor skateboard platform. The skateboard platform is the basis of the Rivian vehicle; it contains the chassis, drivetrain, gears, thermals, axles, and the entire engine. These components are below the wheel level, accounting for the vehicle's massive storage space and low CoG, giving the car better traction and driver control. The Rivian skateboard platform attracted a $500 million investment from Ford who want to build their next vehicle using it. Other companies investing in the platform include Amazon for their delivery vehicles, and vehicle brands such as Canoo, Lincoln, and Kia. Amazon invested $700 million into Rivian as it plans to own 100,000 EVs for its delivery services by 2030, achieving the climate goal. This Amazon-Rivian investment is a massive dig at Tesla in two ways; Tesla has to rival Rivian in the EV industry while the Musk and Bezos billionaire feud lives on. Rivian IPO: My thoughts. IPO stands for Initial Public Offering. This is when a company files to stop being private and start trading on the stock market. You can learn more about it here. At the time of this writing, Rivian filed to go public, and it will take a few weeks to get listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). I predict its ticker symbol as either "RVAN," "RVN," or "RIVN." Rivian is one of the well-most funded startups in the United States, seeking a total valuation of $80 billion pre-IPO. I'm predicting a $70-$140 IPO price range on Rivian's debut. It's crazy yet amusing that a company yet to make any vehicle deliveries has a higher valuation than Ford's and GM's market caps. Rivian vs. Tesla: Who would win? Tesla...by miles. Tesla is too far out established to be rivaled by existing car companies, let alone a startup. At this writing, Tesla's market cap is $725 billion, making it the 7th largest company worldwide and the most significant automaker. Rivian has only the R1T and the R1S; Tesla has more than a dozen makes; the Model Y, Model X, Model S, the Plaid, Roadster, and of course, the Cybertruck. Tesla has established charging stations all over the US which other car companies use to charge their cars. If anything, Tesla has the most extensive supercharging network worldwide. Rivian is currently situated in the US whereas Tesla is seriously ramping up its global production scale- the US, India, China, and Germany are few examples. On a company level, Rivian is focusing on EVs. Tesla is a clean energy company, diversifying into EVs, solar panels, batteries, and funnily enough, the Tesla Bot. It's understandable that Rivian is making strides into the EV network and that Tesla's run-up inspired their IPO. Still, it's too soon to call it a two-horse race with Elon's toy. My closing thoughts about Rivian. It's an excellent company. It's well funded, strategically developed, and has come at the right time when electric vehicles are becoming mainstream. For Rivian being high occupancy vehicles (HOVs), electrifying them is terrific, innovative, and a step-up towards the traditional trucking system. I'd consider an R1S if I were that interested in the brand. Of course, I'm attracted to SUVs as compared to pickup trucks, but even the R1T is quite impressive by its own standards. Rivian is reimagining adventure and excursion, and it's revitalizing that through the electric truck. It will be interesting to see how Rivian impacts the pick-up industry dominated by the Ford F-150s and the Toyota Tacomas. Still, for Tesla, Elon won't take it hands down. We'll see. Sincerely, ~Carerra, 2k21. What do you think about Rivian? Do you think it's a good company? Do you think they'll rival Tesla? Let me know in the comments below.

An appreciation post dedicated to Andrei Jikh- a Millennial Finance YouTuber and Magician. Background Investing entails due diligence (DD)- your investment research, and today, the DD resources include news, articles, media, conversations, etc. One popular information resource today is YouTube, where YouTubers create content on different topics, especially finance. However, there's one YouTuber with eye-catching content, knowledgeable of money, and stunning videography altogether. He puts effort into his vids which attract you to what he says and how he says it. The best part about him is that he's a millennial- someone many youths would relate to. His name, Andrei Jikh. Who is Andrei? Andrei Jikh, 32, is a RussiAmerican finance YouTuber and investor, and it's on his channel, Andrei Jikh - YouTube, that he talks about personal finance, financial minimalism, and investing. Andrei is also a reputable cardistry magician (Cardistry = magic of cards.) He blends financial literacy with magic in a mix that trademarks his videos, making them enjoyable and worth watching. "Hi! My name's Andrei Jikh, hope you're doing well! Come for the finance and stay for the magic!" Andrei's Story Beginnings Andrei immigrated to the US at age nine. He grew up in a circus family with his parents performing gigs worldwide before settling in Las Vegas, Nevada. From his family's circus careers, he fancied cardistry, mastering it for twenty-one years. Andrei attended the University of Las Vegas- Nevada but didn't graduate. Instead, his magic opened paths for him as he became a freelance cardistry specialist for entertainment firms in Las Vegas. The hit of his magical career arrived when he became the Lead Cardistry Consultant in the build-up of the movie "Now You See Me 2." You can check his recreation here. Investing Journey Andrei's journey was typically not easy. His cardistry job earned him roughly $50,000 a year. Unfortunately, the devastating 2008 Financial Crisis wrecked the people's finances globally, unsparing Andrei's parents. Despite their successful circus careers, they struggled to make ends meet and cover their daily expenses. This mishap broke and inspired Andrei- broken because he didn't like seeing his parents striving for the bare minimum and encouraged because he never again wanted to worry about money. Thus, at 19, Andrei started investing for passive income. Investing Philosophy A believer in financial minimalism, Andrei encourages making as much as possible, setting aside expenses, and investing the difference, not to mention cutting down unnecessary costs and living below your means. Eight years into his career, Andrei saved $150,000, which he Buffet-esque invested into high-value dividend growth stocks, and that was partly a gamechanger for him. Andrei reputes this strategy as a dividend investor whose dividends help pay for his expenses. His favorite stocks? Broad Market Index Funds like the Vanguard Total Market Index Fund (VTI) and the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VOO) simply because, long-term, "the market always goes up." Notably, Andrei is also a cryptocurrency explorer and a bullish one too. He has some positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Omi, surmounting to $1.4 million currently. Interestingly enough, Andrei first engaged with Bitcoin in 2014 when he bought six Bitcoins at $300 and sold them at $500 to buy a drone- a weird opportunity cost. What is Andrei's favorite investment? It's not index funds, not dividend stocks, and not Bitcoin. Andrei's favorite investments are Pokemon Cards- his speculative $200,000 investment. These cards are somewhat complicated as not everyone is a Pokemon fan, so evaluating the cards is mind-boggling. Still, for the Pokemon community of which Andrei is part, these collectibles are highly-valued. Hence, you have a community of Pokemon fanatics who share their likings for these assets. YouTube You can't talk of Andrei without mentioning YouTube. Andrei took the leap of faith in January 2019 by quitting his job and starting his YouTube channel after saving enough to invest aggressively. Via YouTube, Andrei publicly keeps himself accountable and shares his investment tidbits with the world to see. What's scary is that he had no backup plan if YouTube sank, so he had no option but to go all-in. Andrei spent the first six months perfecting his content that had less engagement than today's, but after that, the big bucks came out. Two years later, Andrei's channel has 1.75 million subscribers, with 130 million views total. His YouTube earnings have hit $1.3 million and counting, and it's YouTube that funds his investments and expenses- nice catch. When does Andrei release his videos? I'll see you back here on Mondays and Fridays, sometimes on Wednesdays. I'll see you soon, bye-bye! When did Andrei become a millionaire? Andrei joined the millionaire's club between late 2019 and mid-2020, thanks to YouTube and his investments, among other mini-ventures. As of October 2021, Andrei's net worth is approximately $3.5 million. Andrei Jikh today Andrei currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continues his magic and YouTubing while also bonding with fellow investors Meet Kevin, Graham Stephan, and Jeremy Lefebvre- all who star in their hit podcast, Millennial Money. Why does Andrei inspire you? To me, Andrei is that big brother I never had. He's funny, creative, yet reasonable and rational, and an impressive magician too. He is also transparent; he has no courses, ebooks, or subscriptions to sell and instead wants to provide edutainment. This approach is fair enough as he too fell victim to other financial gurus with their courses with get-rich-quick schemes that guaranteed zero returns. Also, considering Russia's cold relationship with the US, being a Russian immigrant, Andrei started from the bottom, and I admire that about him. On age, Andrei is a millennial, and I'm a Gen-Z; it's cool to learn from someone just eleven years older than I am. Talentwise, I like how he includes his cardistry niche into his videos, especially on finance ones. Although his cardistry is something I'd take a considerable while learning, it motivates me to perfect my piano even more, so there's a niche for each of us. My biggest takeaways from Andrei Jikh are financial minimalism, frugalism, and the power of dividend investing, and I've started incorporating these practices into my personal investing cycle. Closing Dear Andrei, One day, God willing, I'll meet you. Until then, I'll be working hard to replicate your success. Keep up the great job with YouTube! Until then, see you on the other side. Sincerely, ~Carerra, 2k21.