Update a-day-in-the-life-swe-wafflehacks-organizer.mdx

blogs/a-day-in-the-life-swe-wafflehacks-organizer.mdx

@@ -13,90 +13,76 @@ _Our "A Day in the Life" series is an inside view into what it’s like working
 
 _In the first issue, we are featuring Miracle Awonuga (she/her), a recent graduate of Belmont University's data science program (first black woman to do so), organizer at WaffleHacks, and a Codédex project tutorial. Enjoy!_
 
-##### Howdy Miracle! Tell us a bit about yourself.
+##### Hiii Miracle! Tell us a bit about yourself.
 
-Hey, I’m Brandon! I’m a Software Engineering Intern at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and an incoming junior at the University of Minnesota studying Computer Science. In my free time, I play strategy games like [Teamfight Tactics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teamfight_Tactics) (TFT) and [Hearthstone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearthstone). I met the Codédex team at HackNYU and loved the platform. Nice to meet you guys!
+Hello everyone! My name is Miracle Awonuga. I was born and raised in Antioch, TN, a city 30 minutes southeast of Nashville. I am a proud first generation Nigerian-American. I recently graduated from Belmont University in Nashville with a data science degree. I am the first Black woman to achieve this in the university’s history. I am the former co-Director of People and Communications at [WaffleHacks](https://wafflehacks.org), where I fostered relationships with our sponsors, partners, and community members. 
 
-Fun fact: I’ve peaked top 100 in North America in both games. 🙂
+In my free time, I like to play piano, do nail art, and watch video essays!
 
-##### What do you do at NASA?
+##### What are you currently up to? 
 
-I’m a SWE Intern at [NASA Glenn Research Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Research_Center) in Cleveland, OH, updating and testing an inventory management site this summer. The internship is two months — from June 5th to August 11th. I’m mainly doing fullstack web development using [Spring Boot](https://spring.io/projects/spring-boot), [JavaScript](https://www.codedex.io/javascript), [Node.js](https://nodejs.org), and [MySQL](https://www.mysql.com).
+I am getting ready to start grad school! I will be working towards my Masters in Data Science at Middle Tennessee State University located in Murfreesboro, TN. 
 
-![Brandon in front of the NASA Glenn Research Center Lewis Field](https://imgur.com/s8hm0mU.png)
-
-##### How did you get the internship?
+<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RgoX-bwu4g4?si=nYAbxBbAVly4PGpL" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
-I applied last December on [intern.nasa.gov](intern.nasa.gov) and got a a call in March from my current mentor, Nancy. She was interested in my background and thought that I would be a good fit. She also mentioned she was judging for a NASA high school competition in my area and wondered if I’d like to help judge the event the next day. It was an opportunity to talk more about the position.
+![Brandon in front of the NASA Glenn Research Center Lewis Field](https://imgur.com/s8hm0mU.png)
 
-So the next day, I skipped school and went. Upon arriving, I felt terrified, seeing that the other judges were three NASA employees plus myself. However, the event turned out to be fantastic, and I received valuable advice from the judges. Moreover, I had the opportunity to network with them, and as a result, I was later accepted into my internship! 
+##### How did you end up choosing Data Science as your major?
 
-##### So now you are there... What are the best aspects of working as a NASA intern?
+Fun fact: I started college as a computer science major! I realized the spring of my freshman year that computer was not for me while struggling through an exam for my Programming I class. I felt like computer science limited my ability to pursue all of my passions and be creative. I heard a voice whisper inside of me begging me to consider switching to data science. 
 
-Definitely the incredible people I get to work with on a daily basis. The diversity of expertise and backgrounds of the workers here is unlike anywhere else! I’ve had the privilege to meet people working on all types of projects, such as sending a plant to the moon, improving satellite communications, researching [aerogels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogel), and creating an email newsletter.
+After doing research and checking out what Belmont had to offer with the field, I knew I had to switch my major. Making the switch to data science is one of the top 5 best decisions I’ve made because I have more resources and skills to pursue my passions in ways I never thought were possible.
 
-In addition, you can get lots of tours at the facility. Some of my favorite places have been:
+##### Why did you choose to study data science at Belmont, and how has it set you up for your graduate studies at MTSU?
 
-- Exercise Countermeasure Lab: Astronauts lose 1% bone mass every month in space, so NASA has special workout equipment created to ensure they stay in shape while on the [ISS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station). Astronauts in space have to work out for 4 hours each day!
-- My roommate’s chemistry lab: The microscope they use is ~20 years old, so the only way for them to retrieve data from it is to use a computer running [Windows 98](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_98). When I asked why they haven’t upgraded, they said, “It still works, why upgrade?” 
+This is one of my favorite questions in the world. I chose to study data science at Belmont because of how personalized the program can be. During my undergrad, I focused on the intersectionality of tech, education policy, and digital media, and I was able to successfully incorporate all of those areas in my course of study. The program is always finding ways to collaborate with other departments at the university and the community, so there are ample opportunities to apply the skills you learn inside the classroom. Additionally, I love the non-competitive nature of STEM in general at Belmont. Everyone there wants you to succeed, and they will do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Having such a strong foundation during undergrad has made me excited about my grad school journey at MTSU because I don’t have to worry about trying to figure out what I want to do. Instead, I get to focus on expanding my expertise.
 
 ##### What does a typical work day look like?
 
-My typical work day is no different than any other typical SWE. I get to the office every morning and check my emails. After that, I check to see if I have any meetings for the day and then get to work. Work consists of coding, attending meetings, demoing the website, and writing documentation.
+During my last semester of undergrad, my days were pretty busy. However, I always started it with a slow morning. This would include listening to NPR’s [Morning Edition](https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition) podcast, eating breakfast, and taking my time to get ready for the day. 
 
-There're also lots of workshops offered onsite that I try to attend and my mentor really encourages networking and attending these since that’s really what the internship is about.
+After that, I would have class from 11am - 3:30pm. Some of my favorite classes from this time include Computing for Scientific Research, Data Science Project/Portfolio, the Belmont University x Fisk University Social Justice Collaborative class, and Podcasting. After classes ended for the day, I would go back to my campus apartment, eat lunch, and work on my senior project. I would either work on improving my predictive models, coding through interviews I had with experts, or working on my presentation/paper. 
+
+In the evenings, I can be found either attending leadership meetings for the different student organizations I was part of or spending time with my friends or roommates. Finally, I end my day with a call with my mom.
 
 ![Intern Group Pic](https://imgur.com/9gVkLA3.png)
 <div style={{textAlign: "center"}}>(Me and other NASA interns after Barbenheimer!)</div>
 
-##### Barbie or Oppenheimer? :)
+##### Favorite data science framework
 
-Ooh, I'm gonna have to say Barbie. Oppenheimer was so interesting, but 3 hours is ROUGH.
+Plotly is my pride and joy. It is my favorite tool for data visualization. Plotly makes it simple to understand your data, which makes finding insights a quick and easy process.
 
 ##### Do you have any tips for younger students?
 
-Get out there and get involved! This can be anything from joining a student organization, attending hackathons, or creating your own personal projects. 
-
-NASA Glenn received 12,000 applicants this year, and only 162 interns got accepted. Every intern I've met here has been insanely talented, sharing one common trait: the ability to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom in the real world.
+LinkedIn Learning has been my go-to in helping me freshen up my data science skills! There are so many courses that cater to your needs and meets you at your skill level. If you are in the US, check to see if your local library gives patrons free access to their library.
 
-If you’re interested in attending a hackathon, sign up for the [Space Apps Challenge](https://www.spaceappschallenge.org).
+And Codédex of course! I wrote the [Analyze YouTube Data with Plotly Express](https://www.codedex.io/projects/visualize-youtube-data-with-plotl) that you should check out.
 
 ##### What’s a personal project that you're proud of?
 
-The personal project that I’m the proudest of would have to be my TFT Simulator. In [TFT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teamfight_Tactics), there are lots of luck and chance involved. At the time, there was a debate that was rather 50/50 on the correct decision in the game. So I decided to solve it by using code.
+A personal project I am really proud of is my senior project, [Oh, To Be a Scholar!](https://github.com/mawonuga121/ohtobeascholar) This was my senior project at Belmont. I created an interactive data science research exhibit that explored whether or not the type of school you attend affects your ability to be a college bound scholar. This one is my absolute favorite because I was able to bring together my life experiences, Belmont education, and undergraduate research into one big project. I was so satisfied with how it turned out. 
 
-After spending three days researching the math, and learning how to write the code for it, since my numbers kept hitting [integer overflow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integer_overflow). Behind my program, there were 12 different variables and calculations up to 120! (factorial). By the end of the project, I was able to form a conclusion on what the correct play was (both options were correct at the end).
-
-This was my first ever personal project and really when CS clicked for me. Having the ability to apply my knowledge from school and create something useful was so cool! 💡
+An accomplishment I am really proud of is being the first Black woman to graduate from Belmont’s data science program. Representation matters so much to me, so being able to show all the Black and brown women who will eventually come through this program that they can do it is so meaningful to me.
 
-##### What inspired you to go for a NASA internship?
+##### What's your dream job?
 
-My parents are by far my biggest inspiration for me dreaming big. Growing up, my parents both worked 6 days a week, 10 hours a day, to provide for me and my sister, and I am very thankful for them. Their hard work is what motivates me to work so hard. 
+My dream job is doing research or consulting in education policy! My research during undergrad focused on education policy, specifically urban education and higher ed.  There is a huge need for data scientists in this field, especially for making policy decisions for students of color and teachers.  
 
 As for NASA, I mean, who doesn’t want to work for NASA? It’s NASA! 
 
-![The cover of AeroSpace Frontiers (July 2023)](https://imgur.com/9V0N3wK.png)
-<div style={{textAlign: "center"}}>(I’m also a NASA supermodel! Me on the cover of our [monthly magazine](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ps-03787-07_af_july_2023_508v2.pdf).)</div>
+<iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/44dCgxTrwyVRb9l0inyQv9?utm_source=generator&theme=0" width="100%" height="152" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe>
 
-##### How do you top NASA... What’s your dream job?
+##### Who or what inspired you to get into coding / computer science/ data science?
 
-It’s hard to say what my dream job is. I’m 19 and in my first two years of college, I changed my major four times. So I’m a rather indecisive person. That being said, I’m just gonna go with the flow and hopefully I’ll end up at my dream job one day!
+The person who inspired me to take data science seriously is the one and only Dr. Christina Davis, the Director of Data Science over at Belmont! She is one of my favorite people in the world. Dr. Davis pushed me to dream big about the application of my data science skills. Meeting another female data scientist really helped me believe that I have a place in the field.
 
 ##### What's been your biggest challenge?
 
-By far the biggest challenge I’ve faced would just be imposter syndrome. I wrote my first line of code two years ago, and during the second week of class when I asked a question, some guy scoffed at me, “This is so easy, how come you can’t do it?”
-
-When it comes to school, I’m not the smartest guy. I’ve dropped Physics three times, I almost failed one of my core CS classes, and I always feel behind compared to my peers.
-
-Despite that, after gaining some work experience and getting better at coding, what I have to say is: you’re only really applying about 15% of what you learn in class at work. In addition, comparison is the thief of joy, and as long as I’m enjoying my time learning how to code and creating projects, why should anyone else's opinion matter? 
+My biggest challenge in getting to where I am today is the lack of representation. As of now, there are only 4.2% Black professionals in the field. It is hard navigating through a field where I do not see people who look like me/share similar experiences as me because it makes me question the validity of my projects since my work primarily focuses on historically excluded communities. It also makes me question if I should even be in data science. Why would I be in an industry that no one like me is barely in? However, I am grateful to have the opportunity to pave the way for the next generation of Black data scientists through my contributions to the field so far.
 
 ##### Any last thoughts?
 
-Learning how to code is so unbelievably intimidating. The best way to learn how to code is to get out there and make something you’re interested in. Codédex is an amazing platform and community to start your coding journey, and I love the work that the team is doing to gamify and ease beginners into programming.
-
-If your goal one day is to work at NASA or as a software engineer, my one piece of advice is to never stop dreaming. Growing up, NASA has always been a dream of mine to work at (pic below) and as a result, I pursued my interests and honed my skills to get to where I am today. The experience of working at NASA has truly been out of this world.
-
-Never stop dreaming! 🧑‍🚀
+The world needs your work! It needs your ideas and your passions! Always remember that there are people willing to make space for you and support you throughout your journey x
 
 ![Brandon back in the day](https://imgur.com/Zbt1EAr.png)
 ---
@@ -105,8 +91,8 @@ _Check out Brandon’s personal portfolio site: ​​​​[www.blam.dev](https
 
 _If you’ve got a story and want to share it with our community, let us know. We’d love to feature your coding journey._
 
-##### Keep up with Brandon!
+##### Keep up with Miracle!
 
-- GitHub: [github.com/brandon-nguyen-lam](https://www.github.com/brandon-nguyen-lam)
-- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/brandon-nguyen-lam](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-nguyen-lam)
-- Codédex: [codedex.io/@blam](https://www.codedex.io/@blam)
+- GitHub: [github.com/mawongua121](https://www.github.com/mawonuga121)
+- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/miracleawonuga](https://www.linkedin.com/in/miracleawonuga)
+- Codédex: [codedex.io/@miracle](https://www.codedex.io/@miracle)