Reflections to Start the New Year

January 15, 2024

Odd years have always been auspicious for me and last year was no exception. I had the good fortune to engage in some incredibly interesting research at one of the world’s premier research universities, I was able to develop cutting edge simulation capabilities with Dassault Systemes resulting in my first patent application, and I got engaged to the woman of my dreams. Quite the eventful year! Although I am quite proud of all that I have accomplished, I have never been one to rest on my laurels and, as such, my primary focus is on continuing the momentum I have built into the new year.

All that I have worked towards (professionally) last year and, in some ways, my entire adult life comes to a head this year. At this point, I have four papers in the works yet not a single publication in my name (as of writing this post). This year, I intend on changing this, preferably multiple times over. Furthermore, I intend on graduating from my MS program and (officially) continuing on for my PhD this year, which will require me to both finish a short Master’s thesis and, more critically, secure funding. This second point is of critical importance and is much more complex for me than it may seem at face value. In fact, any positive update on that point going forward will likely merit its own celebratory post. For now, I can only hope and pray that the things I have worked so hard to make happen over the past few years bear the fruit I always dreamed they could. I know I’ll get grief for being corny, but these lines from one of my favorite artists have always come to mind while working so hard for a payoff that at times seems so uncertain

”Something dimly lights the way, Violent faith in better days, Hallelujah…”

Good things to come - either very soon, or not too long after

-TJC... ixi