Jekyll and GitHub Pages

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they are easy.”

First Post

So I just made a blog using Github Pages and Jekyll. This was my first time using Github, but I think I’ve gotten the gist of it. As a somewhat newbie at coding, I did definitely face a ton of challenges. Besides learning how to use github, understanding the purpose of a lot of these files was one thing I had to solve. The _config.yml file, for example, played a crucial role in configuring my entire site. It took some trial and error to get everything just right, but it was rewarding when I saw my changes come to life on the site. No doubt that watching tutorials, reading the documentation, and learning from the web really does help.

I am definitely somewhat happy with the end product, but I think it would be cool to add a comments section or a gallery page to share my work. We’ll see. Hopefully the time spent making this site proves to be worth it.

My key takeaway from working with Jekyll is that it’s a powerful and flexible static site generator that streamlines the process of building and maintaining a blog or website. It is so easy to make a new post so that’ll be convenient for the future. While there were some initial challenges, the learning curve was well worth it. Jekyll’s simplicity and the ability to write content in Markdown made it an ideal choice for my blog, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make their own personal website.

Summer So Far

Summer has been so fun yet very productive. I am usually out volunteering at my local library, hanging with friends, or just studying. I have also gotten the chance to focus more on fencing tournaments and art. Speaking of which, I have gotten so good at doing at henna, proving practice really does make perfect.

One of the cool things I got to work on this summer was research for my local science museum. For months, we worked hard on an experiment for Cubes in Space, focusing on the effects ultraviolet radiation would potentially have on radio frequency transceivers and light sensors. Out of hundreds of teams internationally, my team was actually one of the few who got selected. That means NASA will actually launch our experiment into space this summer! Pretty exciting am I right.

Speaking of space, I had a once in a lifetime encounter with greatness when I met Apollo astronaut Fred Haise! It’s so surreal even now, and getting to hear his incredible story has definitely inspired me. A memory I’ll cherish forever.

Moving on from space, I got to go to Louisville, Kentucky for a national data science competition. It was so nice meeting so many people from all across the country. Though I placed 5th place, the experience was invaluable, and I’m already planning to crush it next year.

The picture you see above was actually from a leadership camp I attended a couple weeks ago. I was very hesitant to go, but I am so glad I did. I got to make so many memories and inside jokes like debating duo character one (it’s a long story) So much more has happened this summer, but that’s a story for another day.

As the summer days draw to a close, I can’t help but feel like I didn’t fully maximize the time I had. I don’t want summer to end, but I might as well enjoy these last weeks.

Future Plans

I would like to post blogs on STEM topics like data science or machine learning, considering the classes I am taking and the industry I wish to pursue.

But hey, let’s talk about the real deal haha – junior year. It comes with its fair share of pressure, with AP courses and extracurriculars. As I navigate through this year at the brink of survival, I’ll be sharing my experiences, challenges, and how I overcome them.

Here’s a mantra I’ll carry with me: True growth comes from self-driven change, not from external pressures. So, while I face challenges and keep pushing forward, I’ll always remember that every hurdle is an opportunity to become a skilled sailor, Roosevelt reference. Success and accomplishments are not products of luck alone but require consistent perseverance, effort, and focus.

But yeah, that’s all I have for today. Have a great evening!