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Four Years of Maths
I chose to study maths at university without having the faintest idea of what that meant. And after four years of studying it, I have even less of an idea! We all ended up in the melting pot that is London, studying a course which had no Lecturecast or TurnItIn – we might as well have been studying in the previous century! But with just a few scribbles across a whiteboard (or chalk if you were lucky!), I learnt some of the most beautiful of abstract concepts from the most incredible of minds. Roaming around London (and Paris) To say its been a smooth ride is a lie. I faltered…
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Designing ZNotes Live
I can’t do justice in words to what we’ve all been through but it’s safe to say that the world as we know it, has completely transformed. And with all the heartbreaking losses and challenges we’ve all faced, many new things have emerged and the status quo has been changed. One thing that struck me, although it always has been present, is the amazing energy one could feel at live events. With the lock-down in place, attending live concerts and events with hundreds of thousands of people around the world felt like I was a part of something much bigger than the laptop screen and my flat in London. Another…
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Developing a Platform on a Shoestring Budget
It. Was. Hard. To quote Hamilton, I had “to beg, steal, borrow, or barter” to bring my vision to reality. And I made many, many mistakes along the way. So if you are setting off or have just started the journey of trying to build some kind of platform or website, here are a few things I learnt the hard way and I’d like to share. What can you do yourself? Whether you consider yourself a programmer or not, there is a whole lot of stuff you can and need to do for this to be a successful endeavour. Before you even get started, indulge me by considering these fundamental…
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The Reunion #XJP
I am writing because it is the only way to describe the feelings of absolute elation and joy I am consumed with at this moment. COVID-19 has raked havoc across every global and local system. And yet, it has resulted in some of the most beautiful acts of humanity, reflection and re-connection. In the most unprecedented way, I was able to speak to some of my oldest friends as we spanned time-zones from the West Coast to the Middle East. Some of these friends I haven’t heard from or spoken to in over 5 years. And yet, in a single Zoom meeting room, all feelings of intimidation and shyness dissolved…
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An Open Letter to Students Worldwide
Dear freaked-out student, Hi – it’s me, a freaked-out human too. At this moment, we are probably living in the most remarkable and craziest of times that the world has seen in probably a good while. Every structure and foundation that seemed unshakable concrete has begun to fragment and sway. Never before have we been so connected and informed in a catastrophe of a global scale. Many of you will be unable to attend classes and lectures due to lock-downs and social distancing. It is imperative for us to be supporting our community and the healthcare systems by behaving sensibly and not leaving our homes where not necessary. However, it…
