shamdasani.org
2019: Year in Review
It's been an incredible decade. Here's to the next.
Welcome to the 2019 Annual Report
What a decade. Where do I even start?
Well, I just finished my first semester at Michigan. It's been an amazing four months. I've met so many talented people, learned a ton, and experienced part of all that college has to offer.
Although I've missed my family and friends from back home, I've also enjoyed college life. While the food is alright and the dorms aren't nothing like home, the new experiences and friends make up for it!
But to be honest, I still just can't believe it. I'm 18, officially an adult. Everything's flying by.
Here are some metrics over the past year:
599 miles run
I only recieved my GPS watch halfway throughout the year, so this doesn't speak for all my mileage! My total elevation gain was 25, 908 ft. (.9 of Mt. Everest!), which is pretty cool to look back at.
142 tweets
with 82k impressions and hundreds of engagements
8 instagram posts
#influencer
37,337 minutes listened on spotify
I share my account with my sister (sooo can't share my "top" artists here...)
5 books read
(Meditiations, When Breath Becomes Air, How to Win Friends, 12 Rules for Life, Sapiens) I've invested my time in many blogs and podcasts, but did some reading too. I'd like to focus on reading more in 2020 (1 book/month).
365 journal entries
This was my first year journalling! I'm so glad I did it and will countinue to do so. I started in October 2018 (early in my Senior year) on a Google Doc, but transitioned to a physical journal shortly thereafter.
Let's break it down
January 2019
Symposium Presentation
12th grade presentation at my cultural school: From the "self" to the "SELF"
February 2019
Ended shoveling business
Since I was in the 7th grade, I've been shoveling driveways with friends — earning anywhere from a couple hundred to a thousand every season. It's how I bought my drone, computer, and camera! I won't be able to continue as I'll be in college every winter for the next four years.
April 2019
Directed the largest high-school hackathon in the tri-state area: MakeSPP 2.0
120+ students, 20+ mentors, raised $8k+ (https://makespp.com)
Commited to college
I committed to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor on April 12th, 2019.
I was absolutely ecstatic to find out that no-one had claimed the uniqname "samay". Shoot me an email sometime! :) samay@umich.edu
Visited Michigan
Wrapped up track szn (and high school running career)
Mime
Participated in my cultural school's mime show on Mahatma Gandhi.
Prom
May 2019
Parents threw me a suprise birthday / grad party (May 17th, 2019)
Graduated high school (May 23rd, 2019)
June 2019
Graduated cultural school
Intern @ DataCamp in NYC
Software Engineer on the Growth Team (June - August). Worked at Empire State & World Trade Offices!
July 2019
Attended summer camp at my cultural school
August 2019
Counselor @ Northeast Kingdom Running Camp in Vermont
Made this sick video.
Going away to college :(
Moved in to college on August 28th, 2019
September 2019
Welcome Week
"College"
Here's a couple friends and I with the president of Michigan, Mark Schlissel!
First Football Game: Michigan vs Army
110,000 people packed in one stadium is one exhilarating experience.
Ran my first collegiate 8k race.
29:09 for 5 miles (~5:50 pace)
October 2019
Michigan Business Challenge w/ Jason, Varun, & Sean
We got cut the second round. Our idea was a data platform to centralize data sources and manipulation pipelines (esp. at startups).
November 2019
IASA Dance Show
Thanksgiving w/ fam
December 2019
Survived my first semester
- ENGR 151: Intermediate Computer Programming in C++
- COGSCI 200: Intro to Cognitive Science
- PHYSICS 140: Mechanics
- MATH 215: Multivariable Caluculus
It was tough, but a fun semester!
Holidays
There's nothing like being home for the holidays.
What's next
2020 Goals
- Write more. At least 12 blog posts (one / month)
- Vlog college experience. Make a few (2-4) videos every month.
- Work out every day — no matter what. (Run, gym, body weight...)
- Make at least 30 minutes every day for personal time — meditation, reading, etc.
- Bootstrap a small, lifestyle business to bring in passive income