Ekaterina’s Introduction
A little bit about me
Hi, my name is Ekaterina! I am from Illinois, but I briefly lived in Russia as a young child. I am currently a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Data Science and minoring in Russian Studies.
My hobbies and interests
In my freetime I like to:
- Go on walks
- Watch anime
- Listen to music
- Play D&D
- Play videogames
- Bake
Why Data Science?
As a high schooler trying to figure out what to do with their life, I contemplated the list of majors I could pursue. I had never heard of data science before. When I googled it, I saw a world of possibiliies open up before me. In today’s world there is data on everything and it’s used in every industry. I was particularly intrigued by data science as a tool in government. Passionate about helping the government make informed decisions and helping people, I chose to pursue DS!
Why Russian Studies?
Initially, I never planned to take Russian course at ISU. After trying out the film studies class as an elective I decided to pursue a minor in Russian studies. It would help me connect to my culture and hone my language skills. More than that, Russian is a critical language with importance in global affairs. As someone who wants to work in the government, knowing the language and culture of a politically significant nation felt natural.
At Data Science for the Public Good
What I knew going in:
- The languages I have used before: R, Python, Java
- Data visualization using ggplot2 or matplotlib
- Basic data analysis using dplyr or pandas
- Some machine learning models (kNN, Regression, Naive Bayes, etc.)
What I hope to know coming out:
- How to use a dashboarding software (like Tableau)
- The process of working on a long-term project
- How to work with stakeholders in mind
- How to be a Python whiz
- The basics of SQL
What I will do to achieve this:
- I plan to utilize DataCamp to the fullest
- Watch some nerdy YouTube videos
- Connect with my mentor at Casey’s
- Work diligently on my project for the next 9 weeks
One last fun fact about me
I play clarinet and saxophone (for jazz). Over the course of my life I have at least tried playing piano, flute, guitar, Bb/bass/contrabass clarinet, alto/tenor sax, and the recorder.