Live Like Kids

I've been thinking about my next chapter for about a year, but I have to bite the bullet and move on.  I must thank my better half for understanding my decision. She gave me a chance, and I won't waste it. But I don't know why, but I don't feel any pressure. We won't die anyway. I know we'll flourish. Let's jump in. Photo by  Warren  on  Unsplash

Even though we expect side hustles to take time before breaking even, the shorter the path, the better. After all, we never really know what might hit the jackpot. Success often comes from unexpected avenues, so we need to approach this journey strategically. This reminds me of concepts from decision science: multi-armed bandits and reinforcement learning. These techniques are designed to maximize rewards by balancing two essential actions: exploration and exploitation. Let me be like a teacher. Imagine walking into a casino filled with slot machines (commonly called "one-armed bandits"). Each machine has an unknown probability of payout—some machines might give big rewards, others may rarely pay at all. Your goal is to maximize cumulative rewards. To do so, you face a dilemma: Explore : Try different machines to discover which one has the best payout. Exploit : Stick to the machine you think will give the most rewards based on what you've learned so far. Now think of sid...

I believe that for almost anything—hobbies, languages, investments, or side hustles—the earlier you start, the better. The reason is simple: it takes time to get into the rhythm of things. And what’s the earliest you can start? Right now. So, let’s begin. But where should you start? For some, it means surveying and analyzing—asking questions like: What have others done? How good are they? For others, it means diving straight into action, creating something tangible right away, guided purely by instinct. As a scientist who’s mentored many master’s and Ph.D. students, I’ve observed this dynamic firsthand. Some students dive in headfirst, immediately coding or proposing research methods. While their enthusiasm is commendable, this approach can be risky. More often than not, someone else has already explored similar ideas. That’s why starting with a thorough survey and analysis is so important. On the flip side, I’ve seen students who spend months, even a year, reading papers, trying to fu...

I’m a scientist working at an institute. I love exploring and experimenting with new ideas, and mentoring students has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. In this sense, I’ve already found at least one thing I feel deeply committed to. But something still feels off. Photo by  Nathan Dumlao  on  Unsplash Perhaps I know what’s missing. Research, as fulfilling as it is, often feels unsustainable. Funding is a constant need—whether through competitive grants, industrial collaborations, or other means. Research has to align with these grants or projects, and you’re expected to deliver substantial outcomes. This pressure inevitably takes a toll on our time, energy, and mental well-being. I suspect this challenge isn’t unique to research. It applies equally to those pursuing art, music, sports, gaming, or any passion-driven field. While some are fortunate to find sustainable success, many must take on jobs to fund their dreams. It makes me think: How can we li...