Why I love data science?

Alina Korsunenko
3 min readNov 23, 2020

— my journey to Data Science

I was always curious about data and what it tells about the world. When I would read an article or research that included data analysis, I was always amazed how simply looking at a data set can tell the whole story about the topic I am interested in. What amazes me even more, is that one can use the story the data set tells to make a prediction about the future. However, becoming a data scientist one day, always seemed to be a challenging goal to achieve.

I was afraid to start without prior experience in technology. Before I developed an interest in data science, I was a professional dancer. That time the world of tech seemed so remote to me. It was difficult to believe that I can make such a dramatic transition: from dancing to data mining. I started to develop my interest towards data science when I was getting my degree in International Business Relations in Warsaw, Poland. There were two specific classes that particularly stood out to me: microeconomics and macroeconomics. Those were the classes where we looked at the simplest datasets for the first time. I remember I enjoyed watching how different variables interacted with each other in unique ways. For instance, one time our professor showed us a dataset that displayed the correlation between the supply and demand. That was fascinating. I was amazed by how changing one, from the first sight, insignificant variable impacts the big picture which made me realize how all the tiniest details in this world matter.

Also, I came to a realization that data facilitates the analytical thinking and helps make informed decisions without blindly guessing. The data driven approach guides businesses to be more efficient and prevents various risks. Even in my personal life I can see how knowing data makes an impact. The ability to analyze and use my critical thinking tremendously influences choosing the right strategies and areas of my personal investments.

Looking back at my school life I did not know that the industry of Data Science existed on its own, however, now I can clearly see how different elements of Data Science were in some shape or form present in most areas in my life. Not so much time has passed since I joined the Data Science Bootcamp at the Flatiron School. The school became an important part of my life which guides me on my path to turn data analysis into my profession. Although, it is really exciting, it is also worrisome at times.

Sometimes, learning Data Science may range from intimidation to anxiousness and to excitement. Also, there are moments when I feel overwhelmed learning all the relevant skills and keeping track of skills that I need to learn. However, I started to enjoy the research process while studying Data Science, and I love cleaning the data; somehow, I get a satisfaction out of it. One more aspect that I like about Data Science is that there is a space for creativity. For example, there are many different approaches when it comes to dealing with problems in the data.

Being a Flatiron student uncovers so many new horizons.Besides learning how to manipulate the data in various ways I got to practice coding in Python. I have always been passionate about learning new languages and it is a great opportunity to learn a language that helps solve complex problems in simple ways. Also, I believe that data satisfies curiosity . I feel like whatever questions I may have, it’s likely that the data analysis can answer them. I am beyond excited to explore more about the world of Data Science, and I can not wait to see what comes next!

Thank you for reading!

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