☃️December: A month filled with challenges, pitches, travel, and constant learning
Mara's Megabyte Monthlies! - November 2023
Hey! For those of you who don’t know (or remember) me, I’m Mara, a 16 y/o trying to figure out how to navigate the crazy adventures of life and make the biggest impact I can. To everyone reading this, welcome to the first-ever edition of Mara’s Megabyte Monthlies, the one time a month that I do a deep cleaning of my room thoughts and organize them all into a life update for all of you! Through these newsletters, you will be able to join me as I explore this wonderful world and reflect on my personal growth in the process. Alright, let’s dive in!
🤠My First Challenge: META
For 2.5 weeks, me and my teammates Adria and
got the incredible opportunity to brainstorm and pitch a solution to Meta’s issues with safety — especially child safety — on their platform. We got to meet and talk to Kristina Arriaga, a trustee on Meta’s Oversight Board, and learn from people who have previously worked at consulting companies such as McKinsey & Company. Completing this challenge in two and a half weeks was pretty difficult as it included in-depth research, massive outreach, and strong communication and teamwork, but in the end we were able to produce a pitch that we were all proud of. Our solution essentially tried to combat catfishing and child predators on Meta sites (especially on Instagram sites) and included an AI that could detect dangerous images or language and a site where people could stay informed on this issue. To read more about or solution an explore it more in-depth check out our slide deck pitch here!My Biggest Takeaway: Problem Solving isn’t just about finding solutions, its about taking the time to gain a deep understanding of the problem.
✈️Family Travels: San Francisco, Austin, San Antonio, & Houston
This December has been filled with travel! First I went to San Francisco with my dad and my grandparents and got to visit some amazing and historic sites — the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39 (with its adorable seal lions), Coit Tower, Santa Cruz Beach — and some beautiful campuses, specifically Stanford and UC Berkeley. In addition to all of this, we also got to visit the Meta and Google campuses in Silicon Valley and got to eat some amazing food throughout the trip. This trip was even better and more fun than I expected but it also taught me a lot.
During this trip me and my team were in the final sprint of our Meta Challenge so it got a little hard to balance being on vacation with my grandparents, which meant staying present, and putting in the work to finish the challenge, which required me to stay available and reliable. What I learned is that when things like this conflict with each other the two things that will carry you through your clashing schedule are planning/organizing and communication.
When I realized my vacation and challenge would overlap I made a plan to figure out when I would be available for each. In the evenings and nights I planned to work on my challenge and then I would continue that work in the morning by waking up at 6 or 7am before my family was scheduled to head out. The middle part of the day — when me an my family was out — was when I was on vacation and disconnected from my work. Occasionally, as we were riding from one place to another if there was an emergency or something urgent to do I would work on the challenge but as soon as I stepped out of the car I focused on staying present with my family.
The other thing that got me through was communicating with both my team and my family. Both knew when I would be focused on each and when I needed some space to work on the other. Communicating made it easier to stay organized and on track with my project while still getting to spend time with my family.
My Biggest Takeaway: Communication + organization are key to success in life and in projects.
For the next trip, my mom and sibling joined us too as we went on a trip to Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. We got to visit the Texas Capitol Building, the Alamo, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and some beaches in Houston. I learned a lot about the Spanish missions in Texas, the Texas Revolution, and how Native Americans were affected by both of these.
My Biggest Takeaway: Stay curious and keep reading even when you don’t have to.
💬Practicing My Chinese
Earlier this month my Chinese class went on a field trip to practice our Mandarin Chinese skills! After learning Chinese in a classroom for over 5 years it felt great to go out and apply that learning in a more realistic setting. We started off by visiting an Asian grocery store where we got some common Chinese snacks (which we will be saving for our Chinese Lunar New Year celebration). We also went to a Chinese restaurant (Zhang’s Kitchen) where we ordered our food in Chinese. I am so grateful to be a part of a program at my school that helps us take our Chinese out of the classroom and into the real world.
My Biggest Takeaway: The best way to learn a language is to submerge yourself in it.
🚍Working To Get Electric School Buses For Prosper ISD
Recently, my friend Katya Sri Kondragunta, an amazing youth climate activist and equally lovely person, invited me to work with her and ACE (an incredible environmental organization that helps youth get involved in climate action) to convince our school district to apply for the EPA’s Clean Bus Rebate Program. This is a program in which the EPA allows school districts to apply for a grant that will fund their school’s transition towards a cleaner bus fleet by providing them with the money they need to purchase electric school buses (and the charging stations necessary).
Many schools apply to this so it is a lottery, however often schools in low-income areas are more likely to be chosen. This makes it so that being chosen is not as likely as we would like. That being said, we do believe that no matter how likely it is that we will be chosen it is an opportunity we cannot pass up.
Thus, to make this a reality, the ACE officers, Katya, and I scheduled and led a meeting with the Prosper ISD Director of Transportation Teri Mapengo and her Supervisor of Fleet Operations Jay Nelis in which we presented this program to them. We talked to them about the benefits and drawbacks of this program and what we would need to do to apply for it. By the end of the meeting they agreed to consider applying for around 1-5 buses (which is a great start) and we made a plan to stay in touch to further discuss the project. So overall it was a great success and a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to continuing this project throughout January and updating all of you next month!
My Biggest Takeaway: Always take advantage of an opportunity, even if there is a small chance you will get it/succeed.
If you would like to learn more about this program check out the official site here or our presentation here.
🥂Happy New Year!
2023: A Reflection
2023 was quite the year with its usual ups and downs. At the beginning of 2023, I was feeling quite comfortable with my life; I had the next two years of high school perfectly planned out and I was planning my campaign for a student council position as well as filling out applications to join certain groups and summer camps. Then, on the day I found out that I had won the student council position I had been hoping to obtain for the last two years I found out that my family was moving halfway across the country to Texas. I knew no one in my new area and didn’t even know what programs my new school was going to have. It was rather upsetting at first — knowing that I would have to do junior year (a critical year for college applications) in a new place — but I quickly realized that moping was not going to make it any easier. The truth is, I have always loved moving; my family has been moving since I was little girl so I wasn’t exactly surprised that we were finally moving from Seattle, I was just surprised about the timing. I had always hoped we would move before my freshman or sophomore year, not before my junior year. Nevertheless, it happened and while there will tough times and a few tears shed at first (from many in the family) it wasn’t long before I was reminded of why I loved moving so much: everything new that comes with it. Moving is an opportunity to meet new people, try new things, change your habits, change the way people perceive you, and more. After moving I joined TKS (a program I might not have found had I not moved), I was welcomed by incredible people who quickly became my friends, I joined a debate team that has pushed me in many ways, I have gotten the opportunity to experience new cultures, and most importantly I have gained new perspectives. 2023 certainly took a turn I wasn’t expecting AT ALL but it was a turn that has shaped me and given me a lot.
When I moved I didn’t lose the friendships or experiences or perspectives that I used to have, but I certainly gained new ones. Which leads me to…
My Biggest Takeaway from this year: Change doesn’t take away, it gives.
A Spanish New Year Tradition
Fun fact: Nochevieja is what Spaniards call New Year’s Eve.
Every New Year in Spain, like many around the world, we wait until midnight to hear the clock strike 12. However, unlike everyone else, our New Year doesn’t start after the countdown, it starts after we have had our 12 grapes! Every New Year, right after midnight hits, 12 campanadas (or bells) sound, right after the other, and with each one we have to eat a grape. After the 12th campanada and the 12th grape, it’s officially New Year and if you’ve finished them all it will be a year filled with good luck and prosperity! To be honest, I have never actually been able to eat them all but every year I have certainly tried and have at least succeeded in stuffing them all into my mouth.
This tradition can be found in every Spanish city and every Spanish news station so people often do it either in the streets or at home in front of the TV. The biggest and most famous gathering, however, is at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. If you want to learn more about this super fun tradition check out a video about it here!
New Year Resolutions: Ins and Outs
I was never really one to make New Year resolutions. I mean, I would always have hopes for the New Year or changes I wanted to make but I never really turned them into goals for the year. This year though I have learned a lot about the importance of goal setting, I have learned that habits are even more essential. So, this year, when I saw my favorite influence colormecourtney (an incredible women that pushes for body positivity and dressing in a colorful way that reflects who you are) doing New Year ins and outs I decided to try it out myself this year. This essentially consist of writing a few Ins (new habits that I want to adopt) and a few Outs (habits that I want to get rid of).
Music, Podcasts TV, and Quotes 😍
Music
Album of the Month: Fruitcake by Sabrina Carpenter
This album, which was newly released by Sabrina Carpenter just last month, is a uniquely modern Christmas album filled with fun new songs and a Christmas version of “Nonsense” (one of her biggest hits).
Genre of the Month: Villancicos & Holiday Songs!
I love December because of the holiday classic that I wait all year to listen! Being Spanish, my family also listens to Villancicos which are Spanish Christmas songs. These songs are usually Catholic and center around Jesus’s birth and the coming of the Three Wise Kings so some are upbeat and others are more slow and calm. All of them, however, are wonderful listens!
SongSongs of the Month:“London Boy” by Taylor Swift
This is not a Christmas song but it is definitely one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs and one that I found myself humming (or singing) constantly this month. Especially while working on the Meta challenge during my various calls with my teammate
.
“I Sent My Therapist to Therapy” by Alec Benjamin
This song came out at the beginning of December and dang is it a banger! Since the day it came out it has been stuck in my head — in fact, I’m humming it as I’m writing this newsletter right now. If you haven’t heard this song yet go give it a listen, and while you’re at it listen to “Devil Doesn’t Bargain” as well.
Podcasts TV
TV Show of the Month: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
I am a HUGE Percy Jackson so naturally when i found out that they were creating a new Percy Jackson series on Disney+ I was beyond excited (like many others around the world). In fact, since the first two episodes came out I have been watching each new episode the night after its release. Honestly, I expected it to be pretty good as the cast seemed lovely and even Lin Manuel Miranda was going to be a part of it and it turned out to be even better than I imagined. The actors all portray their characters perfectly and the special effects and storytelling are exactly the way I imagined them to be as I was reading. This series is one I will shamelessly recommend to anyone from die-hard Percy Jackson fans to those new to Rick Riordan’s hit series. So, if you have time go give it a watch!
Movie of the Month: The Three Wise Kings vs. Santa
I watched this movie last Christmas and again this Christmas and both times me and my family LOVED it. Not only is it a fun and exciting story that the whole family can enjoy together but it is also hilarious. If you speak Spanish I highly recommend you watch it in Spanish as that is its original audio which is usually the best way to watch a movie. What I love about this movie is that it is a family-friendly comedy that explores holiday traditions from various countries (mostly in Europe) from Santa Claus, to the Three Wise Kings, to Krampus. I definitely recommend it!
Quote of the Month
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often” - Winston Churchill
A Glimpse into December
🌿 Coding a Farquhar Leaf Model! - This past December, I found out about the Farquhar Leaf Model (C3 Model), a model that helps scientists calculate the rate of photosynthesis in any C3 plant. This is incredibly useful and can also be used to find the limitations of photosynthesis and under what circumstances it may thrive the most. As I am incredibly interested in artificial photosynthesis I believe understanding this model and how to use it is essential. Thus, this January I will be turning the Farquhar Model into a Java so I can use it digitally. Stay tuned to hear more about this in my next newsletter! If you want to hear about my progress sooner feel free to subscribe to my Medium page or connect with me on LinkedIn for updates more often.
🎉 New Year Ins and Outs - We all know New Year Resolutions often fade away in the first few days of the new year but this year I am determined to stay dedicated to my Ins and Outs. Stay tuned to hear how it goes!
👑 El Dia De Los Tres Reyes Magos - The Three Wise Kings Day is a tradition that we have in Spain on the night of January 5th. I like to call it Spanish Christmas because unlike those who get presents on the 25th after Santa comes around, Spaniards usually get their presents on the morning of January 6th after the Three Wise Kings come around. In my next newsletter, I will talk more about this wonderful tradition and how my family celebrates it.
Last Month’s Joke
Thanks for reading Mara’s Megabite Monthlies (December Edition)! And now for the moment you have all been waiting for…. the answer to last month’s joke! After all, its been a long time coming. 😉
Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive? It had 24 carrots! 🥕🪙
This Month’s Joke
Now in honor of the holidays, this month’s joke is:
What do you call the fear of being trapped in a chimney?
Want to know the answer? Come back at the end of January for the big reveal in my next monthly newsletter! (See what I did there! I learned that trick from telenovelas 😎)
See you soon! 👋🏻
Are you stuck on the answer to this month’s joke? Do you have a friend who could help you figure it out so you don’t have to end on a cliffhanger until next month? Share this with them so I can meet some new people and you can get the answer to the joke early — it’s a win-win!
This is amazing! So proud! Awesome job Mara!