New academic year - welcome back!

Welcome back! I know it has been a while since I have posted here. 2020 has been brutal, hasn't it? So much destruction, so much suffering, so much violence, so much disruption. I think I may be speaking for many of us when I say that "hanging in there" is about as well as can and should expect us to do during this terrifying year. Personally, I had stepped back from blogging here because there was so much going on. This week, I have decided to come back as the academic school year starts at the university I am professor at. I am greatly privileged to be a mentor for both my research group and my startup company, and I have decided to use this blog (again) to more broadly share my thoughts and advice (you have asked for it!).

Today, I start with sharing my own goals for the semester ahead, in the hope that they inspire you to think about the big picture and your vision for your future:

1. Be a student as much as I am a teacher. Listen, listen, listen. Read, read, read. It is too easy to get comfortable with what we have achieved and what we know. My goal is to seek out and celebrate opportunities where I can learn and grow.
   
2. Focus on anti-racism. This will not need much explanation. As a white person, I understand that I have a great responsibility to put my privilege to work to fight systemic racism and  to educate myself. This applies to me as an individual, to me as professor running a research group, and also to me as the founder of a startup neurotechnology company.
3. Focus on self-care. I have a long history of neglecting my own well-being for short-term gains. My goal is to be mindful about my psychological and physical health and to develop routines that let me pursue my passions without burning out.
4. Develop a more consistent online profile to share, interact, and mentor. My goal is to lift up and inspire beyond my immediate circle of mentees.

I will use this blog to hold myself accountable. I do not expect to be perfect but I will be happy if I succeed to work towards these four goals. What are your goals for this semester / 2nd half of 2020?