When selecting a project for my course, I decided on “Cloud-Based Algorithmic Trading Strategies for Individual Investors” primarily because I wanted to learn more about investing. My primary motivation wasn’t to pursue a career in finance but rather to enhance my personal financial knowledge. Given the various projects available, this one stood out as the most difficult, making it a potentially strong addition to my resume. I believed that working on a large-scale project in a structured environment would provide valuable experience and align well with my long-term goals of financial literacy and technical growth.
Unfortunately, this project has not met my expectations. I initially envisioned it as a significant undertaking; one that I could treat almost like a full-time job. However, the reality has been quite different. The project turned out to be relatively small in scope, lacking the depth and complexity I had hoped for. This has been a source of severe disappointment, as I had anticipated a more demanding experience.
Upon reflection, I regret not choosing to work independently on a project of my own design. Doing so would have allowed me to dedicate my time to topics that align more closely with my true interests, particularly physics and mathematics, rather than finance and investing. While I recognize the value of algorithmic trading knowledge, my passion lies in areas that explore fundamental mathematical principles and scientific concepts. Had I followed my instincts and pursued a project in one of these fields, I believe I would have found the experience far more fulfilling.
This experience has reinforced an important lesson, while resume building is important, true satisfaction comes from working on projects that genuinely interest you. In the future, I will prioritize projects that align with my passions rather than selecting them solely based on external factors like career applicability.
