Marco
So! I’m Marco, and I’m studying Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Universidad de Guadalajara. When I first entered university, I was really into the idea of telling stories through data, discovering things like a doctor with a microscope would, but by analyzing and building new data models.
While I’m still passionate about that, some of my professors and conversations with classmates have slightly shifted my focus. Right now, I’m really into AI, especially AI ethics, safety, and interpretability. I just love discussing these big movements as something larger than ourselves, and the more I learn and understand about data management and AI, the more I want to talk about it.
I’m just about to wrap up my first year at university, and according to the program, next summer I’ll need to decide whether to focus my study plan on AI or Data Science. Such an important decision! I’ve spent a lot of time researching how the industry is evolving, and while AI seems like the best option, at the same time Data Science is the foundation of AI... so would it be wiser to specialize in DS instead? I guess I’ll find out sooner rather than later.
Keep up with my monthly blog to stay updated!
Flight plan
October 2025
Hello there! I hope everyone reading this had a wonderful October, mine was definitely a good one.
To start with, university has been going great! I did well on my tests and midterms, and as I mentioned in a previous post, I really enjoy how we apply math concepts to Data Science. This month, we even got to practice with code, which was awesome because it let me mix what I’ve been learning in both my programming and math classes.
At the same time, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I also love my Ethics and Social Responsibility class. I feel it’s so important to reflect on basically everything we do, every time we use Generative AI or work with public data. Asking myself vital philosophical questions about my own field feels crucial, especially because right now the scenario within AI is a little frightening when it comes to ethics and AI safety. In the future, I’d love to be part of the AI safety movement. I truly believe it’s essential in our times, and that way I could combine my love for ethical discussions with my field of study. The future is, indeed, exciting but we must guide it the best way we can. I really believe that.
I’m also taking a Storytelling course that I absolutely love. You’d think that, given the nature of my major, classes like that wouldn’t be included, but they are, and I’m so glad. It’s made me reflect a lot on how important it is to tell a story through data, and how much I want to keep developing that skill. After all, what’s the point of learning how to model data if I can’t clearly express the story behind it? That idea has really guided me this month.
Something I truly appreciate about my university is its commitment to culture. It owns museums, parks, libraries, and even movie theaters across the city. For us students, most of those activities are super affordable or even free, which is amazing. Lately, I’ve been going a lot to Cineteca and Cineforo (two cinemas owned by UdeG). They’ve become some of my favorite things to do outside class, along with walking, going to museums, playing soccer, running, and just enjoying time with friends.
I’ve realized how essential it is for me to keep nurturing my cultural side during my free time. It keeps me balanced, inspired, and happy. Hopefully, I can keep it that way for as long as possible!
Thanks for reading, I wish everyone an exciting November! :)
September 2025
Hi Monarch Effect family! September is now gone and, looking back, I can't help but notice how quick it went away! This month marks my birthday, as I finally turn 20, what a crazy number, right? Anyway, I know my 20s are just starting!
I've been playing soccer for a while now on Saturdays. One of my friends invited me to join the team as a goalkeeper. Turns out my teammates are so good that my role as goalkeeper isn't that demanding, hahaha, but I have to say, it's such a great time to play with them.
School has been great. At the same time, math and coding classes have both been very demanding, but fortunately enough, I have been able to find a balance with my school responsibilities, the foundation, and doing extra school activities. My campus works with projects in the way that, apart from all the classes and activities involved with them, we're asked to create a project each semester. It can be basically whatever we want, as long as it's innovative, uses technology, and in a way, integrates all of our classes. The cool thing is that if we like our project, we can keep working on it during the next semester, and so on. The project is due to be presented at the end of the semester in front of judges, and we're always told that the university looks for the best project in order to provide help in any way possible. This semester I'm working with the idea of XAI (Explainable AI) and AI Interpretability. This is a field of study that basically studies and designs methods so AI can be interpreted in better ways, to open the 'black box.' I'm doing all this basically because I truly love my Ethics and Social Responsibility class. The teacher is so good at making us debate on the future of our own field of study; she makes us ask ourselves so many questions that, in a way, make us stronger and have allowed me to get closer to the general idea of social responsibility.
I hope everyone who reads this is doing as well as I am. My twenties are now starting, so as they say, life starts going faster, but in these first weeks, I think I have been able to enjoy it in a very special way. Thanks for reading!
Summer 2025
Summer came and went away very quickly! After my first semester in college, summer dropped in with perfect timing. Beach days, sunshine in Cabo, and just an overall wonderful time. It’s funny how I was never that much of a beach guy, but going back to Cabo and taking my dog Billy to swim became a daily joy for me!
Summer also gave me the chance to engage a bit more with my field of study, reading the latest AI news, trying out different models, and listening to podcasts to get a clearer picture of how everything works. Honestly, that was something I was thrilled to do, since during the semester with all the homework and activities I didn’t really give myself much time to stop, think, and process. So I’d definitely say summer was both an amazing opportunity to share time with friends and family, and also the perfect moment to keep expanding my curiosity for AI in my own way.
Now that I’ve been back in college for a couple of weeks, I can say with full confidence that everything is starting to look much clearer. I just had a math class on ROC; a great way to evaluate AI models, and it was probably the most interesting class I’ve had so far in college, maybe because I actually understood every single word the professor said!
On top of that, I’ve already started meeting new people here in Guadalajara. One of my friends introduced me to his group, and I honestly can’t believe how wonderful they are. I’m kinda starting to feel at home here in Guadalajara.
MEF has also really helped me feel more motivated not just to study, but also to build relationships and use my free time to keep learning. The foundation doesn’t just represent a way for me to fulfill my dreams and follow my career path, but also a huge source of motivation to keep going with all my heart.
June 2025
Back to Cabo! June was a very emotional month, as I finally got to return to Cabo after my first semester of college! Gladly I achieved a GPA of 95.5/100 which, even though it is great, I am determined to get closer to a 100 next semester. While May was crazy in its own way; with all the final tests and projects presentations, June was a beautiful and peaceful month that was dedicated entirely to spending time with my family and friends here in Cabo. I also got the news I would become a MEF ambassador! So friends, family, peace and wonderful news was everything June was about.
In flight - my blog
November 2025
What a crazy month November was!
It started slowly with the Mexican tradition of Día de Muertos, but then it quickly reminded me that the semester was just about to finish! Exams, projects, and lots of schoolwork by the end of the month kept my mind focused on my academic goals. But overall, I would highlight three events from my month:
1. I won a photography contest on campus! Out of about 100 pictures submitted, mine won with a score of 9.5 out of 10 from the judges! (Who, by the way, were a very well-known filmmaker and the director of the university art museum). The theme of the contest was “Life at campus,” and my photo, titled “Rear Window Society,” was the one selected as the winner :). Hope you all like the picture just as much as the judges did!
I had never written about photography in my blogs, but just so you all know, it is probably one of my favorite hobbies. I take analog film pictures just like the one that won the contest, so winning really means a lot to me. Also, part of the prize is that I will be presenting my picture at a way bigger exhibition at the Guadalajara Book Fair!
2. Pitch at the Bootcamp: I've been preparing for this one the whole semester. At my campus, all first and second-semester students get to work on any project that we want to create, as long as it is innovative, and we get to present it in front of basically everyone on campus! I got to present “Crystal Black: AI Explained,” which is a web app powered by an AI Chatbot meant to explain how AI works to non-specialized users. It was a great experience as I felt so comfortable presenting in front of so many people.
3. Now the big news: I've been planning for a while to start an AI Safety student club on campus. The idea is to create a hub where students from AI and other disciplines can discuss the more philosophical, ethical, and even epistemological aspects of AI and, of course, actually act to solve them. I am in touch with AI Safety Mexico, which is the country's biggest AI club, and now I am part of the Latin American Network for AI Safety!
Also, I got to speak with the academic in charge of student communities on campus; he agreed with my vision and is helping me with the planning of it all! I plan to spend my December creating a roadmap on how we are going to approach the club.
So, December will definitely be way calmer as I will be returning to Cabo by the first few days of the month. But overall, November was such a productive month! I feel very proud of my achievements. Stay tuned for more news on the student club and the photo exhibition! See you all :)
