Meet Alex, a playful and adventurous Computer Science student at the University of Waterloo, who thrives on the thrill of problem-solving. With a penchant for coding challenges and a love for efficiency, Alex embraces the unique opportunity to engage deeply with technical concepts like MapReduce and Spark, often dedicating evenings to "code golfing" for the fastest solutions. Known for their laid-back approach, Alex opts for self-study by skipping lectures, confidently navigating the course material through available resources. They enjoy the balance of a stress-free atmosphere without a midterm while appreciating the camaraderie of fellow students who share the same passion for discovery in the world of data science.