My name is Greta, and I am an MIT graduate turned poet.

Today I convinced myself that writing a book is a professional achievement and not just a side project.

Since my hospitalization in January for severe depression and acute psychosis, I have committed myself to two things–the same ones I told my students at a Q+A session that I would be doing if I weren’t teaching:

I would become a data analyst and a poet.

And so I did. Just a few weeks after starting therapy and medication, I began a Statistics and Data Science program on MITx.

My poetry book on the other hand, I had started much earlier.

While some of the first poems were written in high school, I wrote the bulk of my book just before and just after my hospitalization.

Since my discharge, I have earned certificates in six MIT courses, learned how to code, launched a website, and of course, wrote a book (available on 12/12).

If I haven't already, I would like to make it clear that mental illness does not preclude me from being a standout employee.

If you know an organization in the Boston area that trusts people with #mentalillness to perform professionally, please let me know. Bonus to any institutions who are hiring for #analytics in #education. I’m looking for a side project for my budding writing career