The Power of Storytelling Through Data

By Catherine Wickman-Hudnut

I have been telling stories for as long as I can remember. In kindergarten, I would piece together picture books made from construction paper and parade them proudly as award-worthy works of art. Over time, that love grew into a passion for writing novels. All throughout middle and high school, I would spend my free time jotting down outlines and having moments of insight where I figured out the exciting incident of the story. When it finally came time to choose my path of study, I knew I needed something brimming to life with untold tales. Little did I know I would stumble upon AMATH 301 and fall in love with such a technical path of study. 

As a dual-degree student in Applied Mathematics: Data Science and English: Creative Writing, I have learned to take advantage of both majors. Over time, I have realized my enjoyment of both of these seemingly opposing passions is because they are each powerful storytelling tools. With my love for writing, I delve into the fantasy worlds to drive characters through their next challenge. With my passion for data science, I pick apart datasets and curate narratives that bring to light hidden trends or patterns. Stories hide everywhere, I now know I just happen to enjoy the process of finding them. 

Whenever an exciting new opportunity presents itself, I jump at the chance to improve my skills and meet new people. New experiences are one of the most effective ways to become a better storyteller, even though it can be difficult to put oneself out there. As an out-of-state freshman, I struggled to adjust at first without knowing anyone else on campus. It wasn’t until I took a leap of faith and put effort into meeting other people that I grew confident enough to not only seek out, but accept new challenges. Since my freshman year, I have been a part of the UW Counseling Center’s Advisory Board to advocate for better resources and engagement on our campus. This past year, I had the privilege of researching as a Women in Applied Mathematics (WAMM) mentee, where I worked on SIR Modeling with my amazing mentor Winnie Lau. Both of those opportunities involved storytelling, whether it was my experience with mental health resources on campus, or trying to figure out how adding even a single infected person to a population can change the entire trajectory of an epidemic. 

I thrive when busy but sometimes struggle to keep my priorities balanced. My favorite way of taking a break is to write. Even if it’s just setting aside time to write a few hundred words, my mind feels clearer after a solid writing session. I have always thought that everyone, regardless of their professional or academic background, should have a creative outlet. Whether you’re a physicist who loves playing guitar, or a political science student who loves painting, taking the time to create instead of consume gives your mind a much needed break. 

As I continue through my professional career, I will prioritize crafting stories with words or data as my guides. To all those who ask me the classic question of what I plan to do with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Creative Writing, the short answer is “I’m going to be a data analyst who writes novels.” I only have so much time in undergrad, and I plan on leaving with as many stories to tell as possible.