Sometimes I think about how different things might have been if my friend hadn’t encouraged me that day. Running has shaped my interests, my mindset, and my community in ways I never predicted, and I’m genuinely grateful he gave me that initial push.

🌎 How Running Led Me to Community Service

Because of running, I also began attending local running events, and that’s where I discovered Heart in Motion—an organization that supports Bay Area marathons and inspires youth to serve their communities.

Through Heart in Motion, I started volunteering at events like the San Francisco Marathon, Kaiser Half Marathon, Oakland Running Festival and other local races. I helped with things like:

• water and food distribution

• prize and medal support

• cleanup

• logistics and setup

• cheering stations

What surprised me was how much I enjoyed being part of these events—not just as a runner, but as someone helping other runners have a meaningful experience. Heart in Motion brings together students from across the Bay Area and turns community service into something joyful and collaborative. It made me realize that impact doesn’t always come from big actions; sometimes it comes from handing a runner a cup of water at mile 20, cheering for a stranger, or helping clean up after everyone has left.

These small contributions helped me understand what community really means—and how powerful it is to give back.

🏃‍♂️ Discipline Isn’t About Motivation — It’s About Showing Up

When I first started running, I imagined discipline meant pushing myself when I felt motivated. But long-distance running teaches the opposite:
discipline is what you do on the days when you don’t want to do anything.

Early morning practices, long runs on tired legs, and workouts that felt impossible at first all taught me:

• consistency matters more than intensity

• progress is slow but steady

• showing up is half the battle

These lessons changed how I approach learning, especially in CS and AI. Some days I feel excited to code or study something new. Other days, I rely on discipline to keep going. Running taught me how to build habits, not just moments of effort.

👥 Leadership Is About Lifting Others Up

As I became an upperclassman, I realized that leadership on a running team isn’t about being the fastest runner. It’s about how you make others feel.

When new runners joined, many were nervous or unsure if they belonged. I made an effort to talk to them, run alongside them, or encourage them during tough workouts. Over time, the team became a place where people felt connected and supported.

Leadership, I learned, is less about standing out and more about helping others succeed.

This carries into other parts of my life—tutoring classmates, supporting club members, and helping peers with programming or coursework. The same principle applies everywhere:
community grows when someone chooses to care.

🧠 Problem-Solving: Running and CS Are More Connected Than I Expected

At first, running and computer science seemed unrelated. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized they follow the same patterns:

• Break big challenges into small, manageable steps

• Experiment with strategies

• Analyze what went wrong

• Adjust and try again

When I hit a plateau in training, I treated it like debugging—try something, assess it, make small changes, repeat.
When I face a difficult algorithm problem, I approach it like pacing a long run—stay calm, stay focused, and work through it piece by piece.

Both running and CS taught me that progress is rarely linear. It comes through patience, iteration, and resilience.

🌱 How Running Continues to Shape Me

Running has shaped who I am far beyond athletics. It has taught me:

• how to be patient with my learning

• how to push through difficult days

• how to support others

• how to stay consistent with my goals

• how to find purpose in small contributions

These lessons influence how I approach school, running events, CS projects, and even my long-term goals.

✨ Looking Ahead

As I continue exploring computer science, AI and ML areas, I keep finding new connections between running, community service, and problem-solving. Running taught me how to grow slowly but steadily, how to be part of a community, and how to turn challenges into opportunities.

I never expected a random moment in 7th grade to shape so much of my life—but I’m grateful it did.

Thanks for reading! If you ever want to talk about running, CS, AI, or community service, feel free to reach out at anshuldhaas@gmail.com.

I didn’t begin with a huge plan. In the beginning, I just liked solving problems and experimenting with code. But the more I learned, the more I realized how much there is underneath the surface — patterns, decisions, behavior, and sometimes even unexpected outcomes.

AI pulled me in because it feels like a mix of logic and creativity. You’re not just writing instructions; you’re building something that learns. That idea still amazes me.

I’m definitely still early in the process, but every project or idea I explore makes me more excited about the field.

🔍 What I Want to Explore More

As I work through new projects and concepts, here are some areas I’m especially interested in:

• How machine learning models recognize patterns

• How data can help predict real-world outcomes

• How simple tools can make life easier for others

• How to design solutions with people, not just code, in mind

I’m not trying to do everything at once — I’m just trying to go deeper into the things that genuinely interest me.

🏃 How Running, Leadership, and Community Shaped Me

Cross Country and Track have taught me more than just running. They’ve taught me how to show up consistently, how to push through when things get tough, and how to support the people around me.

Whether it’s welcoming new runners, helping teammates keep going during a long workout, or planning small team traditions, I’ve learned that community doesn’t form on its own — people build it.

This same mindset shaped how I approach tutoring and youth initiatives. Helping someone understand a concept or feel included might seem small, but it matters.

📘 Why I Started This Blog

This blog is more than a place to write — it’s a place to track how I’m growing.

1. To explain what I’m learning

Writing forces me to understand things more clearly, whether it’s an AI concept or a CS topic I’m experimenting with.

2. To break down the projects I build

I like showing the thought process behind them — the good parts and the mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes teach more than the successes.

3. To reflect on my experiences

Whether it’s running, leadership, or something that didn’t go the way I expected, reflecting helps me improve.

I want this blog to feel like an honest record of my journey — not a highlight reel.

🎯 Looking Ahead

In the long term, I hope to study computer science and dive even deeper into AI. I want to understand how intelligent systems work and eventually build tools that help people in practical ways.

For now, my goal is simple:
Learn consistently, build things I care about, and reflect on the process.

✨ What’s Coming Next

My next few posts will cover:

• A breakdown of one of my recent projects

• What research has taught me so far

• Lessons I’ve learned from running and leadership

• Things I’m experimenting with in AI and CS

Thanks for reading, and welcome to the start of my blog!
Feel free to reach out anytime at anshuldhaas@gmail.com if you want to talk about projects, learning, or anything related to CS.