Not only do algorithms have many broad applications, but they also provide a “lens through which to view the field of computer science in general.” There are two important components to the study of algorithms: getting to the basic core of the problem and then deciding which algorithm design techniques to use depending on the structure of the problem. Algorithms are not only just the means to the solutions of problems; understanding how to solve different problems with the best algorithms helps to develop the skills necessary in order to ask the right questions in the first place. I am most interested to learn how to recognize which design principles are appropriate in different situations. I think this is something I have struggled with in math and computer science and I am eager to gain a more in-depth understanding of how to determine the best and most efficient solution to each problem. I often find that my thought process can be a bit different than my peers when solving problems, whether in math or computer science, as I often am able to come up with the correct answer, but not in the most direct way.