boiMAG.com "Springtime"

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Bank of America SHAMROCK SHUFFLE

City events are getting ready to kick into overdrive.... Long recognized as an annual rite of spring, a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and the kickoff to the outdoor running season in Chicago , the 42nd annual Shamrock Shuffle delights participants to a scenic 8K run through downtown Chicago and a two-mile walk along Chicago’s lakefront. The 8K Run will kick off at 8:30am, followed by the 2-Mile Walk at 9:30am, on Sunday, March 26 .

Following the race (from 9:30am to 12:30pm,) all participants will be invited to a post-race party at the iconic Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park , located at Columbus and Ida B. Wells Drive ,

featuring live music on the Advocate Health Care Entertainment Stage .

In advance of the event, the two-day packet pick-up for the participants will take place in Grant Park on Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25.

For more information about the event or how to get involved, go to shamrockshuffle.com .

HOW TO CLONE A MAMMOTH

At The Auditorium Theater, Chicago

“The success of the Jurassic Park franchise shows that we as society are fascinated by the possibility of resurrecting long-extinct animal populations,” said Rich Regan, CEO of the Auditorium Theatre. “We are excited to bring National Geographic Live’s Dr. Beth Shapiro to the Auditorium to share the fascinating science and real-world implications of de-extinction.”

The possibility of bringing extinct animal species back from the dead has been a staple of the science-fiction genre for decades. With modern advances in science, we are closer than ever to de-extinction becoming a real prospect. Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? National Geographic Emerging Explorer Dr. Beth Shapiro is one of the scientists investigating this intriguing possibility.

A pioneer in ancient DNA research, Shapiro travels extensively through the Arctic regions of Siberia and North America to collect the bones, teeth, and other remains of Ice Age giants like mammoths, sabertoothed cats, and giant camels. She extracts DNA from these remains and uses this information to understand how changing climates and increasing human activity have shaped the present-day distribution of species. Her goal is to use this information from the past and, increasingly, genomic tools developed in the present, to save living species from the same fate as so many ancient animals. During this National Geographic Live presentation, Shapiro will explore the technical challenges, ethical considerations, and potential benefits of the astonishing and controversial science of de-extinction.

National Geographic Live is a series of engaging, one-of-a-kind presentations featuring expert speakers and explorers at events happening throughout the United States and Canada. National Geographic’s broad roster of talent, including renowned photographers, scientists, authors, filmmakers, and adventurers, share their behind-thescenes stories from the front lines of exploration alongside stunning imagery and gripping footage. After the presentation, a Q&A session allows audience members to interact directly with these esteemed experts.

National Geographic Live’s “How to Clone a Mammoth” takes place at the Auditorium Theatre Sunday March 26th, 2023 at 2:00pm. Tickets, priced at $25 and $48, are available at www.auditoriumtheatre.org or by calling 312.341.2300, or at the Box Office at 50 E Ida B Wells Drive, in downtown Chicago.

The live Sunday afternoon series at the Auditorium Theatre concludes with Coral Kingdom and Empires of Ice on April 30th.

HOUSE MUSICAL Coming Of Age In The Age Of House

House Musical - Coming Of Age In The Age Of House tells the story of Dwayne (Dion McNeal) who finds the strength to come out of the closet by sneaking into The Warehouse club, where House Music was born. House Musical is a celebration of both the BIPOC LGBTQ+ experience in Chicago, and the explosion of a new musical genre called House Music. It captures the energy and excitement of that brief time when House Music was being born, when young Chicago musicians and DJs were creating raw, sample-based tracks, and those tracks were becoming hits in Europe, even though they were being ignored in the U.S. At the same time, it captures the beginnings of the emerging black LGBT community of Chicago, which brought people together through the shared personal struggles: standing up to bullying and homophobia, fighting discrimination within the greater LGBT community, and the bravery of battling HIV/AIDS when there were no treatments. Most of all, House Musical is story of love and acceptance, of hope, bravery, and pride.

House Musical, directed by Dion Walton, will run from April 20th thru April 30th, 2023 at the Center On Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre, 3656 N Halsted in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood.

The preview performance is Thursday, April 20th at 7:30pm with a postshow discussion to follow. Opening night is Friday, April 21st at 7:30pm. Performances run Thursdays thru Sundays at 7:30pm, thru April 30th. Tickets at: www.centeronhalsted.org.

Marcus Waller, the writer, is a born and bred Chicagoan who has a passion for spoken word performing. He has performed his pieces at various venues throughout the Chicagoland area. Most recently one of his works was chosen to be performed at The Goodman Theatre GeNarrations stage. Marcus believes that the era that he grew up in, although rife with prejudice, was also one of the most prolific in terms of music, the arts and coming together as a community here in Chicago.

Scott Free, the composer and musical director, is a Chicago-based composer, performer, and live music and theatrical event producer. His first musical, Witches Among Us (book by Rick Karlin) was produced by the New American Folk Theatre in 2014. His own Campsongs Productions staged his Zombie Bathhouse musical (book by Brian Kirst) at the Center On Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre in 2017. Scott has released five solo albums, and an LGBT family album by his group The Diesel Tykes. In 2010 he was inducted into the City of Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

Dion Walton, the Director, is a 69 yearold performing artist from Chicago. He has performed for over 50 years, nationally and has been a writer for 30 years. He is currently working on his autobiography, entitled “The Happening.” Dion is also a 20-year veteran of 2nd Story where he is a writer, reader, and director. He is a 30-year veteran of the Goodman Theater’s GeNarrations Program. He is a working singer, actor and artist that has presented artwork in galleries throughout the Chicagoland area.

Rainbow Wedding Network returns to the Chicagoland area with their Annual LGBTQ+ Wedding Expo, and of course their inviting everyone to join them on Sunday April 2nd, 2023, from 12:30pm3:30pm at the DoubleTree-Hilton in Alsip, IL for an afternoon of Planning Inspiration, Community Connections, and a true celebration of Equality!

If wedding plans are in the air, don’t miss the opportunity to mingle with a variety of seasoned wedding professionals who actively support our community. Over 30 select companies from all aspects of the wedding industry will be represented, including Venues, Officiants, Photographers, Videographers, Event Planners, Floral Designers, DJs & Musicians, Caterers, Jewelers, Travel and more!

Here’s where you can plan your wedding in an casual, informative and upbeat atmosphere while perhaps enjoying a signature cocktail, along with an assortment of food and dessert samples, while checking out the latest photobooth demos, gather fresh ceremony and travel ideas, and find out if you’ll be one of their lucky Raffle Winners!

You can RSVP for FREE tickets to this all inclusive event! The Rainbow Wedding Network has produced over 350 in-person LGBTQ wedding expos in 37 states. For more information , visit them at www.

RainbowWeddingNetwork.com

If you are reading this and are not in the Chicagoland area, below are some other upcoming Wedding Expo event dates in other cities.

Morristown, NJ - March 26, 2023

Chicago, IL - April 2, 2023

Houston, TX - April 16, 2023

Grand Rapids, MI - April 23, 2023

Baltimore, MD - May 7, 2023

Austin, TX - May 21, 2023

Denver, CO - July 23, 2023

Dallas, TX - August 6, 2023

Queens, NY - September 10, 2023

Atlanta, GA - October 8, 2023

Portland, OR - October 29, 2023

Chicago / Illinois location’s address: DoubleTree by Hilton 5000 West 127th Street

Alsip, IL 60803

SPRINGTIME WEDDING TIPS

Indulge in the FUN of adding colorful, lively, fresh details to your Wedding Plans. Let the season of Springtime inspire you!

THEME COLORS

Options for theme colors for a Springtime Wedding are endless. Take your time browsing online or even in stores, to see what hues catch your eye. Don’t be afraid to get playful as you mix and match on your quest to discover which colors really pop, nailing down this little detail will go a long way with your overall wedding plans!

Consider a pastel palette! It quickly says “Spring” and is also a convenient way to bring in a sense of the Rainbow, if you like.

Watercolor-splashed Invitations, Programs, Signage and personalized Keepsakes: Watercolors offer that subdued look, the beautiful sweep of springtime is inferred. You can still choose any variety of particular colors you like, but the watercolor effect will bring subtlety and elegance to your designs!

Adding Natural Accents with your Theme Colors to Apparel & Accessories:

Floral bouttoinneires, hair ornaments and crowns trimmed with buds, crystals, leaves and boughs, colored patterns on your tie, kerchief, shirt, jacket lining, socks or shoes.

SPRINGTIME FARE

Communicate with your caterer and dessert vendors about imaginative ways to include lots of veggies and fruits, to keep the menu fresh, light and seasonal. Here are some mouth watering ideas.

Roasted Shrimp & Orzo Pasta: Served cool, this flavorful pasta is colorful and offers a refreshing mix of flavors! The rice-based orzo brings a healthier and GF note. Roasted shrimp, orzo, cucumber, red onion, feta and your choice of spice blend. Can also add tofu squares or diced green peppers.

Breakfast Indulgence: A brunch feast is common for springtime garden weddings. Thick, luscious french toast with a selection of toppings. Bananas, seasonal berries, hand-whipped fluffy cream, freshly churned cinnamon butter, indulgent maple syrup. Served with eggs and bacon, turkey sausage, vegetarian sausage, very delicious!

SPRINGTIME WEDDING TIPS CONTINUED

Offer your guests a Beverage Station, where they can choose pineapple, orange or grapefruit, along with choice of steaming teas or undeniably fresh coffee, and you’ve got yourselves a winning menu.

Lemon Curd Tart or invidually served Tartlets: The zing of lemon always seems to shout “Springtime!” And the brightness of color in these tarts is sure to delight. Top with candied lemon peels, or get more creative by adding edible flowers, or a modest mix of candied berries to mix up the vibrancy, like one edible green leaf, one purple blackberry, one red raspberry, one blueberry, one candied orange peel and you’ve got the entire rainbow!

Salmon: Baked, steamed, roasted, seared. Seasoned with olive oil and garlic, or mustard, or coarse black pepper, or a maple syrup drizzle, or a raspberry glaze. Consider serving with inventive side dishes to make this classic favorite something new!

Salad Station: Offering interactive cuisine stations is fun and provides your guests with the opportunity to choose based on their own tastes. Discuss with your caterer ways to be conservative with the anticipated portion sizes, this will be a budget-saver and help ensure food is not wasted.

Beverage Stations: Smoothies, Mocktails, Teas, Coffees. These marry so well with afternoon celebrations set in the spring! Consider an assortment of juices or punch, along with fresh infusions that guests can add as they like: lime / orange / lemon / cucumber wheels, melon balls, sprigs of mint, sage or basil, cherries, blackberries and strawberries and pineapple wedges.

SIMPLE FAVORS & KEEPSAKES

An interactive Keepsake Station: Offer a variety of florals and invite guests to create their own ‘Takeaway Bouquet.’

This one is always a hit, particularly if you include blooms that are the same as those spotlighted in your ceremony bouquets and reception centerpieces. Remember that the vases can be personalized with custom labels or painted by you and your sweetie as a stress-reliever as you prepare for the Big Day, or they can be repurposed. Consider scavenging used vases or vase like containers at thrift shops, etc.

A Smaller Guest Count? Consider tiny houseplants as keepsake giveaways! A small potted plant will serve as a longlasting reminder of your special celebration. Remember, you can always just give this very special favor to specific guests such as: wedding attendants, family, and select vendors such as your officiant, wedding designer, etc.

Flower Seed Packets are still a lovely takeaway gift! A rustic basket or tin display container, filled with varied seed packets all with a customized label from you & your sweetie, offered with a vision of love blooming. It’s a sweet and thoughtful way to extend the beauty of Your Special Day.

ACCENT FLORALS

An archway, ceremony backdrop or floral wall adorned with vibrant blossoms is always wonderful, but here are some additional ways to include flowers and natural elements in to your decor:

• Hanging florals, greenery, or latticed branches is an easy way to Accent Your Spaces from ABOVE. -Encourage your guests to look up... and fill out your event space with delightful natural highlights. Hanging rustic lighting or fabrics adds one more layer of flair!

• Shrubs of blooms along aisles or pathways, instead of petals or smaller bouquets. Twinkle lights are easily hidden within the leaves for nighttime wonder.

Entryway majesty. Let everyone enter in style! Ask your floral designer to dress up the main doorframe with cascading ivy, select blossoms of your choice, wood elements or streaming fabric.

• On a floral budget? Dangling flower buds, hung individually in a select area, can create an eye-catching and whimsical accent.

Framing with Flowers: Add blossoms or garlands around signage, seating charts, artwork, etc to keep the theme going! • Include florals in to your celebration not just because of color, but because they are actually your favorite blooms, or because these particular blossoms were present at the front doorstep of your first apartment together, or because the particular flower represents a quality that you highly value, or wish to infuse in to your marriage.

THE SEND-OFF

Your springtime wedding will remind everyone of the inherent beauty of “fresh starts.” Build on this as you finish up your celebration.

A Dove Release, or Butterfly Release: Still an organically meaningful way to close your reception and send

you and your new spouse off into the sunset. However, there are other choices as well, especially if the idea of using live animals brings you pause.

Color Bombs and Sparklers: Still all the rage. In your fabulous chosen wedding colors, or in all the hues of the rainbow!

Flower Petals: Vintage and classic. Just be sure the aisle your guests create for you is narrow, so those petals find their way over your heads without much effort!

Ribbon Wands: These work so well for an afternoon send-off, and especially for weddings with a garden oriented or whimsical theme. Long strands of varied ribbon can be thick or thin, and even personalized with your names and special date for a takeaway keepsake. Ribbons can be attached to a branch or thin dowel, but guests can also just hold the end of the ribbon for an even easier option.

Married and Lonely. Married and Sad.

by: Dr. Charla Waxman BS, MBA, EdD Director of Business Development Lake Behavioral Hospital

Marriage is supposed to be the antithesis of loneliness; that is to say that marriage is supposed to be about a relationship that is binding and rife with feeling of togetherness and companionship. For some, a marriage can become a place of loneliness and a place where one or both partners feel forgotten.

Perhaps the phrase “lonely in a crowded room” not only sounds familiar, but you feel like you are living it. Feeling lonely means that someone is feeling empty, detached, and sadly, without a supportive marriage partner; somebody to talk with, laugh with, and enjoy the experience of needed physical contact. Lonely means that there has been enough disengagement in a relationship so that one or both partners feel alone.

Time together can feel like just a convenience and spouses may feel unwanted or undesirable. Trying to talk about these feelings may result in what feels like not being heard and being pushed to the side. The idea that talking about this experience is not important or that feelings of loneliness are not validated only drives the wedge deeper.

From loneliness.org, “Being married

offers no protection from the dangers of loneliness: Studies indicate that roughly 20% of the general population suffers from chronic loneliness at any given time, and in one recent study of older adults, 62.5% of people who reported being lonely were married and living with their partner.” Point well taken here; if you were thinking you are alone in feeling lonely in your marriage, you’re not.

Being in the same room with someone or even something as intimate as sleeping with someone does not mean that you can’t feel lonely. The feelings may have snuck up on you in such a way that you don’t even know the warning signs you may have missed. Consider these warning signs:

• You feel sad when you are with your partner and you have no idea what to say or how to make repairs.

• If it weren’t for the TV, no one would be talking. The house is eerily quiet and questions, like: “How was your day?” are a thing of the past. It seems like your partner wouldn’t care what the answer is anyway.

• Intimate relations of any kind are a rarity. You may have even lost track of the last time you had a real hug, a lengthy kiss, held hands watching TV, or had sex. Receiving heartfelt cards on birthdays and anniversaries are no longer a part of these special days. The relationship just feels empty.

• You look for reasons to be wherever your spouse isn’t. Your friends are your cell phone and maybe a good book.

You may have considered therapy, but the potential for being rejected is so high that cheating on your spouse might seem like a better solution. Sometimes all it takes to break the cycle of marital loneliness is a desire to make a change and sometimes professional help is necessary. Here are some things to try if the list above is a familiar way of living for you:

• Look within you first. Are there behaviors that are different with you, has anything traumatic occurred recently, or have you struggled with addiction? Can you share this selfassessment with your spouse and ask for help? Are you willing to start the process of repairs, making a few changes first?

• Ask for purposeful and planned time with your spouse. Talk about feelings; just yours, and ask if your spouse feels the same way. This is not a time for judgment, blame or dredging up past hurts. This is the here and now and feelings only! If you both are hurting, seek help together or make some plans for what will be different and stick to them. If you are alone in your feelings, let your spouse know what you think you need and let them know that you are willing to see a

counselor to help you sort it through. Ask if they will support you as you seek help.

• Model what you want to experience and don’t feel cheated that you are the only one working on the problem. It can take time to bring back feelings of connection. Say what you need. SAY IT! If your needs are fulfilled or your spouse is making an effort, say thank you.

• Make a date night and leave your phone in your pocket! Try a game night. Try a puzzle night. Eat out one night a week. Keep trying things until you hit upon something that was just relaxing and fun. Say thank you.

• Find intimacy in baby steps. Hold hands, give a hug, write “I Love You on the mirror. Be inventive; create a feeling of togetherness whenever you can.

If everything results in nothing, seek help. Look for a marriage therapist who can specialize in what you need. Going together is optimal, but start alone if your spouse is initially unwilling. While this is happening, be kind and be patient to yourself and your spouse. Relationships take time to fall apart and take time to be put back together.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, seek help through a level of care assessment by calling Lake Behavioral Hospital at 855 990 1900. The team at Lake Behavioral is available 24/7/365 by appointment or by walk-in. They work with all insurances, managed Medicaid in Illinois and Wisconsin, and Tri-care. Make a call., they can help.

YOU CAN MAKE IT BETTER!

by: Dr. Charla Waxman BS, MBA, EdD Director of Business Development Lake Behavioral Hospital

or behaviors like self-injury which seem, in the beginning to ground our behaviors. When shame and guilt take over we exhaust ourselves by trying to isolate so family and friends don’t see what we know is happening. We are in a mental health crisis.

Mental health conditions are common. At some point in our lifetime, according to the National Council for Mental WellBeing, one in 5 of us will suffer with and know someone who struggles with mental illness. A staggering 40% of us will not seek help or even a modicum of support; instead suffering in silence. The reasons for the solitude are many, but no matter the cause, people are left with no mental health awareness, no skill improvements, no medication for acute care needs and no change in the thinking and behaviors that are barriers to successful work, school, and relationship experiences.

“It is what it is”, a common phrase for giving up and going with the status quo and status flow of what life gives us may be at the fore of just accepting that things will never get better. In our hearts and minds we may recognize that our thinking and behaviors are just not right, but we may choose to ignore what we know deep down: our mental and emotional health is at stake. So our behaviors just continue and drive us down and our emotions keep us there. We may find ourselves self-destructing with any combinations of addictions like drugs, eating disorders, or gambling

There is hope and always help. Both self-care and professional support can help you find your way through the mire. Find the combination of these that is right for you and you have found the key to mental health. Mental health is very personal, but should not be private. Ignoring the signs and symptoms of mental illness does not create resilient, bounce-back-fromadversity life skills and life practices. Life can be hard and the struggles are real, boosting your mental health is not easy and may take time, but you can make it better.

Although sometimes mental health conditions may require medication, it is not always the case and although professional support and treatment are needed with mental health emotional and behavioral difficulties, that is not always the case either. Often the best methods are combinations of professional help and self-help commitment. There are some things you can do on your own that will have positive impact on your mental health.

Three areas of our life fuel positive or negative mental health. To again refer to the wisdom of the National Council on Mental Well-Being, work or school, how we attend to daily living needs, and our relationships all matter in how health-full we are.

YOU CAN MAKE IT BETTER CONTINUED

In each of these, developing healthfilled relationships and making close connections with others is tantamount to staying steady and strong. Relationships are a part of mentorship and modelling, feedback, and getting support. Resilience research includes mentorship and relationships within their top five important elements for a successful and happy life.

When mental illness becomes obvious to us, we often begin isolating and pulling away. As indicated, relationships are important and successful self-care means finding ways to reach toward others for a listening ear and support. Connecting to others is a life skill that will have benefit throughout one’s life. Here are some ways you can develop that all important framework of mental health sustaining relationships:

• No matter how busy you are, stay connected and connecting. Put people in your calendar for meet-ups. Don’t let time go by without having person-toperson time together. Phone calls and texts are great, but being with others is comforting and humanly necessary.

• Get involved in volunteer opportunities. Meeting people who are already “givers” may mean that they will be more willing to support you when you need. Volunteer in places that help with mental health like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, your local health department, or suicide prevention groups. Helping at shelters and food banks is a great way to meet people who care about people.

• Connect with local service clubs, boards of directors, book clubs or craft clubs.

Many of these are free and looking for people who want to learn, grow or give back. Stay in touch with you. Identify your emotional well-being. Keep your negative stress in check. Stay positive and try some of these self-care ideas:

• Seek friendly feedback. Ask your friends how they think you are doing. When things are feeling uneasy, call, meet and talk. Don’t be an island.

• Know that faith-based groups are always willing to lend an ear. Look for places in your community that are a match for your spiritual beliefs and get involved. Find prayer, gratitude and hope.

• Use music, meditation and the arts to allow you to express both the best and worst of times. Use exercise to help you help your body work out the kinks. Learn about mindfulness. The techniques for mindfulness are proven in their success in developing positive mental health. Journaling helps you sort through your emotion and responses to stress.

• Pets often relieve stress. Is a pet right for you?

When all of these self-care and connecting behaviors don’t seem to be enough and work/school, activities of daily living and relationships are still suffering, look for professional support. Find a therapist, an outpatient group or even seek inpatient hospitalization if you are in crisis.

A level of care assessment might be what you need to help you understand where to start. Call 855 990 1900. A good starting point for getting back to being you.

by Jack Santo TECH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

COMPUTING P OWER

Computing power has already established its place in the digital era, with almost every device and appliance being computerized. And it’s here for even more as data science experts have predicted that the computing infrastructure we are building right now will only evolve for the better in the coming years. At the same time, we have 5G already; gear up for an era of 6G with more power in our hands and devices surrounding us. Even better, computing power is generating more tech jobs in the industry but would require specialized qualifications for candidates to acquire. From data science to robotics and IT management, this field will power the largest percentage of employment in every country. If you are interested in entering the field, here are some of the top jobs you can look for in the tech field.

• Data Scientist

• AI Engineer

• Robotics Researcher

• AI

Architect

• Robotics Designer

S

MARTER

D EVICES

Artificial intelligence has played an essential role in making our world smarter and smoother.

It is not just simulating humans but going the extra mile to make our life hassle-free and simpler. These smarter devices are here to stay in 2023 and even further, as data scientists are working on AI home robots, appliances, work devices, wearables, and so much more! Almost every job now needs smart software applications to make our work life more manageable. Smarter devices are another addition to the IT industry that is of high requirement and demand as more companies transform into digital spaces. Almost every higher-level job requires a good proficiency in IT and automation these days to thrive. The jobs in this field that you can venture out into are:

• IT Manager

• Data Scientists

• Product Testers

• Product Managers

• Automation Engineers

• IT Researchers

DATAFICATION

Datafication is simply transforming everything in our life into devices or software powered by data. So, in short, Datafication is the modification of human chores and tasks into data-driven technology. From our smartphones, industrial machines, and office applications to AI-powered appliances and everything else, data is here to stay for longer than we can ever remember!

So, to keep our data stored the right way and secure and safe, it has become an in-demand specialization in our economy.

Datafication leads to a higher need for IT professionals, data scientists, engineers, technicians, managers, and so much more. Even more useful is that anyone with a sound knowledge of technology can do a certification in datarelated specializations to find a job in this space. Data jobs are more about skills than big-level qualifications, and now there are so many successful leaders emerging from smaller cities and developing countries like India. You can also equip yourself with this useful trending skill by doing a course like RPA to help you understand how automation works in the world of data. Here are some popular data career options:

• Big Data Engineers

• Robotics Engineers

• IT Architect

• Business Intelligence Analyst

• Data Scientists

A RTIFICIAL I NTELLIGENCE (AI) AND M ACHINE L EARNING

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has already received a lot of buzz in the past decade, but it continues to be one of the new technology trends because of its notable effects on how we live, work and play are only in the early stages. AI is already known for its superiority in image

and speech recognition, navigation apps, smartphone personal assistants, ride-sharing apps and so much more.

AI will be used further to analyze interactions to determine underlying connections and insights, to help predict demand for services like hospitals enabling authorities to make better decisions about resource utilization, and to detect the changing patterns of customer behaviour by analyzing data in near real-time, driving revenues and enhancing personalized experiences.

It’s perdicted that the AI market will grow to a $190 billion industry by 2025 with global spending on cognitive and AI systems reaching over $57 billion in 2023. With AI spreading its wings across sectors, new jobs will be created in development, programming, testing, support and maintenance, to name a few. On the other hand AI also offers some of the highest salaries today ranging from over $1,25,000 per year (machine learning engineer) to $145,000 per year (AI architect) - making it the top new technology trend you must watch out for!

TECH TRENDS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Now you can pursue game design, animation or even editing programs to pursue a successful career in this specialization. Meanwhile, check out opportunities in AR, VR as well as ER:

• Extended Reality Architect

Machine Learning the subset of AI, is also being deployed in all kinds of industries, creating a huge demand for skilled professionals. Forrester predicts AI, machine learning, and automation will create 9 percent of new U.S. jobs by 2025, jobs including robot monitoring professionals, data scientists, automation specialists, and content curators, making it another new technology trend you must keep in mind too!

If you're thinking about going into the field of AI and machine learning then it will help you secure jobs like:

• AI Research Scientist

• AI Engineer • Machine Learning Engineer

• AI Architect

E XTENDED R EALITY

Extended reality comprises all the technologies that simulate reality, from Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality to Mixed Reality and everything else inbetween. It is a significant technology trend right now as all of us are craving to break away from the so-called real boundaries of the world. By creating a reality without any tangible presence, this technology is massively popular amongst gamers, medical specialists, and retail and modeling.

Regarding extended reality, gaming is a crucial area for popular careers that don’t require high-level qualifications but rather a passion for online gaming.

• Front Lead Engineer

• Software Developer

• AR/VR Support Engineers

• Game Designers

• Pro Gamers

• Creative Directors

DIGITAL TRUST

With people being accommodated and tangled with devices and technologies, confidence and trust have been built towards digital technologies. This familiar digital trust is another vital trend leading to more innovations. With digital conviction, people believe that technology can create a secure, safe and reliable digital world and help companies invent and innovate without worrying about securing the public’s confidence.

To create a safer space for digital users, cybersecurity and ethical hacking are the major specializations you can check out. In these two, there is an array of jobs you can discover from junior to senior levels. For ethical hacking, you might have to take up professional certifications, while for cybersecurity, a diploma or even a master’s qualification is sufficient to aim for a high-salary role. Here are the top jobs you can find in cybersecurity and ethical hacking:

• Cybersecurity Analyst

• Penetration Tester

• Security Engineer

• Security Architect

• Security Automation Engineer

• Network Security Analyst