How to choose your own mathematical adventures

What is mathematical research? How does a mathematician find problems to work on? How does one build mathematical collaborations? In this talk, I will share my journey to research mathematics, what it entails, how I have developed new research ideas, and how I have found my place within the mathematical community. Mathematical topics of discussion will include lattice point visibility, parking functions, and a connection between vector partition functions and juggling. No prior mathematical background on these topics is expected nor assumed as we will introduce all the needed concepts from first principles. All that is needed is the willingness to wonder and ask the question: "what happens if...?"