- Push yourself—do the hardest thing you can do. Being in-over-your-head is how you grow. They’ll teach you a lot at Viterbi, but discipline is the most important thing to learn and you have to figure that one out for yourself.
- If you aren’t 100% committed to one of the engineering disciplines, then select a broadly-applicable one (i.e. mechanical, electrical, or industrial & systems).
- You need to learn how to manage your stress, immediately. Find an activity that can relax you after just 15 minutes. I use running, writing, or meditating.
- Don’t forget to have fun. Your responsibility quotient only increases from here on out. Enjoy your freedom; ‘gather ye rosebuds while ye may.’
- Your network is your net worth. Nobody makes it on their own. Don’t be a lone wolf at Viterbi.
- Travel every chance you get.
- Take the classes that sound interesting, not the ones that sound easy.
- Others may disagree with this one: don’t hold on too strongly to your identity. You’re going to be confronted with a lot of information and experiences that are going to challenge your previous world views of yourself. Don’t try too hard to put yourself into a niche. Change yourself.
A picture of me at summer orientation, 4 years ago. It’s been real, SC.
