A long red light
Some thrown together life updates on a train ride to Manhattan
I feel a strong desire to inform my legions of adoring fans as to my whereabouts in the previous months.
However, since the semester is not yet over, this will not be a comprehensive story. After the debacle that was last year, I’ve decided I have to rigidly schedule my moments for existential reflection, and I have that booked out for the first week of January. So, here’s a bulleted list. Think of it like a shout yelled from the window of a car while at a red light: I’m not sure when it will end, and I didn’t really have time to compose my thoughts beforehand.
So here we go:
I’m currently taking 8.05 (Quantum 2), and it’s really kicking my ass. The exams are long and impossible to finish, and the class moves fast. This feels like the 3rd time I’ve “Actually had to learn how to study”. Hopefully it’s the last, but 8.06 is beckoning, so this is doubtful.
I’m working on a project to use embedding models to solve institutional inefficiencies. I’m perpetually surprised by how easy it is to do well in ML. I’m definitely not giving it as much as I wished I was, but making useful tools comes pretty naturally.
I’m thinking a lot about what type of community I want to shape for myself. As the last generation to live on my hall in East Campus, I feel a responsibility, as well as an opportunity, to revitalize and reshape a culture. I’ve concluded (as per usual) that I’m thinking about things too much. Rather than trying to get people to be more like the East Campus I wish we had, I’m just going to be that change, and hope people follow.
The spirit of revolution is in the air! Clashes with admin have never been more frequent, whether it’s surrounding the war in Gaza, updates in the mural policy, or trying to get a party approved. I’m in a lot of undercover signal chats about these subjects, and (stepping away from the actual issues at stake) I think that the state of revolution is the one I excel in the most.
I recently turned 20. This felt pretty significant. In the lead up to the day, I was worried that I’d do something major. Last year, when I turned 19, I made a lot of drastic life changes. But this year, I feel much more solid in where I am. I’m a 20 year old, after all, and 20 year olds have their shit together (I’m manifesting).
Still not sure what to do about all the AI safety stuff. I’m trying to spend more time with the arguments, and get a first-principles intuition on the subject. I think I eventually want to do work for MAIA (MIT AI Alignment), but am unsure how good I’d be. I feel as though MAIA and EC are two futures I see for myself, each pulling me in opposite directions. One is impact focused, scrappy, and keeps his eyes on the prize. The other is cool, spontaneous, resourceful, and Does Cool Stuff.
I’m thinking a lot about EGO management. I think that having sufficient sense of self-worth is crucial for me to be successful, and this is a very reinforcing cycle. By occasionally doing things I’m good at (long distance running), I’m able to push myself for longer at the things I’m not good at (like 8.05, apparently).
Well, I just looked up and the light’s green. I guess that explains where the honking’s been coming from. See ya later!f