What advice would you give to your younger self?

It’s not an unfamiliar question.

I have often thought about it.

I still think about it …

I also use this question as a thought experiment to learn more about people and get a perspective on what mattered to them in the past and what matters to them now and see how they have changed or grown over the years.

If I were to ask myself this question today I would give myself the following advice:

(1) 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲.

The world will change. You will change. Your aspirations will change so don’t be too obsessed with your grades and don’t think much about the future. Be open to learning new things and staying authentic and cherish the journey and not the outcome.

(2) 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞.

You are an engineer today. There is a good chance you will not be one tomorrow. The friends and connections you make today will go a long way in life. Maybe one day you will find an old friend who will open your path to a new job or maybe one day an acquaintance will save your day with a random act of kindness.