Graduating & Turning 22

I am graduating next week from Northeastern University, Khoury College of Computer Science, with a concentration in AI. And fortunately for me, graduation is on my birthday. What better way to celebrate than finally being done with classes and then probably just playing Madden or FIFA in Boston? I don't really celebrate my birthday.

But I think turning 22 is a milestone for a couple of reasons. After graduating from undergrad, there are so many different paths to take: master's, jobs, startups, or even a gap or travel year. I kind of want to do all of these things, and the fact that I don't fully know makes me feel excited. A lot of times people plan too much, trying to live a life based on a timeline, on a calendar. You have to trust what you want to do - because there isn't a right path.

With turning 22, I think there are some characteristics that, if you asked a 15-year-old what a 22-year-old young adult should portray, they would say: mature, confident, smart, rich.

They don't understand that 22 is still young. 22 still has things to figure out.

While you can't waste time, you still need to keep moving. The reason why most 22-year-olds feel left behind is because of the hidden timeline effect. I mention this in a book I'm almost finished with, Never Off. There's this hidden timeline where you have to graduate by 22, get married by 26, have kids by 30, do X by Y years old.

It's stupid, it doesn't make sense, and it doesn't imply anything. You feel left out due to a standard set by other people. It's not right or wrong.

With graduation coming up, I would tell my 18-year-old self in 2022 these important things to keep in mind:

1) Classes are important, but building has a way higher ROI

In my classes, whether it was my first year in Oakland or the Boston campus, I realized that the people who tend to get the best internships, the best jobs, and just overall do well in their careers were never the ones who would stress over grades or try their best in class. The people who did the best were the ones in their dorm building an AI stock trading bot or a social media application to reduce stress - whatever it may be.

The people who build just do better. So instead of constantly going to class, doing the work, going back home, doing homework, then working on presentations… just build projects, even with other people.

I've met some amazing people through classes, and I wish I had asked them to help me with my projects, contribute, or just build something with me.

And if you don't have passion for building, then you need to switch your major - or find something you actually want to make.

2) Have experiences

Sometimes you have to go to Boston Burger Company on a Thursday at 11 p.m. and get smash burgers and PBR.

People don't understand that with AI and online courses, you can learn everything a NEU student learns in four years at Khoury. What I learn in NEU CS is the same as Harvard CS, Michigan CS, or a community college CS.

Because everyone needs to learn merge sort, everyone needs to learn state machines, and everyone needs to learn object-oriented programming. So the material doesn't change.

That's why one of the best things about college is hanging out with your friends, making connections, and meeting random people. As much as I hate to call it an experience, it is an experience. Do work, but go do stupid things too, because if you stay in your room all day, you will regret it.

3) You can meet anyone, anytime

People try to find groups and try to find certain people to click with. That will only hurt you.

Going to a school like NEU means that I'm surrounded by people from Miami, NY, Korea, and even Brazil.

Everyone has a unique background and a unique perspective on life. Stop trying to find that one person who is exactly like you. Meet a bunch of new people, and your life gets more interesting. And the most important thing is that time is stupid. You can meet anyone, anytime.

I met some of my closest friends last semester, and I'm graduating next week. I have friends from my freshman year in Oakland, friends from my bio class when I thought I was going to minor in bio, and my random roommates in Boston.

Just be open-minded, and people will likely gravitate towards you.

Being 22 and graduating soon seems scary. But I am oddly calm. I think it's because I know it means I don't have to have everything figured out, and I hope other people realize that too.