Samudra Manthan

Grad school. For me it's been a defining chapter in my life - a crucible where I discovered what I value in life. As I step out of academia, I want to reflect on my learnings.

Those flaws? They'll get moderated

“ A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.

The moment I stepped foot outside home, every rough edge I had stung. I've lost money due to naivety, opportunities owing to wrong notions and strained human relations due to a loudmouth. There were conversations I could've handled better, silences I wish I hadn't broken. But when those moments started to shape day-to-day life, it became harder to ignore them. Without the safety net of family, I had a quiet kind of growth. Do I still have issues? Of course. But massively tempered. And my friends keep gently chipping away at these😂

Optimize for Impact

“Andy Konwinski

I've shamelessly stolen this from Andy Konwinski's talk at our university. Point is - the most fulfilling work I did here wasn’t born from templates. It came from taking on things that felt slightly out of reach. In those late nights and half-failed attempts, there was something uniquely mine taking shape. The best work didn’t just reflect the field—it carried my flair.

Believe in yourself

“ You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

— Steve Jobs

There'll always be popular opinion. Get that stable job. Invest in that new crypto. And the thing is - it'll work too. But somewhere in this mad rush for validation, I was giving up the very things that gave me joy. There's a unique thrill in forging your own path. In falling, picking yourself up, brushing off the dust and starting again. And I for one wouldn't trade this for the world.

Just Ship It

“ Perfect is the enemy of good

— Voltaire

I have a tendency to keep things under wraps until they feel just right. But that's the folly. Engineering is about making smart tradeoffs. And it's best to do market validation continually before deciding the next direction of work. Lest we spiral into an echo chamber of redundancy.

Work with the best people

“ कबीर संगति साधु की, बेगि करीजै जाय।
दुरमति दूरी गवाईसी, देसी सुमति बताय॥

— Kabir

This is what makes academia worthwhile! Grad school is where the most talented people come to refine themselves. I've found some of the finest engineers, wisest founders and erudite professors - people who made me think harder, build better, and sometimes just laugh when I needed to. It is certainly the best place of introjection.

Filtering the Noise

“ Power lies at the nexus of where information channels converge

— Yuval Noah Harari

I've seen hype trains, fear mongering and just blatant misinformation. Eventually I've learnt to not jump on information offered up. Sure, some of the things I've heard have been true and I've missed the bus. But acting on everything is a sure recipe for disaster. Steer, don't drift in the direction of where the winds blow.

Most of all, the American dream. It's one of hope, not of guarantees. This land has been called Vinland, El Dorado and the New World - built from the aspirations of those who came before. Let no one delude you otherwise.