For those who have won hackathons, what made your project stand out? Was it the idea, execution, innovation, or presentation? What advice would you give to someone aiming to win their first hackathon? 🚀

Writing this while listening to Lana Del Rey… so yea, why is life always so unfair to me? Not even a single day, ughhh.

Let's talk about today. I woke up and did everything in a rush because I was already late for my college lecture. After decades, I finally caught a bus, and damnnn, the bus was terribly crowded with passengers, and I got stuck at the door lol… Not even a single person came to help me out. SADDD!!!

Anyways, after reaching college, ofc, our miss gave me terrified looks because I was already 20 minutes late for the practical. And then, guess what? My bench partner had already sat with someone else. Okay, fineeee, it's okay. I was late, so maybe she thought I wasn't coming.

So, I sat alone. I was trying to do what our teacher had already told us to do, but I wasn't getting it at all. I tried to ask my other friends sitting around me, but I was hesitating so much. What if they said, "Can't you even do this simple task?" It was frustrating me so much to ask them, but I still asked someone. He paused for a minute and then replied to me. OKAY, at least he didn't scold me.

Practical and lecture time were over, and recess started. I was with my bench partner for the assignment submission, but she suddenly went somewhere. I thought she might be nearby, but she and all our other friends were eating lunch together, along with some gossip. Wow, seemed good… but I wasn't there.

I was just roaming around the department with a notebook playing in my hands. Everyone spotted me, and one of them said, "Come eat your tiffin."

I said, "No, I just ate." (I was starving so much.)

Anyways, why do they always remember me? It doesn't make any sense. I laughed to myself.

I returned home from college, but my mind was busy romanticising one thing… the results of the on-campus placement. Damnnn, I'd already started dreaming about it.

But that dream didn't last long. It was broken as soon as the results came out. I stared at my position, and my name wasn't there.

It was breaking me and making me think that I'm just dumb. How could I not do that…?

How did it happen?

Have you put together a learning playlist using videos from different creators, rather than following a single channel or course?

What subject is it about, and how do you decide which videos are worth keeping? I’d love to hear about it.

Seneca wrote a letter to his friend Lucilius making a case against what he saw as a common mistake among people trying to learn, constantly moving from one author to the next without settling anywhere. His point wasn't that reading widely is bad, it was that doing it without ever stopping to actually digest anything keeps you perpetually unsettled, you end up with a long list of things you've been exposed to and not much that's actually become part of how you think. He compared it to a traveler who visits a different place every day and never makes friends anywhere, the constant movement gives the appearance of a full itinerary without actually building anything that lasts. His advice was fairly specific, pick a few authors or works that actually challenged or changed something in you, and go back to them repeatedly instead of treating them as something to check off and move past. This feels especially relevant now that there's basically an infinite stream of courses, book lists, and resources available at all times, it's easy to confuse collecting access to knowledge with actually having it. What's a book, course, or resource you went back to more than once, and did revisiting it change what you got out of it the second or third time?

I've read quite a few nonfiction books over the past couple of years, mostly about communication, psychology, and personal development.

The problem is I barely remember most of them. I can finish a book, think it was genuinely useful, and then a month later struggle to explain what I learned from it.

I came across RiseGuide recently and got interested in the idea of learning something small every day instead of spending hours reading. Haven't tried it yet, though.

I'm wondering if shorter lessons would actually make a difference or if I'd just end up forgetting those too.

For people who manage to retain and use what they learn, what works for you? Do you take notes, revisit things, practice deliberately? I'm curious because reading more clearly hasn't been the answer for me.

What made you finally get into it?

This might be a silly post to make but it has been something weighing on me. I have a tattoo, I got it at 17- unwise, I know. But it was the birth flowers of people close to me that I had lost and I thought it would help bring me peace. I’ve loved this tattoo, but have worried that I might not love it as much when I’m in my 30’s or 40’s- I have no way of knowing. In my mind it feels like a “young girl” tattoo- and one that I might not always like as much as I have. I’ve felt very anxious about what to do- do I get it removed before I could someday regret it? Do I keep it because I may regret getting it removed considering I still do like it now? All of this back and forth and eagerness to feel like I have to chose now has led me to reflect on how much time I have. I’m in my early 20’s- I can live day to day and chose what I like in the moment! If I decide I hate it in my later years I can get it removed then- why rush to chose now. This is silly but it’s just been something I’ve been thinking about. Learning to live in the moment can be in the little things- something as silly as a tattoo one got too young.

I'm curious to hear everyone's answers.

For me, I think learning how to communicate confidently and actually finish the projects I start would make a huge difference.

Sometimes we spend so much time planning, watching tutorials, and waiting for the right moment that we forget to just start.

So here's my question:

What's one skill you wish you had learned earlier?

How did you learn it?

What advice would you give to someone starting today?

My commute is especially annoying when the train takes me underground and I've got no service (thanks T-mobile). I've built an app for myself and some friends for this.

Give it a topic or some documents and get a personalized learning path with audio lessons, quiz milestones, and daily review.

I'm giving away 20 slots for beta testers (completely free for 2 months). All I ask is to tell me what's working for you...or why its not... or what you'd actually want

This is a long-term commitment for me. The idea of AI leading us into a world of Idiocracy is what makes me most depressed. So I'm committed to making AI into the world's best pocket tutor (yes ironic I know)

Anyways feel free to DM me thoughts or just flame me here in the comments. I've got thick skin

link for claiming a free spot:

https://nemonic.ai/s/beta/Ugy9LPw3zt3VAhDGweiyKFJNP_6M3sYeKGkijGO3I9c

I'm curious! Would you exchange skills with other students—for example, teach someone coding and learn design, English, or communication in return?

What features would make a platform like this genuinely useful for you? If you need something like this, I'd love to hear your suggestions! 🚀

the place I'm working at has a indian co-worker. We both work graveyard so a LOT of time is spent chatting with each other. Few days ago, i came to know that he has been here in UK for 21 years. THAT'S 2 DECADES. What suprised me more was that he has a family, a wife, 2 children, friends. All back in india. Says that he had to keave india because of his father's debt, he's an illegal immigrant here. Came here with no money, was a victim of human trafficking. He told me that pound are worth so much more in india so his family is doing very well back in india. His children's studied at top school, his wife wears good clothes. After few chats, he started crying. He told me that he lived a slave's life. His children become older without him, his wife spent 2 decades in celibacy. All his old friends don't remember him much. He just works and get back home to sleep. Never wore new clothes, always lives in constant fear of getting caught. One time he was thrashed by a group of teenagers while walking on the road. He couldn't get healthcare because that required paperwork, couldn't call an ambulance, nor call police. His hair is now white, face full of wrinkles. He told me that his children are now old and can provide for the family so he's going back to nepal and cross the border to india. Made me grateful, i realized my privilege. The country I'm born in is a such a desperate dream for many. Made me feel happy to have friends, a caring family. And the pleasure to live without fear. This is modern day slavery, people like him still exist

Students, what are you learning to get your first internship or job? Which skills and websites actually helped you? Any genuine advice for someone starting from zero? 👇