I like sticky notes.  I have them everywhere, really. Nicely tucked in the back of my jeans, nestled in a mess that is my pencil case, or neatly stacked on my desk. It’s quite phenomenal to think how these little square papers have aided my existence.  I use the yellow ones for planning projects.  They start out as horrible scribbles. The initial ideas. From there, they go through a sortation process in the murky chaos of my mind to...

I never liked the game “Hide and Seek” as a child, simply because the idea of being lost or waiting to be found never resonated well with my impatient nature. A sense of orientation, be it directions in a city (I’m that over-prepared tourist with two maps and a GPS) or general aims in life, brings me great comfort. This is why the Brown Curriculum poses me a fascinating paradox. On one hand, I fear being lost in the...

Biking is a collection of simple movements. Feet in line with pedals, you push it round and round. As your muscles grow taut and your breath hikes a notch, your mind relaxes; all the problems, from losing X in math to the fight with your roommate seem to unknot themselves. As you pick up the speed and your senses heighten: eyes become keen and ears grow sharp, the voices in your heads become silent, and you start to appreciate the...

Anthropology teaches us to examine the big picture. From learning theories, decoding the language of rituals to analyzing the interactions of cultures, we explore the structure forces that govern our systems and hinder our agency. Psychology teaches us to care for details. We learn that humans are predictably irrational, and little tweaks we create can generate large changes in people’s behaviors. Similar to organizing a successful project, my approach to knowledge needs a combination of both tending to small...

It was not always easy to find serenity when you grew up in Hanoi – a bustling city of 7.5 million people. Luckily for me, I had a permanent residence to a private getaway in my head. As the outside world continues its constant noise and busy chaos, my mind becomes a safe oasis where my thoughts can calmly reside and wander. Knowing that I would always have this secret haven gives me the confidence to venture out into the world, to...

I never knew joining the community in Robert Bosch College meant the deconstruction of my old self- a leader, a speaker. In the space where everyone voices their opinions, I’ve learned to become a much better listener and an active follower. The stage still feels like my bedroom, somewhere I’m utmost comfortable, but I now know that it is equally rewarding to celebrate others’ ideas. Through this process of not voicing everything, my thoughts go through a careful...