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⚡️ The Back to School Issue

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Kernel

⚡️ The Back to School Issue

+ save the date for Kernel launch parties!!

jessica dai
Sep 2, 2022
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⚡️ The Back to School Issue

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It’s been quiet around here — one, because I just went back to school, and two, because we’ve been putting the finishing touches on the second issue of Kernel, our annual print magazine.

And on that note… RSVPs are now open for in-person Kernel launch parties in SF and NYC!!!! Tickets are $10, which you can apply towards the cost of a magazine. We’ll also have a free online event during launch week, including a Q&A with one of Kernel’s authors and a community social :~)

  • San Francisco on Thursday, 9/15 — register here

  • New York on Saturday, 9/17 — register here

  • Virtual on Sunday, 9/18 — register here

Stay tuned for Kernel cover reveal… SF event graphic by Justin Carder :)

🏫 advice for students (of all ages)

Last week, I asked Reboot readers in Threads for what advice they’d offer to current students.

By far, most people said to hang out and have a good time with friends:

  • Remember to make friends,, — Tianyu

  • Enjoy the social scene. That opportunity will be over before you know it. — Leon

  • Build out support systems… life is hard but being able to lean on friends/ peers/ mentors goes a long way — David

And some miscellaneous life & career advice:

  • Don’t be afraid to be really earnest about things — Jake

  • Depending on your career goals, your major and grades probably don’t really matter; just take whatever you want. Trying to upkeep high school straight As is not worth the time tradeoff vs taking more risks in and out of the classroom — Jasmine

  • Your .edu address gives you the power to cold email almost anybody in the world. The likelihood they respond and take you seriously is higher than you might think — Kevin

💓 find out what you care about and run towards it

A few weeks ago, we published a piece by Jacky Zhao outlining his research on building a decentralized system for data neutrality (support his work here). He’s since written a beautiful personal piece on his research journey. I wanted to share a few excerpts from it here because while Jacky is still a student and his path has been partially shaped by internships and hackathons and all that comes with a CS undergrad, I think these reflections are something we could all stand to keep in mind:

To do independent research is to learn how to confront the infinite possibility of a blank canvas. To not be intimidated by the possibility of making a fool of yourself, but to embrace the courage to even put brush to canvas, pen to paper. To assert your freedom and power to act.

…

Every few months, I’ll get an email or two along the lines of: “Help, I’m stuck in Leetcode hell, how do I escape and do other things?” I love these emails because I know these are people who have started that introspection process, an internal questioning of “what do I actually care about and why?” and are looking for containers and institutions for their work.

Sooner or later, that line of questioning leads to a question of hypothetical utopia. In a world where you don’t need to work to stay alive, what would you do? What gives you excitement and joy? Completely ignoring what other people tell you is useful or good, what do you find intrinsically beautiful and good to do in the world?


Reboot publishes free essays on tech, humanity, and power every week. If you liked this or want to keep up with the community, subscribe below ⚡️


🌀 microdoses

  • Also a few weeks ago, we interviewed Luke Igel about MIT: REGRESSIONS, a documentary about the history of MIT. The final cut is coming 9/18, and will be released at a live screening in Cambridge!

    Twitter avatar for @lukeigel
    Luke Igel @lukeigel
    Our documentary MIT:REGRESSIONS releases on September 18th! If you're in Boston, RSVP for our in-person premiere. Check it out!!
    2:56 AM ∙ Sep 1, 2022
    50Likes10Retweets
  • Been there

    Twitter avatar for @ruhee_w
    ruhee 🌱 @ruhee_w
    bereal is going to be the reason someone accidentally leaks something extremely confidential from their job and brings their company down
    11:17 PM ∙ Aug 30, 2022
    213,766Likes8,721Retweets
  • Same, protocol!

    Twitter avatar for @protocol
    Protocol @protocol
    tech
    8:16 PM ∙ Sep 1, 2022
    44Likes7Retweets
  • “kernel_finalfinal__v3.6.pdf”

    Twitter avatar for @kernel_magazine
    Kernel Magazine @kernel_magazine
    a lil behind the scenes moment 👀 announcement coming soon....
    A collage of miscellaneous images that show a behind-the-scenes look for Kernel's second issue. There is a Zoom screenshot, sketches, and screenshots of other magazine covers.
    4:41 PM ∙ Aug 24, 2022
    24Likes3Retweets
  • A message from our EIC

    Twitter avatar for @_emilyliu_
    Emily @_emilyliu_
    no thoughts just corn car
    a corncob with wheels
    5:52 AM ∙ Sep 1, 2022

💝 closing note

The magazine is literally at the printers AS I TYPE… 🕯️🕯️🕯️ manifesting.

Twitter avatar for @_emilyliu_
Emily @_emilyliu_
[affirmations font] i am not a victim of the global paper shortage
8:03 PM ∙ Aug 12, 2022

See you in SF! or NYC! or online! (or in print!!)

Reboot team

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⚡️ The Back to School Issue

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⚡️ The Back to School Issue

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Minh D
Writes Life with MD
Sep 3, 2022

Love the advice for college students - something I wish I had known before going in!

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