Assignment 24- Jasir Rahman- Ultralearning

I think it's funny that this post is called "The Future" but first asks us to reflect on the past.

Anyway, I am conflicted about this year.  It was an enjoyable albeit stressful year.  I don't really care to discuss what I did this year because in the grand scheme of things it seems quite insignificant in my opinion.  As time passes I lose chances to do something special.  I often feel it may already be too late to distinguish myself.  I've discussed this negative mindset before but I don't think it has plagued me as intensely as it is now.  It's not just about getting into a good undergraduate program (which I'm coming to realize isn't as big of a deal as I think it is) but about being productive and pouring myself into a project I can be proud of.  Instead of cracking under this admittedly self-imposed pressure, I hope it will drive me to greatness.

To attempt to accomplish my goals, I understand I must put in an honest effort.  But I've found that isn't enough.  I need to optimize my efforts.  I've stumbled upon Ultralearning by Scott H. Young, a book about learning optimization that analyzes several instances in which people learned skills or accomplished goals in record times.  For example, the author took 4 years worth of undergraduate courses for a computer science major at MIT in just under a year.  With intense dedication and optimized learning strategies, Young and other "ultralearners" have transcended what I thought was previously possible in terms of learning new skills.  I don't necessarily plan to rise to the same level of learning as these accomplished individuals, but I want to take the principles from the book, apply them to personal pursuits, and see where that takes me.  It isn't gonna be easy, but nothing great ever came easily.