So I studied math at Harvard.

So I studied math at Harvard, which is probably my biggest flex, but it's also kind of my worst flex, because people have high, high expectations when you say that. And don't get me wrong, I believe that I am smart, but I'm not prodigy, Harvard math level-smart. Like, I was, and I don't say this to be self-deprecating, I truly mean this, I was the dumbest person in every higher-level math class I took. And I did not do this to challenge myself. I actually did this for the opposite reason. I didn't want to challenge myself. And for me, the easiest thing to do was math. That didn't mean I was a prodigy at it, but it was the easiest type of work that I found. I did not like writing essays. I did not like studying history. Like, that was never my thing. And obviously, studying math at Harvard is by no means easy, but for me, it seemed like the straightest line path without wanting to, like, gouge my eyes out because I had to write a 20 page paper. And obviously, like, I learned a lot of things, but none of them having to do with math, because most of those concepts went way over my head, and I learned them in the moment and then probably forgot them. But what I did learn is as follows. One, everything is about problem solving. How do you get from point A to point B in the fastest path, in the most efficient way. That helps me in all aspects of my life. I took it into finance. I took it when I was trying to teach myself how to code a black rock. Like, you just need to understand how the problem works to get to the solution. That's probably the mathiest thing I learned. Other things I learned were a lot softer. I learned that whatever it looks like on the surface, don't believe it. It doesn't take a genius to graduate from Harvard and study math. It really, really doesn't. I am not a genius. A lot of people are scared away from doing it because they think it does require a genius. And so what I say to that, is don't trust what anyone else thinks. Trust what works for you and follow that. Next, the only way anyone graduated from Harvard is with a lot of freaking help. So use all the help you can get. I made so many friends that I never would have made because I would never have met them outside of math class. And they got me through every single higher level math class that I took. I went to more office hours than guaranteed anyone else in the math department. Not because I was sucking up, but because I needed the help and other people didn't because they were geniuses in math. And then probably the most important thing that I learned, and what I say in all of the interviews that I've ever been in, being the dumbest person in the room is exactly where you wanna be. Why? Because it humbles you. And also because you can learn. The only reason you'd ever wanna be the smartest person in the room is because of your pride and your ego. If you're the smartest person in the room, who on earth are you gonna learn from? Going to Harvard was the best thing I ever did. And it's not because of the incredible classes that I took, which they were, or the incredible professors I learned from, which they also were. But it's because of all the smarter people than me that I've met and get to still have in my life. So my advice for anyone figuring out what to do next, whether that's in college or getting a job or having a transition in your life. 1. Teach yourself how to problem solve and you will be able to do anything. 2. Always follow your gut. Never listen to what someone else says is the right way to do something. And 3, and probably most importantly, never be afraid to be the dumbest person in the room. In fact, relish in it because it's gonna teach you so much and you're gonna meet the most amazing people. It's so worth it. Love you.