What I noticed after graduating

1. Knowing something isn't the same as knowing it. Everyone knows exercise is good for you and lemons are sour. But you only really know it once you've felt it with your own body. That's why I think doing projects is good. When I review after class I go "ah, I know that," but when I actually try to apply it, it's harder than I expected.
2. If you have a question or you're curious about something, just ask. Whether it's in class or letting someone know you're interested. There's no harm in asking. The people you don't click with, you just don't click with. But once in a while you find a friend who fits you like a hidden gem. A lot of my closest friendships actually grew out of small interactions like that.
3. This connects to number 2, but I think the bigger advantage of school isn't what you learn in class. It's that it makes it easy to meet people around my age who share my interests, my values and my goals.
4. Following from 3, go to a lot of events about the hobbies, activities and topics you're into. I went to the DJ club, the design club, boxing classes, jiu-jitsu classes, the running club, places like that, and I found people who fit me well.
5. The biggest thing about AI: before, my first reaction was wariness, "how would I even do this?" Now it gives me the confidence that I can pull it off somehow. 3D modeling, for example, or building an online multiplayer game.
6. Sleep is ridiculously important. Try sleeping eight hours at the same time every night. The colds and body aches I used to get in Korea, I never once got here.
7. Unless you're going to grad school, stop obsessing over grades. Mental health matters a lot too. I have a few classes I bombed and I'm living a happy life right now. Travel a lot instead and enjoy your college years a bit. I've never seen anyone on their deathbed regretting a failed class.
8. Don't be afraid of failure. I've probably been rejected from more than ten clubs, and I've applied to over 600 companies without a single offer, so I'm still looking. When you fail a lot you get used to it and it gets less scary.
9. The first time is always the hardest, whatever it is.
10. Don't just spin ideas around in your head, actually try them. Figma, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, tools like these are the "language" or the "instruments" of design, the things that bring an idea out into the world. And when you actually try to get an idea out, it's harder than you think and there's more to consider than you think. But all of that becomes real experience.
11. Living on your own is truly different. It builds a kind of leadership over yourself, where your life is fully in your own control. Personally I think I'm a lot happier now that I live alone.
12. You might find out what you like by coming to college. I originally wanted to do computer science and switched my major to Cognitive Science, and I don't regret it at all. I had no idea I liked camping, hiking or visiting national parks, no idea I'd want to learn MMA, no idea DJing was this fun, no idea I'd get into running. So try as many things as you can. You might learn something about yourself you didn't know.
13. For your mental health, don't go too deep into Teamfight Tactics.
14. Don't pour energy into things that have already left your hands. Focus on what you can control right now.

One regret

1. If you can do an internship, do it. If that doesn't work out, I'd have gone harder on personal projects, hackathons, on-campus design events and networking events.