Appeal letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bid letter - Essay Example I don't have the mental fortitude to go to class without my schoolwork. I am not sure enough to talk about my circumstance with my teacher just as the counsel. What's more, after 3 class nonappearances, I dreaded to go to the class thus causing me to escape from the class. The aftereffect of my untrustworthiness was that I got a â€Å"F† or â€Å"UW†. I really lament about my poor and reckless examination demeanor at Otis. I wish you can give me one increasingly opportunity to proceed with my examination at Otis. On the off chance that I get an opportunity to return to class, I guarantee that I won't be missing in any class once more. On the off chance that I have any issues or troubles about my group work, I will examine the equivalent with my teacher in a functioning way. I will confront the challenges as opposed to sidestepping the issue. Likewise, I will buckle down on my work as I trust I can complete my class on the off chance that I buckle down. (I have additiona lly joined my 2010 summer scholastic record at UCLA to help that I can complete the program of finishing the degree program at Otis). I guarantee my poor scholarly exhibition which was the aftereffect of these conditions have been obviously revised and it no longer impacts my scholastic standing. I have considered cautiously and subsequently propose a calendar for finishing of my degree.

Design a Repeater for Digital Rf Signal

Theoretical Repeaters for computerized TV broadcasting can utilize either simple or advanced strategies. The motivation behind utilizing repeater is to help signals into zones of feeble inclusion in any radio correspondence framework. Anyway wave impedance implies the repeater as a rule requires a recurrence move for simple adjusted sign. For carefully regulated sign it might be conceivable to utilize same recurrence. This paper researched and planned a RF repeater which will improve the bury image impedance by fusing delay among got and transmit signal.This venture likewise assessed the nuts and bolts of ebb and flow Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) strategies and chose it as an appropriate decision for lab analyze. The down to earth side of this task is to plan and fabricate a repeater joining reasonable electrical deferral. Substance 1. 0 Introduction4 1. 1 Background:4 1. 2Aim of this project6 1. 3Project objectives6 1. 3 Project deliverable7 2. 0 Problem analysis8 2. 1 Repeater8 2. 1. 1 Analog repeaters9 2. 1. 2 Digital repeaters10 2. 2 Inter image interference13 2. 3 Multipath propagation15 2. 3. 1 Multipath fading15 2. 4 The TV channels16 2. 5 Transmission cable18 . 6 Signal Amplifiers20 2. 7 Transmission delay (Coaxial cable)21 3. 0 Possible solution24 3. 1 RF amplifier25 3. 1. 1 The Transistor Amplifier26 3. 1. 2 Ultra High Frequency Transistor Array (HFA)29 3. 1. 3 Surface mounts technology:32 3. 1. 4 Surface Mount Monolithic Amplifier:32 3. 1. 5 Loft box: 8 way home conveyance unit34 3. 2. 6 Maxview signal booster35 3. 2. 7 Antenna:36 4. 0 Design37 4. 1 Circuit design37 4. 2 PCB design38 5. 0 Implementation40 5. 1 Implementation with HFA312740 5. 2 Implementation with MAV-11SM amplifier41 6. 0 Test result42 6. 1 Laboratory test result42 6. 2 Field test result44 7. Result Discussion46 8. 0 Conclusion48 Future work:49 Works Cited50 Figure List Figure 1System square diagram6 Figure 2 Passive and Active repeater square diagram7 Figure 3 Ana log repeater8 Figure 4 Digital repeater9 Figure 5 Channel the executives for advanced repeater10 Figure 6 Channel the board for simple repeater10 Figure 7 Broadcast in valley with computerized repeaters11 Figure 8 101101 transmitted data12 Figure 9 Received data12 Figure 10 Transmitted information versus Gotten data13 Figure 11 Multipath propagation14 Figure 12 Cable misfortune in dB  (Antenna nuts and bolts, 2008)18 Figure 13 Linear change stage versus frequency22Figure 14 The essential transistor amplifier26 Figure 15 HFA3127 transistor array30 Figure 16 MAV-11SM amplifier31 Figure 17 Suggested PCB format with MAV-11SM33 Figure 18 Loft box home distributor33 Figure 19 Maxview signal booster35 Figure 20 Antenna utilized for this project35 Figure 21 Interference between transfer sign and fundamental transmitted signal36 Figure 22 ISIS schematic of circuit design37 Figure 23 PCB configuration as indicated by the datasheet in ARES37 Figure 24 3D see for PCB38 Figure 25 Circuit with HFA3127 amplifier39 Figure 26 MAV-11SM intensifier circuit board40 Figure 27 HFA3127 gain with binding error41Figure 28 HFA3127 enhancer gain41 Figure 29 One MAV-11SM speaker gain42 Figure 30 Two MAV-11SM enhancer circuits give more gain42 Figure 31 Three enhancers together was the most extreme gain43 Figure 32 Low quality picture with typical antenna43 Figure 33 Picture with repeater associated antenna44 Figure 34 Rebroadcasting connection44 1. 0 Introduction 1. 1 Background: Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) is being embraced as the standard for advanced TV in numerous nations. The DVB standard offers numerous focal points over the past simple norms and has empowered TV to make a significant advance advances as far as its technology.Digital Video Broadcasting, DVB is currently one of the examples of overcoming adversity of present day broadcasting. The take up has been colossal and it is right now conveyed in more than 80 nations around the world, including the vast majority of Eur ope and furthermore inside the USA. It offers points of interest as far as far more prominent proficiency regarding range use and force use just as having the option to influence extensively more offices, the possibility of more channels and the capacity to work close by existing simple administrations. (Pool, 2002) In nowadays when there are numerous courses in hich TV can be conveyed from the â€Å"transmitter† to the â€Å"receiver† nobody standard can be enhanced for all applications. Subsequently there are a wide range of types of the Digital Video Broadcasting, DVB, norms, each intended for a given application. The principle types of DVB are summed up underneath: DVB Standard| Meaning| Description| DVB-C| Cable| The standard for conveyance of video administration through link systems. | DVB-H| Handheld| DVB administrations to handheld gadgets, e. g. cell phones, and so on | DVB-RSC| Return satellite channel| Satellite DVB administrations with an arrival station f or intuitiveness. DVB-S| Satellite services| DVB standard for conveyance of TV/video from a satellite. | DVB-SH| Satellite handheld| Delivery of DVB administrations from a satellite to handheld devices| DVB-S2| Satellite second generation| The second era of DVB satellite telecom. | DVB-T| Terrestrial| The standard for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting. | Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) : The basic impression of advanced TV nowadays is of communicates radiating from signal towers, skipping off satellites, and being shot to home receivers.This is the enchantment ofâ satelliteâ transmission, and it is solid as long as the perspective on those satellites isn't darkened. Nonetheless, this isn't the main manner by which TV signals are transmitted. Another well known technique for transmitting signalsâ digital video broadcastingâ€terrestrial (DVB-T). At the point when telecasters utilize this technique, the computerized signals don't leave the earth. The sign s transmitted using DVB-Tâ do not travel by means of link, however; rather, they go fromâ antenna to elevated recieving wire, from signal blaster to home beneficiary. Computerized signals are routinely transmitted utilizing earthly methods.The transmission technique has various names in various pieces of the world. DVB-Tâ is the name utilized in Europe and Australia. North American clients get these signs utilizing a lot of principles endorsed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). In Japan, it is known as Integrated Services Digital Broadcastingâ€Terrestrial (IDSB-T). DVB-Tâ broadcasters transmit information utilizing a compacted computerized sound video stream, with the whole procedure dependent on the MPEG-2 norm. These transmissions can incorporate a wide range of computerized broadcasting, including HDTV and other high-power methods.This is an immense improvement over the old simple signs, which required separate floods of transmission. Strangely, s ome DVB-Tâ transmissions happen over simple systems, with the recieving wires and collectors getting some supportive innovative updates en route. (Pool, 2002) 1. 2 Aim of this task The point of this undertaking is to research the structure of a repeater for DVB-T framework however consolidating a deferral among gets and transmits signs to evade Inter Symbol Interference (ISI). It is helpful to utilize a repeater to support the sign into regions of frail inclusion in any radio wave correspondence system.However wave obstruction implies the repeater normally requires a recurrence move for simple regulated signs. For carefully adjusted signs it might be conceivable to utilize a similar recurrence. The undertaking will survey the nuts and bolts of current advanced frameworks, for example, DVB (Broadcast TV) and WLAN †and to distinguish an appropriate decision for a lab try. The handy side will be to plan and manufacture a repeater consolidating reasonable transmission delay. 1. 3 Project targets 1. Explore and learn Inter Symbol Interference impact on got signal. 2.Investigate and gain proficiency with the postpone impact on got sign and reason for the deferral. 3. Explore and learn Multipath proliferation and Doppler move of the frequencies. 4. Research and find out about Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) methods. 5. Research and find out about transmission deferral of coaxial link. 6. Explore and find out about various sort of Amplifier. 7. Planning repeater circuit. 8. Executing circuit. 9. Testing the circuit. Figure 1System square chart 1. 3 Project deliverable * System plan * Circuit structure * Documentation 2. 0 Problem investigation . 1 Repeater Repeaters give a productive answer for increment the inclusion of the telecom systems. In the telecom arranges, the system administrators typically first put high force transmitters at the key focuses to rapidly guarantee an appealing inclusion and afterward, in a subsequent advance, increment their inclusi on by setting low-power repeaters in the dead spot or shadow zones, for example, a passage, valley or an indoor zone. A repeater is just a gadget that gets a simple sign or a computerized signal and recovers the sign along the following leg of the medium.In DVB-T systems, there are two various types of repeaters. They are aloof repeaters, which are likewise called as hole fillers and dynamic repeaters that are additionally called as regenerative repeaters. A uninvolved repeater gets and retransmits a DVB-T signal without changing the flagging data bits. The sign is just supported. A functioning repeater can demodulate the approaching sign, perform mistake recuperation and afterward re-regulates the bit stream. The yield of the blunder recuperation can even be associated with a neighborhood re-multiplexer to empower inclusion of nearby programmes.This implies that the whole sign is recovered. The structure squares of the aloof and dynamic repeater setups are appeared in Figure 1. Fig ure 2 Passive and Active repeater square graph In an initial step, DVB-T telecasters, as all supporters, dispatch their systems with high force transmitters in key point so as to rapidly safeguard an appealing inclusion to TV administrators and afterward, in a subsequent advance, increment their inclusion by putting low force r

US Negotiations with Iran

US Negotiations with Iran The United States ought to haggle with Iran The subject of US association in Iranian undertakings is something which has been in presence for a long time now. Interestingly, in as much as this is a subject I talked about so much, almost no is thought about the very realities that come into point of view when seeing this issue (Parsi, 25). In as much as the United States is one of the most impressive and compelling countries on the planet, there are a few viewpoints that are related with Iran which can't simply be neglected. Coming up next are a portion of the issues which are called attention to by the US Department of State: The Iranian Nuclear Challenge The atomic exercises which are related with Iran are a portion of the things which have become critical concerns which the world is looking in the cutting edge age. Right now, the nation is equipped for delivering atomic weapons. This is something extremely hazardous considering over the past the country has been having very rebel pioneers. A portion of the exercises related with these pioneers can prompt the development of a weapons contest in a locale which is as of now lit up with brutality. Simultaneously, there is unmatched disdain among Iran and Israel, one of the United States’ most prominent partners. Having the pioneers of such country have such weapons available to them could spell fate in the district (Bahgat, 150). Over and over it has consistently been the strategy of the United States to guarantee that Iran doesn't come to be in control of atomic weapons. In this equivalent respect, the United States is happy to do anything inside its capacity to guarantee that in fact Iran doesn't possess atomic weapons. There are a few motivation behind why this is the situation. Be that as it may, the one which stands apart altogether is the way that Iran will in general keep its atomic exercises so mystery (Parsi, 67). The nation has gotten so mysterious to the degree that it has even hidden these happenings from the International Atomic Energy Agency. The ultimatums which have been given to Iran by the US appear not to have any effect on the position which the nation takes with respect to its atomic exercises. The fundamental thought for this situation was to force Iran to take ownership of its atomic duties and become a full individual from nations related with atomic exercises or hazard being additionally detached or having sanctions forced against it. It has become rather evident that the nation has decided on seclusion. Supporting Terrorism-related exercises Away from the atomic exercises in Iraq, it has additionally become rather certain that Iran is on the side of Bashad Asad of Syria. In this equivalent respect it ought to be comprehended that it is Asad who has been answerable for a portion of the destabilizing exercises which have been seen in the Middle East. A portion of these exercises have prompted across the board enduring of numerous honest regular citizens on the planet. These Iranian fear based oppression related exercises are not just observed with the Iranian government. There are some different cases where the residents of the nation come into see. For instance, in the year 2012, there are Kenyan specialists who captured Iranian nationals who had explosives and they were focusing on the Western and Israeli spots. In this equivalent respect, the Iranian government keeps on financing psychological militant gatherings both in and around Iran. Effort to the Iranian People It is undoubtedly that the Iranian individuals are for sure affliction. This is significantly a direct result of the system which is in their nation. In this equivalent respect, there are different ways which the United States tries to impart to the Iranian residents in an offer to keep them educated and enabled. These are through online stages and even web based life. There is one exceptional input which comes out from these collaborations. The individuals of the nation are experiencing critical drawback because of lost needs by the administration, defilement and blunder. The administration of the nation has selected to go through enormous aggregates of cash in equipping its fear based oppressor and military intermediaries everywhere throughout the world to the detriment of neighborhood improvement in the nation (Bahgat, 145). It is of significance to tell these residents of the numerous opportuinities which they have outside their ensnarements. Simultaneously, they ought to be caused mindful of the critical potential which they to have. There are a lot of instances of Iranian Americans who have made critical advancements in the nation. Requirement for Negotiation From the conversations, it tends to be seen that Iran is to be sure a country that has a great deal of potential which when not very much dealt with, there might be a ton of repercussions on the United States as well as everywhere throughout the world. A portion of the impact which this nation has is as of now being felt in the nation itself and furthermore in locales where associates of Iran work, all the more explicitly ISIS. A large portion of the dealings with the nation has been to do with the general guideline. Up until now, these have demonstrated not to fill in as the nation has demonstrated not to be shaken. It is fitting to attempt to see angles to do with arrangement. This is an alternative which has not been attempted and it is really obscure whether the outcomes might be any unique if without a doubt this choice gets the chance to be thought of (Parsi, 23). One of the likely reasons why the Iranian specialists have become so resistant is on the grounds that they have been disconnected by a huge segment of the world. Thus, they might be of the conclusion that demonstrating insubordinate might be a method of indicating these different countries that in fact the Iranians can deal with themselves. Be that as it may, this activity is something that may support the inner selves of the pioneers however will have extreme repercussions for the individuals of the nation. It is likewise on such grounds that for sure there is requirement for arrangements. The explanation behind this is on the grounds that the hardliner stand which the United States might be taking might be to rebuff the pioneers or sending a message at the end of the day the individuals who wind up enduring are the residents of the nation. The United Nations has for quite a while been a country that impacts practically all the exercises that go on the planet. It will to be sure be all together if the nation can likewise be on the cutting edge of supporting for the freedom of the individuals of Iran. In as much as there might be inclusion of Iranian nationals on some psychological militant exercises, it ought to be comprehended that these sentiments shared by these people don't really mirror the assessment of the whole populace of the individuals in the nation. In this equivalent respect, it ought to be noticed that the participation of the nation itself with regards to issues to do with arrangement will imply that the neighboring partners of the United States will have tranquility and quietness. The United States will likewise not acquire costs to guarantee that the district is steady. These costs significantly occur because of military sending in the zone not overlooking issues to do with compassionate guide. Works Cited A Single Roll of the Dice Obamas Diplomacy with Iran. Yale UP, 2012. Print. Bahgat, Gawdat. Iran and the United States: Reconcilable Differences? Iranian Studies: 139-54. Print. Parsi, Trita. Misleading Alliance the Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States. New Haven: Yale UP, 2007. Print. Bahgat, Gawdat. Iran And The United States: Reconcilable Differences?. Iranian Studies 41.2 (2008): 139-154. Scholarly Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2015. SASLEY, BRENT E. A Single Roll Of The Dice: Obamas Diplomacy With Iran. Political Theory Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell) 128.1 (2013): 175-176. Scholarly Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2015.

Terrorism Prevention Program for Homeland Security

Psychological oppression Prevention Program for Homeland Security Jacob Malone The Department of Homeland Securitys vision is a country that is sheltered, secure, and flexible against fear based oppression and different perils, where American interests, desires, and lifestyle can flourish. So as to achieve this, as indicated by Chip Fulghum (2016), DHS utilizes more than 225,000 individuals in employments from outskirt security to cybersecurity investigation and must cooperate to battle a wide scope of dangers. With a wide cluster of employment obligations unmistakably their principle objective is to guard America. As per Roger Kemp (2012), The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially appeared as an independent, Gabinet-level, office to additionally facilitate the bring together national country security endeavors, opening its entryways on March 1,2003 (p. 28). DHS essential crucial to forestall psychological oppression and upgrade security. Halting and forestalling psychological oppression is the cornerstone of DHS. The danger of fear based oppression to the country has progressed throughout the years since the last quadrennial survey in 2010. It stays genuine and much harder to recognize. A case of this advancement is the Boston Marathon bombarding. We are confronting increasingly solitary wolf aggressors that are roused and urged by over the top belief systems to radicalize to savagery and submit dangerous fear monger acts towards Americans. These free demonstrations are the hardest to recognize and DHS will stay careful in distinguishing and countering these dangers. DHS Priorities to Secure Against the Evolving Terrorism Threat Recognize, Investigate, and Interdict Threats as Early as could reasonably be expected Psychologist the Haystack: Expand Risk Based Security Concentrate on Countering Violent Extremism and Helping to Prevent Complex Mass Casualty Attacks Decrease Vulnerabilities: Deny Resources, Deny Targets Reveal Patterns and Faint Signals: Enhance Data Integration and Analysis Table 1 Recognize, Investigate, and Interdict Threats as Early as could be expected under the circumstances Because of the present and improvement of potential assaults and dangers, a prime concern is that these horrible obsessive can move undetected across guests inside clash zones. A model would be the contentions in Syria and Yemen where they can prepare other similarly invested individuals in strategies, aptitudes, and weapons for the utilization of fear based oppression. Notwithstanding, numerous different countries are unequipped for making sure about their own fringes and forestall ill-conceived development of individuals and products and the failure to gather customs incomes to help administration. Thus, they are nearly state disappointment. DHS and the Departments of State, Defense, and Justice will address the vulnerabilities and improve the sheltered and secured development of individuals and products by organizing backing to outside accomplices to expand their fringe oversight, customs uprightness, and the limits and abilities of their law authorization. Moreover, it is crucial to utilize the data we get ahead of time to screen abroad dependent on hazard as opposed to holding back to screen upon the appearance of the United States. Therapist the Haystack: Expand Risk-Based Security Because of the decentralized idea of the current danger makes it significant that we relocate away from a one-size-fits-all kind of security approach and move toward chance educated and knowledge driven. With this new mentality, DHS will concentrate more on distinguishing lower chance explorers and payload so as to invest more energy and assets on the individuals we think less about or represent a higher risk. As indicated by DHS, Trusted explorer and shipper projects, for example, Global Entry, TSA Pre㠢åâ€Å"㠢„â ¢, and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism advance these targets and show that successful security and the sped up stream of merchandise and individuals can be accomplished together (DHS, 2017). They will utilize a few different ways to distinguish lower hazard explorers. For instance, they will utilize individual verification and perceive outside accomplice believed voyager programs. Concentrate On Countering Violent Extremism and Helping to Prevent Complex Mass Casualty Attacks DHS doesn't concentrate on only one type of one specific belief system or secured First Amendment exercises, yet rather all structures all types of devotion with regards to countering vicious fanaticism inside the U.S. Their endeavors to contradicting horrible fanaticism feature the intensity of neighborhood networks and the reason that very much educated and well-prepared families and networks speak to the best safeguard against these vicious demonstrations. DHS bolsters network based critical thinking and neighborhood law implementation programs so as to disturb and discourage enlistment to radicalized brutality. As indicated by DHS, DHS mutually creates with government, state, nearby, inborn, and regional accomplices preparing for cutting edge law requirement officials on practices that might be demonstrative of savage fanatic action (DHS, 2017). Tantamount investigation into non-ideologically propelled viciousness gives improved comprehension into pre-episode social markers that are connected to mass brutality. This enable DHS to furnish accomplices with the best apparatuses to recognize and alleviate a variety of brutal assaults. Lessen Vulnerabilities: Deny Resources, Deny Targets Rough fanatics will in general search out and assault emblematic scenes, mass social event, and basic foundation. The most ideal approach to secure against these objectives is to receive approaches that are insight driven, investigative driven, and sought after in close coordinated effort with government, state, neighborhood, and private division accomplices notwithstanding people in general. The DHS Security Strategy for Mass Transit and Passenger Rail plunges further into detail into how they have utilized this way to deal with improve the security of our foundation. As per DHS, They will keep on expanding an accentuation on prevention, including upgrading endeavors to openly impart custom fitted depictions of country security abilities to impact the discernment, hazard computations, and practices of foes (DHS, 2017). Reveal Patterns and Faint Signals: Enhance Data Integration and Analysis DHS and its accomplices must proceed and continually keep up situational mindfulness. Moreover, DHS is committed to coordinating its information sources, including unifying verifying activities. Country Security will receive huge information the board arrangements that will enable the agents and investigators to recognize connections that were once hard to recognize. It permits them to distinguish hurtful action prior and to mediate or prevent these assaults from ever occurring. An essential wellspring of information is the Suspicious Activity Reporting from detail, nearby, and private division accomplices that are individuals from the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative. Another source with a basic job is the If You See Something, Say Something effort. This crusade urges residents to report any dubious movement to nearby law requirement. These endeavors will help ensure our security, common freedoms, and social liberties and permit the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to rapidly see data and offer with other FBI Field Intelligence Groups for additional investigation. DHS will organize and quickly circulate neighborhood or provincial joint items through the National Network of Fusion Center and different systems. As indicated by DHS, These joint items, created cooperatively by government, state, nearby, inborn, and regional accomplices, bolster tasks and give point by point understanding on developing network or district explicit dangers (DHS, 2017). All in all, DHS has a gigantic duty in guarding our country, secure, and flexible against all foes and different dangers. So as to achieve this DHS utilizes more than 240,000 individuals in occupations from outskirt security to cybersecurity examination. So as to ensure us they thought of five needs so as to make sure about against the advancing fear mongering danger: distinguish, research, and prohibit dangers as right on time as could reasonably be expected, recoil the sheaf: extend chance based security, center around countering fierce fanaticism and assisting with forestalling complex mass setback assaults, lessen vulnerabilities: deny assets, deny targets, and reveal examples and black out signs by upgrading information joining and examination. References DHS. (2014). Monetary Years 2014-2018 Strategic Plan . Recovered March 21, 2017, from https://www.dhs.gov/destinations/default/records/distributions/FY14-18%20Strategic%20Plan_0_0.PDF DHS. (2014). The 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. Recovered March 21, 2017, from https://www.dhs.gov/destinations/default/records/distributions/2014-qhsr-last 508.pdf Fulghum, C. (2016). Making sure about the assets that protected the country. Military Comptroller, 61(3), 6-9. Kahan, J. H. (2013). Whats in a name? the significance of country security. Diary of Homeland Security Education, 2(1), 18. Kemp, R. L. (2012). Country security in america past, present, and future. World Future Review, 4(1), 28-33.

musings on duty and purpose

musings on duty and purpose Thanks to Petey and Kathleen for giving me the idea to blog about this and helping me think about how to formulate it! I’ve been very contemplative lately. In my first few weeks here I had tons of questions, but they were “easy” ones: how do I register for classes? If I use the last of the toilet paper in the hall bathroom, should I replace it and how? What’s the fastest way to get from Building 2 to E25? At the same time, too, there was so much else going on â€" I was constantly delighted by new realizations about this place I would call home, and I felt a drive to be social, to make friends, and to participate in class events that wouldn’t come around again. Now I know the answers to those questions,01 1) your academic advisor will show you; 2) yes â€" go to the closet and get another roll and it will pop right into the holder; 3) go out through building 14 and cross the dot and this place feels like a home and not a brief and wild summer camp, and so I’m starting to be able to hear myself â€" not other people, but myself â€" think again. And what I’m thinking, apparently, is a lot of much bigger questions. Questions like, “what does it really mean to exist in this world as an adult” and “what do I owe to the people around me and the world in general” and “what should I be taking away from my time here at MIT?” Spoiler alert: unlike the other questions, I’m not gonna be able to answer these ones in this post. But here’s what I’ve been thinking, I guess: In high school I had a few clubs I’d been part of for a long time, that I knew a lot about and that, by senior year, I was in charge of, and in high school and even earlier, I always knew I wanted to go to MIT. This gave me dual purposes: I wrote club meeting agendae, planned events, and did the work in order to make sure that everything went off smoothly and the other members of my club had fun and learned something. At the same time, I was working hard in school not just because I like knowing stuff (which is still true) but because I had a specific and imminent goal, university admissions, on my mind. At crunch times, like decision day for MIT or a competition for one of my clubs, this crystal clear purpose could be stressful but mostly it was hugely satisfying. Some of my strongest memories from high school, alongside staying up late talking with my best friends, are going to bed thinking back over my day and knowing, I did a good job today. I advanced my purpose.   Well. Now I’m here. I got in, and I fulfilled my responsibilities, and my purposes have faded away. And I’m left thinking, what now? I think of the self I am today as having come into existence during those first years of high school, and so I can’t really remember a time when these external goals weren’t there and I was just facing myself in an empty room. I still have interests and wants, but after all this time feeling like I had some greater purpose it feels so overwhelmingly selfish to do nothing but pursue what I love. I know, it sounds weird. I’m learning a ton about the practical side of adulthood, even just in these past few months,02 My cooking knowledge has SKYROCKETED. Ill post about that eventually :D and I know there’s a lot more left to learn, but I’ve also been thinking about the abstract side of things. As an adult, I will no longer rely on other people for my most basic needs, like housing or nutrition, but I will still be part of the social contract that all of us contribute to, and ultimately, each of us relies upon society to continue to survive. Is it my duty to give back in some way? I was big on duty in high school, like my duty to the younger kids who looked up to me and who Id agreed to help when I took on my positions. Do I have a duty to the wider world â€" and if I do, what is it? Do I fulfill my duty simply by learning, and having fun, and then going out and getting a job and living my life and dying? I can hear my mom in the back of my head saying  yes, of course! but part of me just isnt convinced. Here I am, and I go to MIT; I have the opportunity before me to learn an incredible number of things, and perhaps to grow into an incredible number of people but I can only pick one, or a few. How do I choose? The more I think about it, the more I feel the need to learn something that can help me give back, to work and to live with a goal, to plan for a job in which I can help other people. But this purpose is so new to me, and I dont yet know how to square it with the rest of what I like to do. And moreover, the realization is one that has left me more unsure overall: I thought I knew what made me tick, and now Im here, and walking slowly through the Infinite at 10 pm feeling unsettled and questioning why, and Im realizing that my self of a year ago could not have known this would happen. With each new experience I encounter, now, I feel unable to predict how I will respond, as if once my brain has surprised me the first time, I never know what it will do again. I used to feel that to myself, at least, I was a predictable person, but now I think that that was because I only ever did predictable things for the last couple years of high school, I stayed quite comfortably in my niche. Here, at MIT, I feel I have lost the ability to predict what I will realize I enjoy, what I will realize I want to do, what I will realize I want to do  for my whole life. I know myself, but I no longer really know myself. Like if I reached out in the dark of my mind, I dont know anymore what my hand would hit; I miss being able to walk through the house of myself in pure darkness and never miss a step. Its hard to feel this way and not know the answers, while at the same time feeling that my window to figure it out is slipping away. But I think theres nothing I can do except keep walking the Infinite, keep thinking about this and talking about it (with my awesome friends who hear me out through each micro-realization), and try to take classes and do things, in general, that I think will propel me in the right direction; I guess thats all we can ever really do. 1) your academic advisor will show you; 2) yes â€" go to the closet and get another roll and it will pop right into the holder; 3) go out through building 14 and cross the dot back to text ? My cooking knowledge has SKYROCKETED. I'll post about that eventually :D back to text ?