# go big or go small or go home but don't go medium

My memories are structured as long-term projects punctuated by incompressible
moments.

Looking back, college was a **"big"** 4-year project with thousands of
**"small"** moments. I do not remember fondly those **"medium"** things:
commuting, busywork, ambient socializing, labs, gruntwork for clubs, etc. Those
medium-sized activities are the worst mix of hard and unremarkable.

Nobody likes feeling useless or powerless. Do **big** things to find your pride.
Do something extraordinary to discover your defining strengths.

In pursuit of grand ambitions, don't ignore the **small** things. Study your
surroundings. Share stories. Create chaos, laugh with strangers, and live
sincerely. Do fun things for the sake of fun itself.

But beware those **medium**-sized things -- they're pointless. They're difficult
tasks that build no character. They are neither fun nor worthwhile. It's empty
training without a trophy. It's junk time that vanishes as it's spent. It's
accomplishing without accomplishment.

Don't deceive yourself -- big things are not necessarily composed of medium
things. Years of diligent study can end with a big diploma; years of Wikipedia
binges can end with a medium reputation for trivia. Big practice makes an
expert; medium practice makes a hobbyist.

**Big** things make your life meaningful. **Small** things make your life
delightful. **Medium** things make your life disappear.
