6 ms·

Ask HN: What new things are you planning to do this year?

5 points by hariis 16y ago

To Sharpen your Mind

manifold 16y ago
I'm planning on learning Python and R. A career advisor gave me some very bad advice at 16 ("you're too old to learn programming properly") and I intend to rectify that this year.
- david_shaw 16y ago
  I would argue that at younger than 16 (I started working with C when I was 13), it's nearly impossible to properly learn programming. Sure, you can throw code around, maybe compile some neat code and even familiarize yourself with the programming mindset. However, to understand data structures and algorithmic thinking on a deep level I think the mind must be sharp and mature. This isn't to say that there aren't "real" programmers who are under 16 (there certainly are), but I think to learn at a deep level it might be hard when at or below that age. Good luck!
- lylejohnson 16y ago
  What an odd thing for a career advisor to tell a 16 year-old.
  - inetsee 16y ago
    My high school adviser told me I'd never get into UCSD. Not only did I get in, but I graduated with honors. Never listen to people who tell you what you can't do.
  - JazzDad 16y ago
    "Those who can do, those who can't teach" - those who have no clue become guidance counselors. My father was a psychologist who had a knack for analysis. One of his Masters projects was to do competency ranking of psychologists based on certain attributes. When he ran it through the people in his program most of the "worst" ended up going on to be school career advisors. He was pretty active in the community after graduation and unfortunately all the "horror stories" came from people who had done poorly on the assessment.
  - guynamedloren 16y ago
    My high school guidance counselor asked me why I was even bothering applying to engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She almost refused to send my transcript. I was in all honors/AP classes with a near 4.0 gpa at the time. I just graduated from the enterprise systems engineering program at UIUC - early.
mindcrime 16y ago
Learn Clojure Learn Scala Teach myself Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Probability & Statistics Dive deeper into data mining, machine learning, and AI stuff.
- theflubba 16y ago
  Not going to happen.
  - mindcrime 16y ago
    Maybe not, but if you're going to dream, dream big, that's what I always say.
    - theflubba 16y ago
      True.
  - secret 16y ago
    I don't see why not. I learned the math part of that (and more) in one year of grad school and basic C++ instead of the two languages. Just takes dedication if you're doing it on your own, I know I couldn't have.
lylejohnson 16y ago
I'm trying, once again, to learn Emacs, but I've made more progress so far in this attempt than any attempts past. I submit as evidence the fact that just a few minutes ago I subconsciously tried pressing Ctrl+V to scroll down a web page.
cgopalan 16y ago
- Dive deep into Django - Get into mobile development - Start a company
limedaring 16y ago
Develop and launch my own webapp. I'm a designer, so I've always relied on others to build my ideas for me, but I finally started figuring out Django and I'm about a week away from launching my first project. It's a good feeling. :)
ginozola 16y ago
I decided this is the year I'd start hitting some health and fitness goals - http://www.adamnuttall.co.uk http://www.adamnuttall.co.uk
rick_2047 16y ago
1. Learn more about microcontrollers and implement at least 3 ideas(the big ones) from my list. 2. Learn about neural networks. 3. Sell a kit design to a diy company.
AN447 16y ago
Take more risks - approach more females I like like a machine/date more, invest and build a portfolio from scratch, play poker Communication - take up toastmasters, possibly stand up comedy and work really hard at telling stories in a compelling and interesting manner Finance - learn the industry back to front inside out and do as much as possible to build as much skill as possible in the areas of M&A/Investing Network - meet as many high profile people across London as possible. Have already met two CEOs and an ex-govt minister in the space of a week with more events/introductions lined up.
zackattack 16y ago
get six pack abs mental clarity follows from physical wellness

5 points by hariis 16y ago

To Sharpen your Mind

I'm planning on learning Python and R. A career advisor gave me some very bad advice at 16 ("you're too old to learn programming properly") and I intend to rectify that this year.

david_shaw 16y ago
I would argue that at younger than 16 (I started working with C when I was 13), it's nearly impossible to properly learn programming. Sure, you can throw code around, maybe compile some neat code and even familiarize yourself with the programming mindset. However, to understand data structures and algorithmic thinking on a deep level I think the mind must be sharp and mature. This isn't to say that there aren't "real" programmers who are under 16 (there certainly are), but I think to learn at a deep level it might be hard when at or below that age. Good luck!
lylejohnson 16y ago
What an odd thing for a career advisor to tell a 16 year-old.
- inetsee 16y ago
  My high school adviser told me I'd never get into UCSD. Not only did I get in, but I graduated with honors. Never listen to people who tell you what you can't do.
- JazzDad 16y ago
  "Those who can do, those who can't teach" - those who have no clue become guidance counselors. My father was a psychologist who had a knack for analysis. One of his Masters projects was to do competency ranking of psychologists based on certain attributes. When he ran it through the people in his program most of the "worst" ended up going on to be school career advisors. He was pretty active in the community after graduation and unfortunately all the "horror stories" came from people who had done poorly on the assessment.
- guynamedloren 16y ago
  My high school guidance counselor asked me why I was even bothering applying to engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She almost refused to send my transcript. I was in all honors/AP classes with a near 4.0 gpa at the time. I just graduated from the enterprise systems engineering program at UIUC - early.

mindcrime 16y ago

Learn Clojure Learn Scala Teach myself Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Probability & Statistics Dive deeper into data mining, machine learning, and AI stuff.

theflubba 16y ago
Not going to happen.
- mindcrime 16y ago
  Maybe not, but if you're going to dream, dream big, that's what I always say.
  - theflubba 16y ago
    True.
- secret 16y ago
  I don't see why not. I learned the math part of that (and more) in one year of grad school and basic C++ instead of the two languages. Just takes dedication if you're doing it on your own, I know I couldn't have.

lylejohnson 16y ago

I'm trying, once again, to learn Emacs, but I've made more progress so far in this attempt than any attempts past. I submit as evidence the fact that just a few minutes ago I subconsciously tried pressing Ctrl+V to scroll down a web page.

cgopalan 16y ago

- Dive deep into Django - Get into mobile development - Start a company

limedaring 16y ago

Develop and launch my own webapp. I'm a designer, so I've always relied on others to build my ideas for me, but I finally started figuring out Django and I'm about a week away from launching my first project. It's a good feeling. :)

ginozola 16y ago

I decided this is the year I'd start hitting some health and fitness goals - http://www.adamnuttall.co.uk http://www.adamnuttall.co.uk

rick_2047 16y ago

1. Learn more about microcontrollers and implement at least 3 ideas(the big ones) from my list. 2. Learn about neural networks. 3. Sell a kit design to a diy company.

AN447 16y ago

Take more risks - approach more females I like like a machine/date more, invest and build a portfolio from scratch, play poker Communication - take up toastmasters, possibly stand up comedy and work really hard at telling stories in a compelling and interesting manner Finance - learn the industry back to front inside out and do as much as possible to build as much skill as possible in the areas of M&A/Investing Network - meet as many high profile people across London as possible. Have already met two CEOs and an ex-govt minister in the space of a week with more events/introductions lined up.

zackattack 16y ago

get six pack abs mental clarity follows from physical wellness