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My education system's failure, morality, & cover song 🎵

Published almost 2 years ago • 5 min read

Hi Reader,

You survived another week. I survived another week. :)

What a blessing it is to be alive, safe, and (hopefully) healthy. It’s more than what many people in the world can say right now.

With that note, I’m excited to share that starting next week, you will receive a bonus newsletter from me called Making Of A Book. As I shared in my previous newsletter, I wanted to bring you along the journey with me this time as I worked towards writing my second book. Watch out for the email on Monday.

Also, I’ve changed the format of this newsletter a little to make it easier for you to switch between long reads and short bites. Let me know if you like it.

With that, let’s begin!

CM Long Reads

My Education System Failed Me: Learning to Learn Right: (16 min) Many of you know that I graduated with a bachelor’s from NIT Trichy, followed by a master’s from Columbia University. Some of you also know that I received a “gold medal” from NIT Trichy for securing the highest CGPA in my department. But, so far, I haven’t shared with you truly what that “gold medal” meant to me. Or, how the meaning of it changed over the years. In this long essay, I share the journey of how I learned to learn right. If you’re still in school, I sincerely request you to take a look at this!

The Super Specific How: How To Make Your Course Rigorous: (10 min) Although a year old, I still go back to this article by Wes Kao from time to time. Wes is the co-founder of Maven, the platform where I ran my cohort-based course. She breaks down the “content hierarchy bullshit” and shares the ingredients that make up for a truly great course worth recommending. If you’re running a course or ever plan to run one, bookmark this!


CM Short Bites

[Short Note] Immanuel Kant's Laws of Morality: (3 min) Michael Sandel, a professor at Harvard, teaches a course called "Justice" which is one of the first MOOCs in the world. The entire course is recorded and available online. In this short note, I took down some insights from one of the lectures, specifically around Immanuel Kant's view of morality.

[Video] Who Really Started The Idea of Recycling? (4 min) In the United States, next to every Trash garbage can, there is almost always a Recycle garbage can. The idea of recycling is so ingrained in the Western part of the world that you feel bad if you don't participate in it to save the environment. Except, how is it helping? And who really started the idea of "recycling"? The answer might just surprise you!

[Video] Jacqueline du Pré's Iconic Cello Concert: (8 min) I know this seems random... but this video was really beautiful and I wanted you to see it! Jacqueline du Pré is regarded as one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. Sadly, at the age of 28, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which makes her all the more iconic given how much she produced in a short life span. I had tears watching this performance of hers. Let me know what you think.


Tool of the week

Have you ever had to give your card number while signing up for a free trial, and later get charged for it because you forgot to cancel?

I haven’t, in more than 3 years. Thanks to Privacy.

Privacy lets you create “virtual” credit cards within seconds where you can set limits on how much someone can charge you. And if the charge exceeds the limit, Privacy will automatically decline that transaction, saving you $$. And, it’s free to use. Take a look. :)


Story of the week

Last Sunday, I nervously hit publish on a video I’d been wanting to create for a while.

A cover video of one of my favorite songs: Seven by Taylor Swift.

It felt so good to put this video out there… for one primary reason.

To overcome my deep-seated insecurity about my voice.

When I was 13 years old, my family moved us from a small suburb (Pattaravakkam) to a bustling city (Chennai). And so with it, I also moved schools.

The new school seemed so scary. Until then, my entire friend circle revolved around 3 girls who I used to spend every evening with after school. The thought of having to build a new support system seemed almost unattainable.

I still remember, on my first day in school, this guy sitting in front of me turned back to start a conversation. Feeling relieved that someone wanted to talk, I began chatting too.

One of the first things he told me when I began speaking was, Wow. You have a weird voice.

I didn’t know how to react to that. And that planted a seed of thought for me.

I have a weird voice.

Since then, I’ve had a few instances when someone mentioned this, intentionally or unintentionally.

This really demotivated me to pursue singing. Which sucked, since I love singing, so much. Next to writing, singing is probably my second favorite activity. But, I never learned it formally since I didn’t think I had (or could have) a great voice.

But, over time, I slowly gained confidence. By singing in karaoke bars with people, singing by myself in the shower, or when I’m walking alone on a street.

So hitting that publish button on this video meant a lot to me. It was proof that I’ve overcome an insecurity and acknowledged that I have a decent voice.

A passionate me recording the song on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

That’s it for now, Reader.

Hope you enjoyed this newsletter.

I would love for you to hit reply and share how you’ve been feeling lately. :)

And, watch out for my second newsletter email on Monday.

Yours truly,

Soundarya Balasubramani


Quote of the week: The future will belong not only to the educated woman, but to the woman who is educated to use her leisure time wisely.

- C.K. Brightbilll


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