knowledge management
most teens lose 90% of what they learn because they don't have a system. you don't need a complex system. you need a consistent one.
my system
notes: Obsidian
- 921+ notes, 92 reflection tags
- local-first, markdown-based, no vendor lock-in
- everything goes here: project notes, meeting notes, ideas, research summaries, personal reflections
- the key feature: bidirectional linking. every note links to related notes, which means your knowledge base becomes a graph, not a list. over time, connections emerge that you didn't plan.
spaced repetition: Mochi
- cards for: stats, algebraic topology, E&M (Griffiths), mechanics
- morning routine: Mochi review first, then self-study rotation
- the principle: if something is worth learning, it's worth remembering. spaced repetition is the only evidence-based method for long-term retention.
relationships: Dex CRM
- 124+ contacts in a tiered system
- tracks: when I last talked to someone, what we discussed, how I know them, what they're working on
- the tiers map to the relationship system described in mentorship-networking: close mentors, active advisors, warm contacts, loose network.
- relationships decay without maintenance. a CRM ensures you don't lose touch with people who matter.
reflection: daily practice
- ~8:45pm, ~30 min
- lesson extraction, project direction, social dynamics
- 92 reflection tags in Obsidian means I can search for patterns in my own thinking across months
- reflection is how you convert experience into learning. without it, you repeat the same mistakes.
why this matters
the research you read for one paper becomes relevant to a different project six months later — but only if you can find your notes on it. the technique you learned at a hackathon applies to your product — but only if you remembered the details.
your network from communities, mentors, work, and competitions is one of your most valuable assets. but relationships decay. a simple system — even a spreadsheet — that reminds you to check in with people and records what you discussed is enough to maintain relationships that would otherwise fade.
daily reflection forces you to articulate what you're learning, what's working, and what isn't. over time, you develop better intuition because you're actually processing your experiences instead of just having them.
how to start
pick one habit. use whatever tool you already have — Apple Notes, Notion, Obsidian, a markdown file. every time you learn something interesting, write it down with a tag. after a month, you'll have a searchable knowledge base.
see tools-stack for the full tool landscape.