Why I Care About Sleep at MIT

Posted on April 13, 2016 by adam1

from sleepingmitstudents.tumblr.com

Sleep deprivation is often part of the MIT student experience. One of my dreams (pun intended) is that MIT can come to have a healthier sleep culture.

In this week’s Tuesday’s in the Chapel, I talk about why I see this as such an important issue—both based on my personal experience as an MIT student and from a spiritual perspective.

There’s no transcript this time because this was talk was completely unscripted—which is very unlike me. In addition to the audio, the text selections¹usually in these selections I like to include some connection to non-religious stuff for the sake of inclusivity, but since I did this one with virtually no prep, I defaulted to Bible verses that were top of the mind. I used are below.

Continue reading →

Notes: [ + ]

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usually in these selections I like to include some connection to non-religious stuff for the sake of inclusivity, but since I did this one with virtually no prep, I defaulted to Bible verses that were top of the mind.

Guest Post: On Meritocracy, Happiness, and the Most Important Thing I Learned at MIT

Posted on August 7, 2015 by adam1

Another great guest post from recent MIT grad Michael who was a part of Seek (first as a participant then as a leader).

The notion of a purely meritocratic society is something that is wholly agreeable to most people. In fact, it is woven into the very spirit of the American Dream – the notion that anyone, no matter what the socioeconomic background, can succeed in life through hard work. It is, on the surface, a beautiful notion. Even the poorest migrant worker can attain everything he wants in life, and more, if he has grit and is willing to work hard for it.

At MIT, the notion of meritocracy is revered above all else. Continue reading →

Guest Post: What is it like to go through MIT without impostor syndrome?

Posted on April 24, 2015 by adam1

An answer posted on Quora by good friend Michael who is finishing up his Senior year at MIT:

What is it like to go through MIT without impostor syndrome?

Michael Fu I will be perfectly honest here.

My time at MIT was without a doubt the greatest experience of my life up until now, but it certainly wasn’t without its challenges. It’s an odd feeling to come here freshman year and suddenly be immersed in a community of people who have accomplished ridiculously impressive things and many of whom are lightyears smarter than you are. It’s very humbling. Continue reading →

IHTFParadise

Posted on February 10, 2015 by adam1

I read this incredible blog post in the MIT Admissions Blogs. It’s a wonderful example of how spiritual engagement can transform our experience of MIT. This is what we need more of! Mens et Manus… et Spiritus!

IHTFParadise – A Journey of Depression at MIT

Old friends

Posted on May 15, 2014 by adam1

These two guys go way back. One is a lovable, fury buck-toothed nerd and the other, well, he needs no introduction, he’s Tim the Beaver!

My Complicated Love Affair with MIT… and That Special Somethin’ That Was Missing

Posted on November 25, 2012 by adam1

It was my dream to come to MIT since I was in 5th grade. When I visited MIT for the first time as junior in high school, I just fell even deeper in love. And I very much still remember the day when I got my acceptance letter (though it wasn’t nearly as cool as the ones used today). So when I showed up to start classes here, I was a little surprised to find that not everyone loved MIT as much as me.

In fact, it seemed the longer somebody had been here the more they strongly disliked MIT. The place was nicknamed “Hell” and the acronym we used to express how much we hated it got five letters when most only got three. Upperclassmen told me that “MIT teaches you to hate the things you love” and it was taken for granted that the primary emotion of seniors (if not juniors) was bitterness. What on earth was going on? This was supposed to be the greatest place on earth for us nerds! Continue reading →

Hello MIT

Posted on October 29, 2012 by adam1

Hello MIT! My name is Adam Reynolds and I’m one of the MIT chaplains. The fun part of writing stuff that no one will read is that you don’t have to censor yourself all that much. I’m not really the blogging type (I can’t even manage to read blogs), but this seems like a good venue for me to espouse my spiritual musings and my hopes for MIT.

I’m new as a chaplain, but I’ve been very connected to the MIT community since first coming here as an undergrad in 1997. And I’ve been pretty involved in spiritual life here for nearly the past decade.

First a word about the title of this blog. We’re all familiar with MIT’s motto: Mens et Manus, Latin for “Mind and Hand.” Well, in what is surely brash irreverence, I am advocating that we augment the motto with “…et Spiritus!” to emphasize the importance of the spiritual dimension in life in addition to the physical and mental. Continue reading →

…et Spiritus!

Conversations on spirituality at MIT

Category Archives: MIT