I’ve always kept a notebook—digital or otherwise. Some pages are full of handwritten equations, brainstorms for apps, weird half-doodles, and lists of “things that don’t work yet.” Most of those ideas never make it out into the world, but together, they’ve become a record of how I learn: by combining classroom lessons, project work, and all the random moments where life teaches something you never saw coming.
The School Section: More Than Just Notes
IBDP is a whirlwind. Between assignments, deadlines, and club meetings, my notebook is packed with reminders, subject breakdowns, and—sometimes—long rants about topics that just don’t make sense. But some of my favorite entries start from classroom concepts that spill over into personal curiosity.
For example, a lesson on business flow led me to sketch out workflows for real estate automation. A chemistry experiment inspired a whole weekend spent testing an IoT sensor for property management. Every lesson has the potential to spill out of its subject boundaries; my notebook is where those crossovers live.
The Project Pages: Building and Breaking Stuff
Turn a few pages and you’ll find plans for property management software, lists of email automation rules, and early drafts for research papers. I use these pages to think through problems before I even touch a keyboard. Here’s how some entries develop:
Initial idea: Usually, it starts with “Could I try…?”
The sketch: Flowcharts, mind maps, sometimes half a page of possible error outcomes.
What actually happened: The real story—failed builds, learning resources, things I changed halfway through.
Reflection: Did I solve the problem? What do I still need to learn? Did I ask someone for help, or “figure it out” after all?
Most completed builds began as messy pages in this section. I revisit these notes when planning the next version or sharing the journey in a blog or YouTube video.
The Life Section: Random Wisdom From Outside School
Not everything I write is about academics or tech. Sometimes it’s practical: how to organize my workspace better, or a mural idea for the office wall. There are lessons here too—like how lighting affects focus, how moving furniture changes my mood, or how a quick car mod taught me patience (and how not to strip a screw).
Other times, it’s about mistakes: missed deadlines, communication fails, awkward email exchanges. These lines remind me what school can’t always teach—how to balance work and fun, say no politely, and learn from setbacks.
Putting it All Together: Why The Notebook Matters
Over time, my notebooks have become less about “getting organized” and more about collecting lessons and milestones. Sometimes, revisiting a messy page from months ago helps me through a new project. Other times, it’s just proof that progress isn’t visible day-to-day—it’s only clear when you flip back and see how far you’ve come. Every student and builder needs a system for organizing chaos. Mine is part analog, part digital, always evolving. Whether it’s Notion, paper, or a doc on my phone, it’s where school, projects, and life overlap. If you keep your own notebook—formal or chaotic—I’d love to learn how you use it. Share your tips, your favorite tools, your most helpful “failure notes.” Because the best lessons aren’t in textbooks or finished projects, but in the raw, honest pages we make along the way.
Let’s keep building, reflecting, and learning—one scribbled idea at a time.