My Adventure in Multimodal Communications: A Linguistic Tale at Minerva

Ever found yourself on a whirlwind journey, unearthing layers of understanding in just a few weeks? Well, that's exactly what happened in my Multimodal Communications class at Minerva. Picture this: a classroom full of diverse minds, languages from every corner of the world, and a topic that ties it all together – the non-linear nature of language, inspired by none other than the Heptapod language from "The Story of Your Life" by Chiang T.

I remember diving into the pre-class readings, my eyes scanning through the opening chapters of "The Story of Your Life" by Chiang T. The same book that inspired the fascinating movie, "Arrival." I was hooked. The weekends blurred into a whirlwind of words as I devoured one-third of the book and rewatched the movie, lost in the beauty of the Heptapod language.

Now, I'm not new to the world of languages, from delving into the depths of Latin, exploring the complex world of Elvish from The Lord of the Rings, and even entertaining the idea of crafting my very own functional language. Yet, the Heptapod language was different; it was like stepping into a realm where time ceased to exist, where the past, present, and future intertwined in an intricate dance of meaning.

The class itself was a thrilling adventure. A collective of 20 individuals from 15 distinct countries, communicating in 16 diverse languages, were thrust into a cauldron of thought and perspective. We discussed, debated, and delved deep into the sociological and philosophical implications of our languages in context with Heptapod. It was like painting on a blank canvas, where every stroke was a word, and every color was an emotion.

Post-class, with my thoughts racing, I reached out to a friend from Minerva's Class of 2023, eager to share my experience. And bam! She dropped a knowledge bomb about Alan Chan, her friend, who had recently raised $1.7 million in seed funding for "Heptabase," his visual note-taking startup. Inspired by "The Story of Your Life," Heptabase was his ode to the Heptapod language, a visual tool connecting the past, present, and future. I was floored. The connections were uncanny.

Reflecting on these moments, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the journey I embarked upon at Minerva. Here I am, an aspiring entrepreneur with dreams of revolutionizing augmented reality, finding myself in classrooms that challenge my perspectives. Minerva is not just a university; it is a crucible, molding me for the real world, teaching me that language is not just a tool for communication, but a bridge between minds, cultures, and epochs.

So here I am, sharing my Minerva story so far, a tale of languages, perspectives, and life-altering moments. Because in the end, it's about making meaning, breaking out of loops, and embracing the journey, one linguistic adventure at a time.