Reinforcement learning is a common machine learning model. In this technique the software interacts with its environment. It makes decisions, and then earns rewards or suffers penalties for those decisions. With every choice, it learns, it adapts and it grows. Just like we do.

Think of a little boy starting playgroup. On day one, everything is new. He watches other children closely. He notes how they sit, talk, and play. He watches the teacher, discovers what makes her smile or frown.

These early lessons make up his playbook. Be it school or home, he is always making notes without even realizing it. The playbook grows bigger and bigger, until eventually it becomes his world view. The child becomes its surroundings.

I saw this firsthand when choosing a school for my son. With so many good options around, my wife and I were lost. Then we had a simple idea – let’s watch the kids in our neighbourhood. Their behaviour might tell us more than any brochure. Before long, a pattern emerged.

Kids from one school talked in a harsh and curt manner. They seemed to thrive on bickering, always ready to pick a fight or tease others. Children from another school – they were always brimming with pride. Their favourite pastime was to boast about their school and mock all other schools.

It was a vivid reminder that the company we keep and the environment we live in truly shapes who we become. Interestingly, this learning continues long after playtime ends.

When you join a new company, you repeat what you did as a kid. You watch how people dress, speak, and interact. You learn what wins applause and what attracts criticism. You learn the company culture simply by being around it.

Your environment guides you, even when no one tells you the rules. In every setting, your actions mimic your surroundings. You absorb its habits, values and ways of being. You learn from your environment and without even realizing it, you become your environment.

Your environment holds the key to who you become. Choose it carefully. Choose it wisely. Whether it’s a school, a workplace, or a circle of friends — pick one that helps you grow.