Chapter 2
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s a high school student, Steve embraced the counterculture
values of individuality, rebelliousness, and experimentation
with psychedelic drugs that flourished in the early 1970s. He
looked like a hippie. He had long hair, sported love beads, and
often went barefoot. At the same time, he was somewhat of a
nerd. He was passionate about electronics, developed an interest
in poetry and creative writing, and was as intense as ever.
It was at this time that he became involved with Chris-Ann
Brennan, a young woman who shared Steve’s counterculture val-
ues and intellectual pursuits. The two became very close, and they
would maintain an off and on relationship for years to come.
In 1972, Steve graduated from high school. He was accepted
to many prestigious universities including neighboring Stanford,
which was famous for its engineering department and seemed
a perfect fit for him. He, however, did not want to go there.
“Because,” he explained years later, “everyone there knew what
they wanted to do with their lives. And I didn’t know what I
wanted to do with my life at all.” 19
Steve spent the next few years experimenting with different
lifestyles in an effort to figure out who he was and what he wanted
to do with his life. While Jobs was searching for enlightenment,
Steve Wozniak dropped out of Berkeley and started working for
Hewlett Packard. The two were at different points in their lives
and did not see much of each other.
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