SUMMER WRAP-UP: Insights for Learning & Personal Life
If you have noticed, I missed sending out the newsletter last week. Life threw a curveball at me – a challenge that pretty much took over my brain space and left me with no breathing room.
I wanted to take this moment to share a little wisdom with you. Life loves to throw challenges our way, making us question everything – including our own socks sometimes! 😄 While these hurdles are as certain as sunshine and rain, it's crucial to cut yourself some slack. Take it step by step, stay cool as a cucumber, and keep pushing forward.
🌱By the way, here's a mantra I hold dear:
First, you have not yet experienced all of your happiest days. And second, you still have all the time in the world to become who you want to be.
As summer wraps up, I've got something special in store – a SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS SPECIAL! This one's packed with all the nifty lessons and lightbulb moments that lit up my summer.
1. The First Steps should be Easy 🌼
Taking those initial steps is key, as we all know. But here's the kicker: how do you find those baby steps that feel like a breeze? Well, think about diving into a course that checks these boxes:
It’s easy. Opt for something you know will be manageable (like an easy language such as Python).
It’s fun. Seek out courses with a reputation for being enjoyable, as attested by fellow learners' feedback.
If possible, engage in these courses alongside peers for added support.
I've got a soft spot for Code In Place by Stanford University – they ignited my programming journey. If you're interested in the details, you can find them in my first newsletter.
2. The Learning Process should be FUN 😎
There will inevitably be times when the course material feels a tad mundane (not due to a lack of focus on your part, but because it genuinely lacks excitement). During such instances, consider complementing your learning with alternate methods.
Solving LeetCode challenges can be incredibly invigorating; it's something I personally find quite stimulating. Additionally, embarking on fun projects provides a sense of accomplishment, as you'll have something tangible to showcase.
3. Read blogs, Reddit, Facebook… 🗺️
Learning from others is invaluable. The posts I've shared in this newsletter have been particularly enlightening for me. Here's a compilation of all of them thus far:
“SWE Internship: a Focused-Track Approach” by Scarlet Nguyen
“College Survival Guide” for Computer Science major
I encourage you to glean insights from these sources whenever possible.
4. Liberating Yourself from Rigid Plans 📚
Don't burden yourself with the pursuit of a flawless plan, lest you become overwhelmed. I've learned the hard way that drowning in plans just leads to procrastination. Flexibility is key – keep learning and pick courses or opportunities that jive with your vibe at the moment.
5. Reach Out to Opportunities even though You Ins’t Qualified Yet 🌟
Seize opportunities even if you feel you're not fully prepared yet. Attend career fairs despite having limited items on your resume, and reach out to professors to explore potential research openings. Opportunities rarely come knocking uninvited.
If you're wondering how I approached a research professor, check out this newsletter.
6. Get Involved on Campus 🤖
Participating in CS clubs and pursuing part-time roles related to your major, like joining the IT Help Desk, can be rewarding.
I talked to a guy working at Google, and he told me when he first got his internship, he highlighted his experience working as an IT Help Desk. It helps you showcase your soft skills.
7. Harness the Power of Your Professors 🚀
A recent experience earned me a referral from a Googler, a connection facilitated by a professor who isn't even from the tech field. Although referrals might not hold significant weight with major companies like Google, this instance underscores the importance of leveraging your relationships with professors.
8. AVOID Peer Pressure 💪
The comparison game – we've all played it. Watching others conquer mountains while you're climbing the bunny hill feels rough. Allowing peer pressure to influence you often results in demotivation. I've personally battled this sentiment, feeling that my efforts are inconsequential.
But guess what? It's totally fine! Everyone's got their own dance to the beat of life, and society's imposed timelines are BS. Feel like switching your major senior year? Go for it.
OTHER VALUABLE THINGS OF MY SUMMER
This is my little sharing of a glimpse into my personal life, which holds just as much significance as the insights above.
1. Time spent with my partner 🌈
Because we are in a long-distance relationship, every time we have together is valuable. Having her right there next to me makes the whole journey feel a lot less lonely. It's like having a built-in support system that makes facing failures a bit less scary.
Ultimately, my motivation doesn't just come from working for the sake of it. It's about building a future with her (and, of course, my family plays a part too!).
2. Thinking about family 👨👩👦
I've never been the super family-oriented type, but this summer brought about a change in me. Watching my mom's health take a hit really got me thinking about what family means.
Now, let me tell you about my uncle – he's one of those rare gems who carries no regrets. Back when his grandparents were alive, he went all out to be there for them. His grandma, in her final days, would always ask about him on weekends. She knew he'd drop everything to spend time with her and help out with whatever she needed.
And you know what? I'm totally on board with his approach. I want to be like my uncle – someone who looks back without regrets when my loved ones move on.
NEXT SEMESTER: MY GOALS 📆
As we approach a new year, I've outlined a list of goals for the upcoming semester. If you're curious, I'm sharing them below:
Secure a summer internship.
Complete Coursera's Machine Learning & Deep Learning courses.
Apply to become a tutor for CS 1 class.
Explore an exchange program opportunity in Singapore.
Contribute meaningfully to the research lab.
Attain an IT job on campus.
Develop 10 personal projects.
Tackle LeetCode challenges weekly.
Expand my newsletter subscribers to 600.
Clinch a 3rd-prize position in a hackathon.
Participate in O4U and foster connections with 3 recruiters.
Cultivate friendships within my CS classes.
🎓 This is your signal to write down your goals and start embarking on them today.
📰 WHAT DID YOU MISS IN THE LAST NEWSLETTER
Pros & Cons of Attending a Virtual Conference
My RTC Career Summit Experience: How I prepped and what did I do
Applying for Research Lab & Fighting the Feeling of Inadequacy
Get your Personal Website in 5 Minutes
A list of Hackathons from Major League Hacking
WHAT’S NEXT?
That's it for this edition of the coding newsletter! I'd love to hear from you. What topics excite you the most? Do you have any recommended resources or papers for my learning journey? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions on anything I’ve discussed. Let's keep the conversation going and connect with each other.
Happy coding!
From Bytes of Growth 🌱
What do you think of today's newsletter?
😄Okok
