My Journey: From Disassembling to Assembling by Yudin

My Journey: From Disassembling to Assembling by Yudin - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Since I was eight years old, computers have always been my interest. My parents didn't like the notion, but I used to disassemble things to figure out how they worked if I didn't know how they worked. I've chosen to major in computer science in college because of this. It wasn't until last year that I discovered the existence of coding while perusing social media. I wasn't serious about coding until this year, but it really drew my attention because it matched my personality so well. The AP Computer Science Principles class, was more challenging than I thought at first. But over time I gradually started to get better. I was surprised by the immense joy and happiness I got from the challenges associated with coding, even during moments that made me feel overwhelmed. I'm currently taking a couple of computer science classes in school, and on top of that, I also started the Harvard CS50edx Course on Programming. Using the same old method I learned as a child—taking objects apart to see how they work—has helped me. Even though I'm still learning the fundamentals of coding, I've found that the best way to learn programming thus far in my journey is to look at some similar programs and then deconstruct the code line by line if I get lost.
Even though I'm just beginning with the basics of programming, the knowledge that I've acquired from my school curriculum and courses like CS50 has significantly improved my ability to solve problems. I realized that better solutions can often be achieved when problems are approached with an open mind, whether they be in programming or real-world scenarios. I used to frequently reject other people's viewpoints because I believed my own to be better. This was a poor way of thinking, which often resulted in disappointing results.However, through my programming journey, I've learned the importance of being open to others people’s perspectives. Currently in CS50, where I'm learning the basics of the C programming language, I've created games like wordle and simple calculation generators and created multiple games in Roblox using my knowledge I gained from CS50 and school. These small projects have been valuable in helping me understand the hardships of programming, teaching me to embrace the journey despite the challenges.
Even the simplest mistake like a punctuation error can take hours to fix, so it’s very important to be patient and relaxed. In addition to the courses, I've gotten guidance from family friends working as software engineers. Such as recommended learning resources to hands-on projects, have provided invaluable support in honing my coding skills. It helped my learning experience but it helped me help to embrace all the challenges I’ll face along the way. While I'm still exploring the specific role I want to fulfill, I'm extremely excited to learn and grow through my educational journey from college and internships. I am currently deciding where to embark on this new chapter of my educational journey, but I am determined to pursue a bachelor's degree in Computer Science.