Hey there,

As you step into the exciting world of college, brimming with passion and hope, let me drop a friendly reminder before you choose your major – is your journey guided by your true passion? If you're unsure, take a moment. Don't rush, and don't burden yourself with unnecessary pressure. Follow what truly ignites your soul and aligns with your purpose.

Now, let me share a piece of my story. I'm just an average kid who found joy in exploring technical realms from childhood. I can't even pinpoint when it all started. I used to copy source codes, create websites – a journey that began a whopping 14 years ago, crafting dummy websites from source codes. Gradually, I moved from a novice to a beginner. Then, in my 9th-grade (as per my country's grading system), I was introduced to C programming. Can you believe it? That's when my love affair with programming ignited.

Gaming was a significant part of my life, and it still is. I mention this to make you ponder – what do you truly love? When college beckoned, a lecturer dropped a gem on me: "If you're genuinely passionate about programming, make it a habit to code every day." I embraced this advice, diving into the AIUB senior programming competition, clinching the 18th rank, while my classmates grappled with the intricacies of C++.

In the same year, I crafted a reverse maze game for the AIUB Computer Science Fest, capturing the attention of my department. The department head called me in, offering the chance to work on exciting projects. I still don't know what he saw in that kid, but that day marked a turning point.

From that moment, I never looked back. I delved into university-level programming contests, conquering top-ranked public universities alongside my team. We were unstoppable. However, competitive programming took a back seat when an invitation to Google Foobar landed in my inbox. If you're unfamiliar, it's Google's hiring process based on search history, with five stages. I've cleared three so far, and the fourth stage could lead to a board interview. It's a journey that demands time and dedication.

I transitioned into a trainer role at the AIUB Competitive Programming Club, shaping the programming lives of many individuals whose faces I can't even recall. Yet, I take pride in being the foundational builder of their programming journey. I've been fortunate to know inspiring seniors working at Google, Meta, or Microsoft, who continue to motivate me.

Now, I'm penning this from the United States, in my final semester of masters. I've secured a job offer from Microsoft Azure as a Project Manager. It's a fantastic opportunity, but my heart still beats for development.

Here are some tips if you're seeking guidance:

• Understand, don't memorize programming concepts.
• Develop your object-oriented programming knowledge.
• Solve problems – it's the essence of programming.
• Think like a mathematician; good programmers are often good mathematicians.
• Challenge yourself on Codeforces, then explore HackerRank, LeetCode, and GamingWithProgramming.
• Never stop learning – that's the golden rule.
• Take courses on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design seriously.
• Don't waste time on outdated technologies like JavaFX. Remember, your journey is uniquely yours. Embrace the challenges, stay persistent, and, most importantly, never stop coding.

Best,
Medul Hossain Masum