Magren

Summary of 2020: 2020, Regret is the Prelude to Surprise

Introduction#

Perhaps the experiences of this year were relatively simple compared to last year, so it feels like this year went by particularly fast. I don't know where to start with my own summary, so I'll just write whatever comes to mind.

Before talking about this year, let's take a look at the goals I set last year (although I've forgotten most of them and they were completed in a casual manner).

2020 Goals

• Explore Guangzhou
• Learn React
• Read books like "JavaScript: The Definitive Guide" and "Node.js in Action"
• Create something new and contribute to open source
• Develop an exercise habit
• Go to bed early!
• Cultivate a new skill

It was almost impossible to explore Guangzhou due to the raging pandemic, but I still went to some places, such as Taikoo Hui, where I waited in a long line for a cheap ice cream cone, which left a deep impression on me... 🥲

This year was more about improving my frontend skills. Along with learning, I also implemented some ideas that were not particularly useful.

So, the last three goals were achieved, but the only downside is that I feel the things I created were relatively simple and lacked any highlights or impressive results. I hope to pick them up again in the future for optimization or refactoring.

As for exercise... if going back and forth between my dormitory on the sixth floor for takeout or meals counts as exercise, then I achieved it 🤤

As for going to bed early... it is currently 01:37, and this year has been the most frequent and longest period of staying up late since I entered university or since I turned 21. I think I need to spend some time to restore a good biological clock. I will explain why below.

As for cultivating a new skill: Next time for sure! (Escape)

2021#

Life, Health#

• In the midst of the raging pandemic and various new variants of diseases, I was lucky enough not to be affected. I recently received my third vaccine dose at school.
• Due to being busy with work, I haven't been night running as frequently as last year, and I have developed the bad habit of staying up late.
• I have gained some weight, which is a good thing for me. I had been stable at 100 pounds for the past two years, but when I weighed myself yesterday... I discovered that I'm now 105 pounds 🤧. I don't want to be skinny anymore.
• I have had more opportunities to cook for myself this year, so I started studying cooking. When I have the interest (and money), I will cook. However, I hope to improve my cooking skills 🤮

Work#

Job hunting and work have taken up the majority of my 2021. During the spring recruitment season, I was rejected by various big companies, which made me lose my direction. After having a heart-to-heart talk with a senior, I decided to settle down and intern at a certain company while preparing for the autumn recruitment season.

I quickly adapted to the company, thanks to my friendly colleagues and boss who provided me with a lot of encouragement. I was in a relaxed state at that time, temporarily forgetting the pressure of job hunting and learning some things. However, as I strive for higher goals, I still want to aim for big companies while I am still a fresh graduate.

During the autumn recruitment season, I missed some good opportunities and failed to adjust my state of mind. I felt like I was constantly hitting a wall, and even after completing the HR interviews for some companies, I didn't receive any good results. The pressure was always high, and I often suffered from insomnia and developed the habit of staying up late. Sometimes, I even stayed up all night and only ate breakfast the next day. I also sat with friends at the stairwell, chatting and eating for the whole night.

In order to adjust my mindset and build myself up, I watched many movies, anime, and read books to relax myself. I almost gave up, but in November, I managed to secure an offer from Xiaomi through a supplementary recruitment process. As a Xiaomi fan, I am very satisfied with this result 😌, and the job hunting process has come to an end.

Books, Movies, TV Shows#

As mentioned earlier, in order to adjust my mindset, I allowed myself to watch movies, anime, and read books to temporarily divert my attention from the pressure of job hunting.

Books#

• JavaScript: The Definitive Guide
• Node.js in Action
• Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship
• Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America
• Mr. Iwata

Movies and TV Shows#

I finally caught up on some movies that I had always wanted to watch but had neglected in the past.

• Pokemon (movies)
• Harry Potter
• Lupin III: The First
• Crayon Shin-chan (movies)
• Pacific Rim
• Inception
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (I couldn't resist watching a leaked version with my roommate, but I will definitely buy a ticket when it is released in China!)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion (I caught up on the highly acclaimed series that was praised online)
• Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
• Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
• Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
• Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time

Code, Learning#

• I have been learning frontend development for over a year now. This year, I focused on learning Vue3 and React, and I used both of them to implement some projects.
• I became familiar with Webpack and Vite.
• I read some books and reviewed my frontend fundamentals and computer networking knowledge, as they are often asked in interviews.
• I restarted my LeetCode journey. This time, I used Notion to take notes on the problems I solved and my own methods. Although I still sometimes rely on the solution for the daily problem and struggle in weekly contests, I hope to persevere and improve my thinking skills, waiting for a quantitative change to lead to a qualitative change.

Miscellaneous Thoughts#

Stay Humble#

When I was young, I thought I was quite arrogant. Now, as I grow older, I become more and more insecure. The more people I meet, the more I realize my mediocrity. It's like the saying, "The more you learn, the less you know." The more I know, the more I realize how little I know.

The experts I encountered during job hunting and work this year, as well as the talented peers I discovered by chance, have expanded my knowledge and learning methods, which are worth studying. When I become complacent, it is probably because the circle I am currently in makes me feel less pressured. But in the unknown areas, there will always be experts who can keep me grounded.

With this understanding, I am more accepting of my mediocrity. What others can accomplish in a day or a week may take me a month, but that's okay. I will spend more time making up for the lack of knowledge. There is no need to be discouraged.

Gain More Experiences#

Without experiences, it is difficult to gain true understanding.

There are many things that cannot be understood without experiencing them. It wasn't until this year that I understood why my senior urged me to intern. Many things are like learning programming; you have to personally experience them to truly understand.

Life should be a process of constantly enriching oneself, experiencing things you haven't experienced before. This process may be painful, but after enduring it, you will always gain a better understanding of things. Furthermore, regardless of the outcome, an unforgettable experience itself is a meaningful thing.

2022#

Life#

• Get enough sleep
• Resume the habit of night running and exercise regularly
• Maintain a positive mindset

Code#

• Enter the workforce and work diligently
• Continue to explore and deepen my knowledge in frontend development
• Continue to create new things and explore
• LeetCode!
• Complete my graduation project

Others#

• Learn financial management
• If the pandemic situation improves, continue exploring Guangzhou
• Read 5 to 10 books

Conclusion#

Be joyful and optimistic, and everything will turn out as expected.

I hope everyone will have a safe and successful new year.

Dedicated to myself