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 passed by very quickly. I also don't know where to start with my own summary, so I'll just write whatever comes to mind.

Before talking about this year's events, let's take a look at the goals I set last year (although I've forgotten most of them and they were more like wishful thinking).

2020 Goals

• Explore Guangzhou
• Learn React
• Read books like "JavaScript: The Good Parts" and "Node.js in Action"
• Create something new and contribute to open source
• Develop an exercise habit
• Get more sleep!
• Cultivate a new skill

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

This year was more about improving my frontend skills. I enjoyed learning while implementing ideas that were not particularly useful.

So I achieved the last three goals, but the downside is that I feel the things I created were relatively simple and lacked any highlights. I didn't have anything impressive to show. I hope to pick them up again in the future for optimization or refactoring.

As for exercise... if going up and down six floors to my dormitory for takeout or meals counts as exercise, then I achieved it 🤤

Getting more sleep... it's currently 01:37, and this year has been the most frequent and longest period of staying up late since I started college or since I turned 21. I think I need to take some time to restore a good biological clock. I'll explain why later.

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

2021#

Life, Health#

• Despite the raging pandemic and the emergence of various new variants, I was lucky enough not to get infected. I recently received my third dose of the vaccine at school.
• Due to being busy with work, I haven't been running at night as frequently as last year, and I've developed a bad habit of staying up late.
• I've 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've reached 105 pounds 🤧. I don't want to be skinny anymore.
• I've had more opportunities to cook for myself this year, so I started studying cooking. When I have the interest (and money), I'll cook. But 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 relatively relaxed state at that time, temporarily forgetting the pressure of job hunting and learning something new. However, as people strive for higher goals, I still want to aim for top-tier companies while I am still a fresh graduate.

During the autumn recruitment season, I missed some good opportunities and couldn't adjust my state properly. I felt like I was constantly hitting a wall. Even with some companies, I didn't receive a good result even after completing the HR interview. The pressure was immense, and I often suffered from insomnia and developed a habit of staying up late. Sometimes, I simply didn't sleep and ate breakfast the next day. I also sat with friends at the stairwell and had long conversations while mooching off their food and drinks.

To adjust my mindset and build myself up mentally, I watched a lot of movies, anime, and read books to relax myself. I almost reached the point of giving up. Finally, in November, I caught the last train of Xiaomi's supplementary recruitment. As a Mi Fan, I am very satisfied with this result 😌. The job hunting process has come to an end.

Books, Movies, TV Shows#

As mentioned earlier, 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 Good Parts
• Node.js in Action
• Clean Code
• Nintendo's Global Conquest
• Mr. Iwata

Movies and TV Shows#

I finally watched 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 circulating on the internet)
• 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. This year, I focused on learning Vue 3 and React, and I used both to implement some projects.
• I became familiar with Webpack and Vite.
• I read some books to solidify my frontend fundamentals and computer networking knowledge, as these topics often come up in interviews.
• I started doing LeetCode problems again. This time, I used Notion to take notes on the problems I solved and my own approaches. Although I still sometimes rely on the solution when doing the daily problem and get beaten in weekly contests, I hope to persevere and train my thinking skills, waiting for quantitative changes to bring about qualitative changes.

Miscellaneous Thoughts#

Stay Humble#

When I was young, I thought I was quite arrogant. As I grow older, I become more and more insecure. The more people I meet, the more I realize how mediocre I am. 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's probably because the circle I'm currently in makes me feel secure. But in the unknown, there will always be experts who can put me in my place.

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'll spend more time catching up on what I lack. There's 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. This year, I finally understood why my senior urged me to intern. Many things are like learning programming; you have to code it yourself to truly understand.

Life should be a process of constantly enriching oneself, experiencing things you haven't experienced before. It may be painful, but once you get through it, you will gain a deeper understanding. Furthermore, regardless of the outcome, an unforgettable experience itself is meaningful.

2022#

Life#

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

Code#

• Start working and do a good job
• Continue to explore frontend development and deepen my knowledge
• Keep creating new things and tinkering
• 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 has a safe and successful new year.

Dedicated to myself.