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about me

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basics

My name is Kay, and I am a junior majoring in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) and minoring in Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM). I'm interested in a career in sustainable UX Design that discourages mindless consumption and increases product attachment.

fun things

Outside of academics, I love running and being outside. I've recently found a passion for dancing, and I've started salsa and bachata lessons. Popcorn is my favorite food--it's such a stress reliever!! Seriously guys, the amount of times I ate a whole bag of popcorn during lecture was crazy.

Although I'm no photographer, I love taking pictures. Some of my favorites are below! I love all animals, but I must admit I have a special place in my heart for cats. You will not find a fluffier cat than Xavi (pictured below).

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xavi sleeping xavi with bowtie 10k run london camden market city lookout yellow chairs washington forest snowy trees
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about this course

I took CSE154 in autumn of 2019 (last fall), and it was a challenging but extremely rewarding course. I felt really empowered by the things we were taught, and I've already used the skills I've learned in other courses I took this past winter quarter. I find that the skills learned in 154 are extremely tangible. You can not only see real-time changes visually while viewing your code in the browser, but this class teaches really tangible skills that can be applied to so many different projects. I'm hoping that I can be a resource so you guys have a similar positive experience!

general tips

  • Participate in section! It really helps to collaborate with peers because we all have different strengths and weaknesses.
  • Don't be embarassed for asking questions you think are dumb. We're all at a different place in our coding careers, and no questions are dumb questions! Please ask!
  • Use your resources! I promise TA's are nice people and the WPL is very helpful. I find it most helpful to go to WPL or your TA with a list of questions you have. Even just by articulating where you're stuck on a problem, it can help you understand your code more. Not only that, it makes it easier for us to understand how best to help you!

homework tips

  • Read the spec, read the spec, read the spec. Seriously. There's a lot of details on there that can get you points!
  • Along those same lines, start your homework early by at least reading the spec! The specs are long, so it's better to do it early and get a good handle on the assignment expectations to know when you should start it. (Pro tip: Assignments always take longer than you think-- start early!)
  • Psuedo-code is so underrated. Even just talking out your plan to your roommate or friend helps too!
  • Be persistent. Debugging code can be frustrating. Don't give up, and ask for help when you're stuck!

life tips

  • Programming is challenging! You're cool just for taking this class and you'll walk away with a lot of great skills.
  • If you ever want to talk about random things or school, I'm free for that too. Especially with the shift to online school, things can be stressful! Remember that mental health is always a priority :)
  • Computer science is for anyone! Whether you're in CSE, Informatics, HCDE, or Art History, anyone can learn how to code and be successful.