Don't miss woods for the trees.

Yesterday, we finished another exam - Advanced Data Structures(ADS). Post-exam, there were smiles all around. Exam was easy and on expected pattern. Perhaps, everyone thinks they have an 'A' under their belt. I have a similar feeling - one can get top grade with ease in this subject. After setback of Analysis of Algorithms(AoA), I studied quite well for this exam. Despite that preparation, I ended up making a genuine mistake, arising out of mis-reading of a question. Such errors doesn't concern me much, as long as I am doing my work sincerely.

Now, after the end of first cycle of exams for each subject, I am currently placed below average(in AoA) and above average(in DOS and ADS). It is not a happy place to be in, especially when the real test lies in AoA, and when I haven't yet faced the full challenge of DOS. The worth of ADS course doesn't lie in its grades, but how I use the knowledge gained for the practical applications. Unless I am doing programming(more on this later), I am not gaining much out of my learnings. That is why, the euphoria around ADS exam is misplaced. I am missing woods for the trees.

This is illustrated by my lack of readiness for engineering internships and jobs - the raison d'etre for my travel to US. Presently, my CV has zero features, and anything that I may venture to add would be hollow. Experience and skills that I carry with me are more of a generalist-management orientation, rather than a specialist-technician, and least of all of computer-engineer variety. It is not to say that the former are unimportant; it just means that they are not employable skills for the moment. I am in engineering program, and I need to pay due regard to that education and future profession.

This is where computer programming becomes super-important. I am studying in graduate school, but I am literally a novice in coding. Unless I bring the same level of joy into coding that I derive from penning down thoughts, I wouldn't make any inroads into a decent professional life. I may have come here without any background, but that is no longer a justification for staying at the bottom of the hierarchy. Therefore, it becomes critical that I invest my energy in areas that brings future returns. This two-year period at university is probably the last sole-studying phase in my life. I need to take full advantage of it.

It's been more than a month now in university. I have started to understand the landscape of computer science and industry. It's less dark than before, and I am sure it will become brighter with time. From the perspective of technical knowledge too, I am making some forward movements. The pace is definitely an issue and I need to take some stringent measures on that count. The objective of these measures will be threefold : First, Succeed at Analysis of Algorithms(AoA); Second, develop programming proficiency in Elixir & Java; Third, build my resume or portfolio.

While working on the measures(not shared here) that I have devised for myself, I should keep the larger picture in mind. I keep emphasizing this to myself every time I write for the simple reason that it is easy to get lost in the moment and forget about my objectives. Action without vision is only passing time. I shouldn't forget that I am not here to pass time. I shouldn't just stumble from one stop to another, while ignoring the holistic view of everything. Simply put, I shouldn't miss woods for the trees.