We Dream High

    powersagitar

    I’ve always told my friends to aim high. The goal doesn't have to be realistic—as long as it pushes you forward. Looking back, that mindset carried me through the challenges and triumphs of Grade 12, shaping one of the most stressful yet rewarding years of my life.

    What a Tough Year

    Grade 12 was stressful. It dictated the beginning of my post-secondary journey. Nothing—nothing I've experienced so far—comes close to the ups and downs I had to endure.

    I was fortunate. Well before high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in software engineering. I had the confidence, too. Serving as the co-president of the Computer Science Club, I knew my technical skills and extracurriculars were on the stronger end of the scale.

    Software Engineering at UWaterloo had five prerequisite courses:

    There wasn’t much freedom of choice for the last elective credit, really. Of course, I had made up my mind: Computer Science (ICS4U).

    Undoubtedly, grades are the most important factor when it comes to admissions. I was totally aware of that. Knowing I had never achieved remarkable contest scores—I wasn’t a contest person—I gave up on them completely. Although participated in CSMC and CCC, both hosted by UWaterloo, I didn’t prepare for either. The former was deliberate; the latter was kind of hilarious, that I was so locked in on Physics and Calculus that I didn’t realize it was contest time until three days prior.

    So I went all in to boost my grades. Computer Science was my best-performing course of the year, finishing off with a 99. Next up was Advanced Functions, 98. Then came the worst average of the first semester: Chemistry, 93. The second semester, on the other hand, wasn’t smooth. It was when I abode lost and found. The semester started okay, I was making small mistakes on Calculus tests here and there, but that was fine, compared to what was about to happen. I nuclear bombed one Calculus quiz, which drastically dropped my average to 90.9. To all my friends, I sighed, “If I don’t get into Waterloo by midterms, I’m not getting in. The moment Waterloo sees my marks, I’m done for.”

    The good news was that my hard work paid off—way sooner than expected. On , my friends asked me if I got into Waterloo. “But I didn’t get any email?” Apparently, no one had gotten an email yet. But there it was—the line Conditional Admit—siting right there in Quest.

    I had just finished another Calculus test in period 5, one I had studied an entire week for. Still inside the classroom, I jumped up and bursted out, “YEEESSSSSS!!!!!!” I will never forget that moment—the pure joy, the relief, the overwhelming blend of lost and found—all coming together as I got into the program I had dreamed of throughout high school.

    P.S., I wrote this section on , exactly one day after being admitted to the university.

    Grade 12 Is Not Without Fun

    I remember when I transitioned into high school, a teacher said during orientation, “We study hard, and we play hard.” That perfectly applied to grade 12, too.

    Being the co-president of Computer Science Club and a senior of the school, there were plenty of perks. The club had a tradition of hosting socials before Winter Break. This time, I got to decide what to do.

    Our club had a mascot—a variation of Hatsune Miku. We also had a cosplay club. The theme was clear: bringing our mascot to life! The social was a huge success—everyone enjoyed themselves. The club founder even reached out and said, “This is exactly where I envisioned the club to be in five years.” How rewarding.

    Other executives managed to convince everyone that I was the one in the Miku costume. Well, not yet. I had a plan—to actually dress up in in in June, as the ultimate celebration of my graduation and high school life.

    I also got the chance to participate in Skills Regionals for the Coding category. Since I wasn’t expecting to win, the hackathon was pure fun. There was a lot of chatter, the food was great—everything was terrific. The competition took place during my most stressful week, giving me a much-needed break and a chance to recharge before burning out.

    Connect With Me

    Thank you for reading! That was everything from my Grade 12 year that I think is worth mentioning.

    Feel free to connect with me if you are a fellow Software Engineering student at UWaterloo, someone looking for advice, or just someone who wants to make friends.

    Cheers!