My Learning Journey at the University of Windsor

Hello! 👋

I started this blog as a current student at the University of Windsor to share my experiences, difficulties, and all the knowledge I've gained during my academic career. I hope you'll find something helpful or relatable here, regardless of whether you're a prospective Lancer, a current student, or just inquisitive.

🎓 Academic Insights

Studying at the University of Windsor has opened many doors for me, especially in Computer Science. A few highlights include:

• Collaborative learning: Working with peers on group projects helped me understand teamwork in real-world settings.
• Hands-on experience: Courses like COMP-2140 (Language, Grammar and Translators) helped me build a parser, compiler and translator of my own.
• Professors who care: Many instructors, like Dr. C. I. Ezeife and Dr. Jianguo Lu, go above and beyond to help students grasp core concepts.

If you're just starting, I’d recommend using W3Schools and MDN Web Docs as go-to resources for coding concepts and practice.

🧰 Tools & Resources That Helped Me

Here are some tools and websites I found extremely helpful:

• Notion is a lifesaver, it is the best tool for managing the hectic schedule.
• Visual Studio Code,in my opinion, the best code editor for beginners.
• GitHub can be used for version control but codespaces is a boon if you code on multiple devices.
• YouTube for getting through rough patches and difficult concepts.
• FreeCodeCamp & GeeksforGeeks: for anything you want to learn related to tech.

💡 Lessons is Key

Not everything goes perfectly and it's okay to not be okay! Here’s what I learned from some of my own mistakes:

• Just focus on the basics: I once lost hours debugging something that was clearly explained in the docs. Always read the docs first.
• Avoid delaying important tasks: This is a dear request to everyone, start planning and stop procrastinating. I lost 10% of my grade because I thought that i can finish the assignment an hour before the deadline.
• Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness: Professors and TAs are there to help, but you have to reach out. Don’t keep struggling—be smart and take advice from those who have already done what you’re finding hard.

📌 A Piece of Advice

• Start pursuing your plans: Even 30 minutes a day on a tough topic adds up. Just keep moving ahead and don't look back.
• Spend more time with like-minded people: Talk, spend time or just be close to people who are like you and have similar goals. Because they can be the push in your low times when you don't feel like doing anything.
• Use campus resources: The Leddy Library, Writing Support Desk, and Career Services are fantastic and should be utilised for research papers, assignments, or any help you need.
• Balance is crucial: Life doesn't always have to be hard and heavy. Take some time off—have fun, go on a trip with friends, play sports. Give some time to your mental well-being as well.

📚 Blogs That Kept Me Moving

While preparing my own blog, I came across a few other student blogs that were really helpful:

• The Coding Train Blog: This blog/website boosted my interest in coding and development
• Dev.to: It is like reddit but for developers. You can discuss, post, comment and interact with posts that are all about our field.
• Ali Abdaal’s Website: Although not specific to UWindsor, his productivity and learning strategies are top-tier and helped me increase my grades and confidence.

Final Thoughts

Creating this blog helped me reflect on how far I’ve come and what’s helped me along the way. I hope it gives you something useful or at least makes you feel a bit more confident in your own journey.

Feel free to reach out or comment if you’ve got questions or just want to connect!