Natethegreat2007
23 hrs ago
Undergraduate / Autobiography for National Taiwan University (Program : Computer Science & Information Engineering) [2]
Hello everyone, I am applying for the Computer Science & Information Engineering undergrad program at NTU (National Taiwan University).
A requirement of the application is to write an autobiography (the department did not list its requirements for the autobiography but based on what I have been told from others they want to know: achievements I am proud of, personal highlights, school/life experiences I had the most difficulty with, topics I am interested in now and what I plan to get out of my studies)
This is my essay:
I am Nathan Scott from St. John's College, Belize City, Belize. My father is an electrician who works for the National Meteorological Office in Belize, and my mother is a housewife. My parents have been supportive of my educational goals since birth and have always instilled values such as discipline, discernment, humbleness, and respect. My parents encouraged me to continue learning Computer Science, since it is a genuine passion of mine, and have always been interested in my various Computer Science projects and activities, despite them not being too knowledgeable on programming concepts.
As a sophomore in high school, I never expected to major in Computer Science. Originally, I planned to study Science due to my desire to follow in the footsteps of my cousins and friends. It was not until the day I had to make my program choice that the light bulb in my mind glimmered brightly. It made me realize that my innate fascination with game development (even attempting to make a game using Scratch during elementary school), the properties of software, and the purpose of programming languages were intrinsically linked to Computer Science.
Python, Java, Robotics, C++, Computer Networking, these classes I participated in during my junior year were instrumental to my growth as a programmer. I would create calculators using Python, learn Java during my spare time to fully grasp the fundamentals and spend break times programming the miniature LEGO Mindstorms robots to see how the motors and sensors react. Those days laid the foundation of my knowledge, which aided me during the challenging days ahead during my senior year.
I was tasked to lead a small team in developing a short video game for an OCEANA initiative in 3 weeks. I had zero knowledge or experience in game development and was the only programmer on the team, but I was more than willing to take on the challenge. I spent hours reading the documentation for Godot, a lightweight game engine that is great for 2-dimensional game development. I spent entire weekends developing/programming sidescrolling levels, dialogue scenes, short top-down adventure stages, and a turn-based RPG battle sequence. Additionally, I made sure to incorporate educational, environmental storytelling and sequences to advocate for marine life preservation, conservation and the harms of pollution.
The RPG battle in particular was the most challenging programming experience I had at the time. Utilizing arrays, objects, functions and organizing them in a proper, consistent logical sequence was a challenge due to the complexity of turn-based battle systems. Despite a game-breaking bug popping up 5 hours before my deadline, I did not lose confidence and was able to properly debug the problem in time by calmly assessing the situation using the debugger and seeking online help and reading the documentation to solve the problem.
Additionally, my leadership and collaborative skills increased tremendously. I learned how to collaborate with my fellow art designers, researchers, and audio designers in order to create a functional title that meets OCEANA's standards. The short, 2D game left a positive impact on both players and OCEANA alike and has been my personal greatest achievement in my programming history.
Following that gargantuan project, I participated in game jams where I collaborated with devs around the world to sharpen my programming skills. Recently, I developed a functional turn-based JRPG prototype, similar to that of Final Fantasy, that used the flaws of my previous major game project to create something even better and more intuitive.
I believe that NTU would push me even further to develop great programming habits, practical experience, research knowledge, problem-solving skills, intellectual curiosity, and my creative passion and ambition to use programming as a means for technical innovation, personal growth, and to make a positive impact in the world.
Based on the aforementioned advantages, I plan to enter the game development field in the future to work on innovative, technical experiences that not only showcase the robust nature of programming but also impact the player and user in a personal, emotional and meaningful manner to make a positive impact in the world
Hello everyone, I am applying for the Computer Science & Information Engineering undergrad program at NTU (National Taiwan University).
A requirement of the application is to write an autobiography (the department did not list its requirements for the autobiography but based on what I have been told from others they want to know: achievements I am proud of, personal highlights, school/life experiences I had the most difficulty with, topics I am interested in now and what I plan to get out of my studies)
This is my essay:
I am Nathan Scott from St. John's College, Belize City, Belize. My father is an electrician who works for the National Meteorological Office in Belize, and my mother is a housewife. My parents have been supportive of my educational goals since birth and have always instilled values such as discipline, discernment, humbleness, and respect. My parents encouraged me to continue learning Computer Science, since it is a genuine passion of mine, and have always been interested in my various Computer Science projects and activities, despite them not being too knowledgeable on programming concepts.
As a sophomore in high school, I never expected to major in Computer Science. Originally, I planned to study Science due to my desire to follow in the footsteps of my cousins and friends. It was not until the day I had to make my program choice that the light bulb in my mind glimmered brightly. It made me realize that my innate fascination with game development (even attempting to make a game using Scratch during elementary school), the properties of software, and the purpose of programming languages were intrinsically linked to Computer Science.
Python, Java, Robotics, C++, Computer Networking, these classes I participated in during my junior year were instrumental to my growth as a programmer. I would create calculators using Python, learn Java during my spare time to fully grasp the fundamentals and spend break times programming the miniature LEGO Mindstorms robots to see how the motors and sensors react. Those days laid the foundation of my knowledge, which aided me during the challenging days ahead during my senior year.
I was tasked to lead a small team in developing a short video game for an OCEANA initiative in 3 weeks. I had zero knowledge or experience in game development and was the only programmer on the team, but I was more than willing to take on the challenge. I spent hours reading the documentation for Godot, a lightweight game engine that is great for 2-dimensional game development. I spent entire weekends developing/programming sidescrolling levels, dialogue scenes, short top-down adventure stages, and a turn-based RPG battle sequence. Additionally, I made sure to incorporate educational, environmental storytelling and sequences to advocate for marine life preservation, conservation and the harms of pollution.
The RPG battle in particular was the most challenging programming experience I had at the time. Utilizing arrays, objects, functions and organizing them in a proper, consistent logical sequence was a challenge due to the complexity of turn-based battle systems. Despite a game-breaking bug popping up 5 hours before my deadline, I did not lose confidence and was able to properly debug the problem in time by calmly assessing the situation using the debugger and seeking online help and reading the documentation to solve the problem.
Additionally, my leadership and collaborative skills increased tremendously. I learned how to collaborate with my fellow art designers, researchers, and audio designers in order to create a functional title that meets OCEANA's standards. The short, 2D game left a positive impact on both players and OCEANA alike and has been my personal greatest achievement in my programming history.
Following that gargantuan project, I participated in game jams where I collaborated with devs around the world to sharpen my programming skills. Recently, I developed a functional turn-based JRPG prototype, similar to that of Final Fantasy, that used the flaws of my previous major game project to create something even better and more intuitive.
I believe that NTU would push me even further to develop great programming habits, practical experience, research knowledge, problem-solving skills, intellectual curiosity, and my creative passion and ambition to use programming as a means for technical innovation, personal growth, and to make a positive impact in the world.
Based on the aforementioned advantages, I plan to enter the game development field in the future to work on innovative, technical experiences that not only showcase the robust nature of programming but also impact the player and user in a personal, emotional and meaningful manner to make a positive impact in the world
