About Me and My Interests
Introduction
Hello there! My name is Quek Wei Lin, a 22-year-old Chinese Singaporean currently studying at Singapore Polytechnic. I used to be an avid gamer, spending hours playing League of Legends, and I enjoyed engaging in badminton matches. Although my enthusiasm for these hobbies has waned over time, I have discovered a newfound passion for exercise and workouts, such as morning jogging, push-ups, and pull-ups. I have even installed my own pull-up bar at home, spanning between a walkway, to keep myself fit and healthy. Additionally, when I have leisure time, I find joy in watching shows, including K-dramas, anime, and popular TV series. Moreover, I have developed a strong interest in coding and creating my own web projects and applications, allowing me to experience a sense of achievement. Though I must admit, my designing skills are not at their best yet. I mostly work with Javascript and have a bit of experience with C#. I have also dabbled in PHP during my internship when I created this website as a side project. But above all, I cherish spending quality time people close to me. Regarding food preferences, I am not a picky eater at all and relish trying out different food as long as they are edible.
21 Years (Journey and Struggles)
Before 16 years old
In my early childhood days, I was an avid reader, spending countless hours immersed in various books. Surprisingly, I did not own a phone until I turned 15 years old. During my primary school days, I remember delving into captivating series like Geronimo Stilton, Mr. Mystery, and Mr. Midnight. As I progressed to lower secondary school, my reading interests shifted to best-selling and highly-rated books, particularly the Percy Jackson series, which delved into the fascinating realm of Greek gods. Despite being academically successful, I faced a significant decision during my education journey. I was offered a chance to enter the Express stream, which would have accelerated my studies, but I declined the offer due to my concerns about adjusting to a different learning environment and classmates. Instead, I opted for Express Math later on, which I accepted. My adolescence was marked by the introduction of my first phone, leading me to decrease my reading habits in favor of mobile games like Clash of Clans and Mobile Legends. Although this shift did not drastically impact my academic performance initially, there was a slow decline in my grades over time. My parents eventually noticed and decided to intervene by confiscating my phone, hoping that I would concentrate on my studies for the upcoming N level exams.
Finding My Way
After the N Level exams, I received the results and was thrilled to find that I had been offered a spot in the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) due to my outstanding performance. The PFP offered me a direct pathway to polytechnic without having to go through ITE Higher Nitec or the O Level in Secondary 5. I enthusiastically chose Singapore Polytechnic, known for being the best polytechnic in the country, as my first choice and decided to pursue a course in Information Technology. I was elated to have successfully secured my first-choice course. My determination to work hard and achieve a good GPA for my diploma and potentially enter a prestigious university fueled my decision. However, I soon found myself falling into the trap of complacency as the PFP provided a very relaxed learning environment. Without much stress, I found myself spending excessive time playing League of Legends, becoming deeply addicted and gaming for more than 10 hours a day. This unhealthy habit adversely affected not only my academic performance but also my overall lifestyle and social interactions. I gradually lost the lively and outgoing nature I had once possessed. The academic year of Year 0 in PFP consisted of secondary school subjects, such as math and chemistry, taught at a higher difficulty level, but the relaxed pace of learning in PFP made me feel little urgency to excel. My results for Year 0 turned out to be acceptable, although they did not contribute to the cumulative GPA. Consequently, I did not put in much effort during this time.
A Turning Point
As I transitioned to Year 1, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, necessitating Home Based Learning (HBL) instead of physical classes on campus. During the initial weeks of Year 1, the topics covered were relatively simple, and I regrettably allowed myself to indulge in gaming during Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings. My lack of focus during online classes became a habit, and when it came time for assignments, I found myself unprepared and clueless. I sought help from my classmates, but they were either too busy or too exhausted to assist me. My foundational understanding of coding had been lost, and my academic performance plummeted drastically during this period. The subsequent semester in Year 1 did not fare much better, as I struggled to comprehend the lectures due to my lack of fundamental knowledge. The negative impact on my grades persisted, and I was confronted with the shocking realization that I was on the verge of dropping out of my studies. The mere thought of dropping out shook me to the core. It was something I would have never imagined myself doing a few years earlier. My family would be extremely disappointed should all the money spent on my school fees goes to the drain.
However, I managed to gather my strength and decided to turn my life around. During Year 3, I made a conscious effort to stop playing computer games and all other forms of entertainment. I committed myself to academic improvement wholeheartedly. I watched video tutorials, worked on practical examples, do lots and lots of research, and sought out beginner coding projects to strengthen my understanding. I paid full attention during classes and ensured I stayed focused, thanks to improvements to earlier sleeping routine. The positive changes I implemented were noticed by my lecturers, particularly in the coding modules I took that semester. They were genuinely astonished at my remarkable improvements and discussed my situation amongst themselves. I earned a GPA of 3.89 that semester, a stark contrast to my previous results of around 1.2 to 1.7, followed by 4.0 in another semester.
My Aspirations
What I Wish to Achieve
My ultimate goal is to enter a local university for further studies and realize my dream of becoming a software engineer. While my earlier polytechnic year grades may have impacted my academic journey, I am determined to give my best effort now, reflecting on my past mistakes, and embracing each new day. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, I am committed to striving for excellence and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way, perhaps by creating challenging projects that I can showcase confidently, like project Mecha V1 to stand out from others. Though I may not have a very good cumulative grade, I believe there are universities like SIT, SUTD, SUSS that would look at my growth and my interest for coding instead of just my grades. Should I be accepted, I will ensure never to make the same mistake I had made in polytechnic again. I am sure I will be able to handle the academic workload of university because of my potential of quickly catching up if I put in the effort. Finally, I would treat my journey in university as a a blessing, be appreciative of it, and work harder than before.
In conclusion, my journey has been filled with ups and downs, but I have learned invaluable lessons along the way. While I cannot change my past, I can shape my future by embracing growth and perseverance. As I march forward, I remain resolute in my pursuit of academic and personal success, always seeking to become the best version of myself.