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  • A particle in a Hadron collider - jinx_58's university journey journal

Howdy all, and surprise, another irregular update haha.

I hope everyone's doing well and vibin to whatever song that's playing in your head rn.

This one's gunna get a tad emotional, jus a heads up, because uni really challenges you and I think its important I make this journal entry because 1) I can look back on it and 2) People can learn from my experience and understand its okay to feel that way.

I've just realised that I deeply lack hands-on skills. And a lotta engineering is hands on. Its great (sarcasm). I feel so stupid compared to everyone else, and physics wasn't something I was always good at, but thoroughly enjoyed. I'm not considering dropping engineering, never. I just wish I was smarter because most my peers know what they're doing. They understand the practicality of a situation, hence the physics.

Ngl, its like a small reminder in my head everyday that I'm not good enough, I don't deserve to do engineering and I don't belong here.

I just wish I'd learnt half these skills like breadboarding, soldering etc etc beforehand. I wish I was given the opportunities to do so. I wish I'd decided, "yo lets explore all these electrical things because I've always wanted to open up a computer," but I wasn't exactly allowed. I wanted to learn what are the components and how everything links up. I remember opening up pens and being abolstuely thrilled figuring out how it worked. This stuff always fascinated me, but because I didn't know what to do or where to start and from year 10 and onwards lost the time, I'm pre stuck rn.

I've been given a few tips by others (feel free to shoot any my way) and I hope that I'll be able to pick up these skills at one point.

Wish me luck,
-jinx_58

    jinx_58 I felt the exact same way upon graduation but with practical biological skills, which was probably exacerbated by my own choice to do a theoretical Honours project (I don’t regret it whatsoever, but feels like I shot myself in the foot sometimes). Things that should’ve been skills or techniques I felt I should’ve done earlier in my degree just didn’t always exist, and I’ve had to find experience or teach myself basic skills in my own spare time. (I work in biology too, so kind of critical.)

    Anyway, know you’re not alone in this aspect; there will be others in the same boat. It’s never too late to learn or improve yourself, and now that you’re aware of it, you can ask others who are more knowledge/ experienced to tutor you.

        jinx_58

        Hello, I have no idea what your talking about but I'm graduating in 2024. I've only been on atar notes for like a week, and I noticed that you had an atar journey journal. I think thats a pretty good idea and I would like to make one, for myself because I need to know that this studying is actually worth it. Thanks, Sonia

            sonia
            Deffos go for it dude. Definitely make a journey journal, because I look back on my year 12 one sometimes and it reminds me to keep going ngl.

            -jinx_58

              a month later

              20/09/2023
              So random update (again)

              Since year 10, I've wanted to do mechatronics engineering. When I presented the idea to my parents, they weren't thrilled. Also job opportunities weren't exactly looking the best. That's why I ended up choosing computer and software systems instead.

              I thought, "y'know what, maybe I can do Comp Soft as my primary major and mechatronics as my secondary major,"

              I went to the faculty of Engineering today, and found out, no, I cannot do that. However, if I had chosen mechatronics as my main and comp soft as my second, I could've done that.

              So here I am, pre annoyed and pre disappointed. Yeah the units aren't too different but it just mega sucks.

              I don't mind continuing with Comp Soft but I know for the next few years I will always wish that I did mechatronics instead. It sucks, it really does and its just unfair. But life do be like that sometimes and you move on.

              My plan now is to continue with the Comp Soft major and maybe minor in something mechatronics/electrical related. As we can choose 2 minors, my second minor could either be engineering related or history related.

              We'll jus have to wait and see.

              Peace out,
              -jinx_58

              a month later

              18/10/2023
              (Damn I'm bad at updating)

              Whaddup AN, been a while.

              So idk what to write here but I have a very long list of things to get done on the holidays and my assessment:
              Electrical Phys:
              Quiz due this Sunday
              Assessed Prac Friday
              60% Hurdle Exam 9/11/23

              Programming:
              This pre big 50% OOP (Object Oriented Programming) assignment due 27th Oct
              40% Exam 7/11/23

              Maths:
              20% Assignment due this Friday
              Exam 4/11/23

              Cyber security (honestly gives me RAE vibes):
              40%? Assignment this Friday
              Exam 6/11/2023

              That's about it folks, I'll update more on everything after Nov 9th 🙂

              Cheers for stickin around like sticky-date pudding,
              -jinx_58

                19 days later

                jinx_58
                Very mini update:

                2 exams down, 2 to go, and then I'm free to do whatever for 3 months.

                Edit: I'll let yall know how they went after my last exam.
                Edit 2: In my year 12 journal, I had a post where I hated physics haha. I just wanna let y'all know I love physics so much. And I hated the way it was taught in year 11 n 12. The content itself is just so. darn. cool.

                Keep going dudes,
                -jinx_58

                  Sup peeps.

                  I had my last exam for the year yesterday and tbh, this sem hasn't been the best.

                  Lowkey felt a bit of deja vu from year 11 lol.

                  First semester wasn't bad because it was jus recap from year 12, and the content was pretty straightforward.
                  Second semester however, I was so not prepared for. I honestly just hope I pass my programming and electrical physics unit. I guess the assessment got a lot more tough, I was not staying on top of my work and a lot less motivated to do anything ngl. I think I need to take the break to pull myself together and fix up whatever that needs fixing lol.

                  I'm praying right now that I don't fail any units or anything. Exam wise, Cyber Security was pretty chill and straightforward, our maths unit was also pretty nice. But our programming principles and electrical physics unit was a tad tough. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the content with a passion. But its a tad hard to wrap your head around it lol.

                  I just have a buncha books to read and other things to do these hols, so I probably catch y'all next year! So Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, and Happy New year to everyone 🙂)

                  Until then gang,
                  -jinx_58

                  3 months later

                  Where's the update Jinx?
                  I'm also doing Engineering, but at UQ this year, so loved your Uni Journal.

                  a month later

                  Howdy y'all.

                  Sorry I went totally MIA forra solid while haha.

                  Life is jus a tad hectic.

                  November + December

                  • Didn't do too much
                  • Worked quite a bit (gotta buy a car yknow)
                  • Caught up with mates
                  • Slept
                  • Tried to take care of myself
                  • FINALLY installed windows on my parent's old iMac (I CAN FINALLY PROJECT LESSS GOO)
                  • Read a few old files off an old laptop by using a SATA cable
                  • Turned 19

                  January

                  • Pre-studied for a unit that's notoriously a pain in the backside (didn't finish everything, but that's okay)
                  • Acquired a newfound obsession for CD's after finding my old Samsung CD player
                  • Went to the Lifeline bookfest and scored some BANGER CD's
                  • Caught up with more friends
                  • Switched from Part-time to Casual bc I was sick of the pay
                  • Applied for internships and more jobs

                  February

                  • Last-minute catching up with mates
                  • Found myself a cool of nice headphones
                  • Found myself a better calculator for uni things
                  • Figured out why I lowkey screwed up in Sem 2 Lmao

                  So Sem 2 last year, wasn't terrible but it could've been a tonne better if I didn't slack of. Thankfully, I didn't fail any units and I'm forever grateful for that lol.

                  This semester I'm doing:
                  EGB242 - Signal analysis
                  Analysing signals via Fourier transform and some other cool things. I don't fully understand things but I'm trying lol.

                  CAB202 - Microcontrollers and microprocessors
                  Assembly programming a microcontroller and also using C programming (pre cool tbh)

                  EGB240 - Electronic design
                  The whole unit is based on and around the assignment. Very, very practical and hands on subject. Enjoying it but lowkey scares me cos its a tad broad lol.

                  MZB221 - Electrical Engineering Mathematics
                  Math. But for electrical things. Fourier transform, integrating things, cool stuff, math.

                  Study habits wise, idk I've been reviewing things we've learnt but when I don't fully get it, I go to Gemini (old google bard) to explain to me lol.

                  I also found out I struggle to wake up earlier nowadays, hence I've decided to stay up late studying. Its not terrible, but its not amazing either.

                  Other than that, I've scored a job at QUT which is sick afff. Life is really just doin its regular thang so we getting by haha.

                  I hope this updated y'all, and as always, feel free to ask questions!!
                  -jinx_58

                  4 months later

                  I'm somehow alive, and here forra a new sem lesss goooo.

                  Last sem went pretty alright, scored 5s all round.

                  I'm currently minoring in Robotics and Engineering Math bc I like math and I like robots

                  Idk what else to say, been applying for internships, and honestly just vibing

                  Tbh, I'll prolly only update after the sem bc BRO EVERYTHING'S INSANE LMAO

                  I hope everyone's chillin' and keep vibin' my homies,
                  -jinx_58

                  5 months later

                  Okay I made it outta that semester alive lmao (how? good question, idk :') )

                  I decided to drop fown to 3 units this semester because that 4th unit was...just not something I could do/was interested in.

                  The units I took:
                  Intro to Robotics - LEGIT WAS SO COOL RAGHHH. Got to program a robotic arm to do cool things. The first group project required us to type out a word on a tablet. The second group project made us analyse a photo to pick up particular blocks based on colour and shape. No exam, so there was a small assignment task due every week but we got there eventually. Ngl, favourite unit so far, took up so much brain juice though. Got a 6

                  Electronics - This subject was a pain because I didn't understand things to begin with, until like 2-3 weeks before the exam. The assignments were good revision though, and the knowledge from Electronic design (last sem unit) made sense bc I was finally learning the theory behind the practical things I did. Got a 5

                  Calc and Differential equations - Part of my math minor, took it as a relief subject tbh, I enjoyed it, was mostly relaxing. Exam wasn't too bad but I could've prolly done better. Got a 6

                  Overall, the semester wasn't too bad tbh. The problem was I didn't fully recover from first sem until week 5 of second sem, so that threw off quite a bit lol. I also realised my attention span has decreased and I procrastinated so much more because I didn't take care of my mental health (like I should've lol)

                  For 2025, there are some major life changes taking place and if I've learnt anything, its that its completely a-okay to take a little longer to get your degree done, if it means balancing out your life.

                  On another note, actually started watching Arcane and brain went brrrrr, very cool, love the animation.

                  Peace out, and enjoy the holidays,
                  -jinx_58

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