数科时刻 | Vincentius Janssen:从迷茫低位生到华为工程师的逆袭之路
“数科时刻”本期将走进印度尼西亚籍学生Vincentius Janssen,
不同于以往的采访,
Vincentius Janssen主动与我们分享了
他堪称“逆转人生”的大学生活——
作为一名第一次来中国的国际学生,从大一GPA仅2.0的迷茫,到大学最后两年成绩提升至3.6和3.9,并获得“最佳毕业设计奖(Best Capstone Project Award)”,最终成功应聘华为研究所编译器工程师,他在SDS有着怎样的读书经历?
希望Vincentius的故事能为数科er们带来新的启发:通过努力和坚持,是可以在逆境中成长与突破的。
Vincentius Janssen
印度尼西亚雅加达
2020级 计算机科学与技术
▪️ 现就职于华为香港研究中心
▪️ 大学时期曾参与学院教授徐慰中科研项目,进行“Optimizations for the IREE ML Compiler”相关研究;及武执政科研项目,进行“RAG Boosted Hierarchical Prosody Control Systems”的前期研究
▪️ 高中就读于印尼Springfield International Curriculum School
▪️ 研究兴趣:ML Systems and Infrastructure Engineering, ML Compilers in Particular
“从大学新生的紧张兴奋到大三大四苦乐参半的难忘时刻,香港中文大学(深圳)一直是我的家,我的游乐场,我的避风港。
想到我走过的路真是不可思议。从一个编程知识匮乏的平庸学生,到即将成为华为研究所的编译器工程师,这无疑是一次自我发现和成长的精彩旅程。 如果没有在香港中文大学(深圳)遇到的导师、朋友和同学们的支持,这一切都是不可能的。我非常幸运能在这里遇到他们。”
原文:From the nervous excitement of freshman year to the bittersweet nostalgia of senior year, CUHK-Shenzhen has been my home, my playground, my sanctuary.
It’s surreal to think about how far I've come. From being a mediocre student with little programming knowledge to an incoming Compiler Engineer at Huawei Research; it surely has been been an incredible journey of self-discovery and growth. One that simply would not have been possible without the support of my mentors, friends, and fellow colleagues that I have been incredibly fortunate to have met here in CUHK-Shenzhen.
初入大学的挑战与迷茫
Vincentius的大学旅程起初充满了不确定性和挑战。在进入大学之前,他没有系统地学习过生物、化学和高等数学,这使得他在大学初期面临了极大的困难。
进入大学首个学期,面对陌生的环境和学术压力,他感到困惑和无助,第一个学期的GPA 2.0让他产生了巨大的挫败感,而疫情的到来也使他的大学生活陷入低谷。在长达一年半的在线学习期间,孤立感让他不得不做出艰难的决定——休学。
在休学期间,Vincentius与家人团聚,旅行放松,尝试重新找回自我。尽管在最困难时他曾考虑过退学,但这段时间的休整让他重新点燃了对学业的热情和动力。面对各种不确定因素和挑战,Vincentius始终坚定自己对计算机科学的兴趣和热爱。大学重新开放后,他以全新的决心重返校园。
Vincentius带着全新的面貌回归校园,但他仍需克服离乡的孤独感和学习上的压力,同时经历了长时间休息后的重新适应也是一项挑战。
精选译文:“我的第一个学期非常艰难。我远离家乡,没有朋友,成绩惨淡——2.0的专业GPA并不值得自豪。之后,冠状病毒大流行来了。这是一场灾难,我从未想到我会从中恢复过来。在经过一年半的在线学习后,我决定退出。孤立、缺乏人际互动和长时间盯着屏幕让我筋疲力尽。我再也无法忍受在线学习,甚至无法忍受电脑。因此,我决定休学一年,放松、充电,并从生活的压力中恢复过来。
我一直是个优柔寡断的人,从未真正确定自己想要什么。唯一确定的是,我热爱计算机,并希望未来的工作能与计算机有关。计算机科学学位看似是显而易见的选择,但我的学习背景却不太寻常。
在高中时,我没有选择STEM方向参加全国考试,这意味着我从未学习过生物、化学,也没有学过超出预备微积分的数学。不过,我的剑桥A-level课程在一定程度上弥补了这个不足,但这些课程的选择更像是自助餐,而不是根据确定未来所需的谨慎安排。这导致了数学、物理、语言学和商业管理的组合不尽如人意。
然而,不知怎的,我却以计算机科学与技术学位毕业,并获得了华为研究所的全职工作机会。但这个故事并非一路顺风。”
原文:My first semester of studies was a struggle. I was far from home, had no friends, and my grades were abysmal—a 2.0 major GPA was not exactly something to be proud of. And then the coronavirus pandemic hit. It was a disaster, one that I never thought I could recover from. After another year and a half of online studies, I called it quits. The isolation, lack of human interaction, and constant screen time wore me down. I couldn’t take any more of online studies, I couldn’t even stand being near my computer by that point. And so, I took a gap year to relax, recharge, and recuperate from the stresses of life.
I was always an indecisive person, never quite sure what I wanted in life. The one thing I did know was that I loved computers, and hoped that whatever it is I ended up doing would involve them. A degree in computer science seemed like a no-brainer, but my background was unorthodox to say the least.
In high-school, I wasn’t in the STEM stream for national examinations, which meant that I never studied things like biology, chemistry, nor mathematics beyond pre-calculus. My Cambridge A-levels rescued me somewhat, though the courses were chosen more like a buffet selection instead of the care required by the gravity of determining my future. This led to a less than optimal combination of mathematics, physics, linguistics, and business management.
Yet somehow, here I am graduating with a Computer Science degree, with a full-time offer from Huawei Research to boot. But this story wasn’t without its twists and turns.
重新归来的决心
Vincentius重回校园后,为了应对学术压力,他另辟蹊径,选择了迎难而上——主动选择同时学习高难度的课程,图形学和编译器,以此激励自己全身心地投入学习。
在面对高难度课程和严格的课业安排时,Vincentius经历了一个又一个挑灯夜读和熬夜完成编码作业的漫长夜晚。最终,他的努力得到了回报。通过全身心的投入,他不仅磨练了学习方法和时间管理技能,还加深了对计算机学科的热爱与理解。在与咖啡相伴的学习过程中,Vincentius还与同学们建立了深厚的友谊。
Vincentius还积极参与校园活动和竞赛,拓展自己的社交圈,丰富大学经历,逐渐消除了离乡的孤独感。他结交了许多新朋友,在积极参与的活动中得到了宝贵的经验,也提升了自身的职业技能。
Vincentius(最下)与他的好朋友们
精选译文:“我决定通过同时修读一些更难的课程来挑战自己的极限,包括图形学和编译器。我认为,只要能坚持下去,我就能应对任何挑战。
严格的课程要求迫使我培养新的学习习惯和时间管理技能,同时也加深了我对计算机科学的理解。熬夜阅读和编写代码成为了常态,但掌握复杂概念带来的满足感让那些无眠的夜晚变得值得。在那些以咖啡为伴的通宵学习中,我与朋友们建立了深厚的友谊,这些纽带在学期结束后依然持续。”
原文:Adjusting to campus life after such a long break was challenging, but I embraced it wholeheartedly. I decided to push my limits by taking some of the harder classes together, including graphics and compilers. If I could survive both, I figured I could survive anything. The rigorous coursework forced me to develop new study habits and time management skills, while also fostering a deeper appreciation for computer science. Late nights reading and writing code became a norm, but the satisfaction of mastering complex concepts made the sleepless nights worth it. The camaraderie I’ve built with friends over those coffee-fueled overnight sessions created bonds that have lasted well beyond the semester.
The challenges didn’t end with my academics either. Navigating the social aspects of university life was equally demanding. I made it a point to attend various campus events, join competitions, and engage in extracurricular activities in order to make full use of my time remaining. Each new experience taught me valuable lessons and provided opportunities to grow personally and professionally. In retrospect, these experiences were just as valuable as the academic ones.
把握意外的机遇
在大四那年,Vincentius在SDS的披萨派对上结识了徐慰中教授。他认为,这次邂逅是他学术生涯的重大转折点。
在派对上,Vincentius与徐教授进行了超过3小时的深入学术讨论,分享了他过去在CSC3050计算机架构课程中培养对计算机架构和编译原理浓厚兴趣的经历。谈话结束后,徐教授邀请他担任CSC3050计算机架构课程的教学助理。Vincentius把握住了这个难得的机会。这段经历不仅加深了他对计算机架构的理解,还提升了他的教学能力,也结识了许多志同道合的朋友。
在接下来的时间里,Vincentius多次主动拜访徐教授,进行了一系列深入的交流。他们不仅详细讨论了学术与专业上的话题,例如计算机架构领域的最新发展,还深入探讨了如何改进CSC 3050课程的教学方法,包括课程内容的更新和教学方法的优化。
徐教授在这些交流中提供了宝贵的建议,并指导了Vincentius的毕业项目。最终,Vincentius获得了最佳毕业设计奖(Best Capstone Project Award)。
助教好友Julian(左)、徐慰中教授(中)、Vincentius(右)
Vincentius(左5)获得最佳毕业设计奖(Best Capstone Project Award)
Vincentius做毕业设计汇报
精选译文:“起初(与徐教授)只是关于微架构的随意聊天,但这段对话发展成了一个持续了三个小时的讨论,直到其他客人都离开了,我仍然感到着迷和受到启发。谈话的结尾是一个意外的提议:邀请我加入计算机架构的教学团队。我对这个机会感到非常兴奋,经过与SDS的协商,我成为了下学期CSC 3050课程的第四位本科教学助理。
这一经历不仅加深了我对计算机架构的理解,还让我有机会发展我的教学技能,并与他人分享我的知识。我甚至与两位同事Alan和Julian成为了朋友,他们与我一同工作。
徐教授的指导并没有止步于此。在整个学期中,我经常拜访他的办公室,讨论各种话题,从计算机架构的最新发展到改进CSC 3050教学的方法。我们的谈话总是引人入胜且富有信息量,我非常感激他愿意与我分享他的专业知识和见解。他还指导了我的顶点研究项目,这个项目最终为我赢得了一个奖项。
回顾过去,我意识到参加那次披萨派对是我学术生涯的一个真正转折点。遇见徐教授并接受他的指导和鼓励,帮助我在智力和职业上都得到了成长,我将永远感激他所提供的机会。”
原文:Senior year was when I truly started hitting my stride. Sometimes, life presents you with incredible opportunities, but only if you go and grasp them. Fortuitous encounters can happen anywhere, and mine came at an SDS pizza party. There, my encounter with Professor Hsu turned out to be a pivotal moment in my academic journey.
What started as a casual chat about microarchitecture turned into a three-hour discussion that continued well after all the other guests have left, leaving me both fascinated and inspired. The conversation ended with an unexpected offer: an invitation to join the teaching team for Computer Architecture. I was thrilled at the opportunity, and after some finagling with SDS, I became the 4th undergraduate teaching fellow for CSC 3050 the following semester.
This experience not only deepened my understanding of computer architecture but also gave me a chance to develop my teaching skills and share my knowledge with others. I even made friends with two colleagues, Alan and Julian, who worked alongside me.
Professor Hsu's guidance didn't stop there. Throughout the semester, I would frequently visit his office, often unscheduled, to discuss various topics; from the latest developments in computer architecture, to the ways that we can improve the teaching of CSC 3050. Our conversations were always engaging and informative, and I appreciated his willingness to share his expertise and insights with me. He also went on to supervise my capstone research project, which ultimately earned me an award.
Looking back, I realize that attending that pizza party was a real turning point in my academic career. Meeting Professor Hsu and receiving his mentorship, guidance, and encouragement helped me grow both intellectually and professionally, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities he provided.
不断前行的力量
在大学最后两年里,Vincentius的成绩显著提升,专业GPA攀升至3.6,最后一个学期更是达到了3.9。他获得的最佳毕业设计奖(Best Capstone Project Award)为他的职业发展奠定了坚实的基础。最终,他收到了华为研究院的工作邀请,这个职位通常面向硕士研究生,这让他对自己的成长历程感到无比自豪。
Vincentius的大学经历向大家展示了,成功不是一蹴而就的。每一个挑战和挫折都是成长的契机,每一次机遇和努力都是未来成功的铺垫。他的经历证明,只要坚持不懈,勇敢面对困难,最终的成功将会向你招手。
Vincentius(左二)与大学室友们
精选译文:“当我收拾好毕业的物品,准备离开这一旅途时,我内心中感到非常复杂。有对未来的兴奋,也有离开时的悲伤,但最重要的是,对这段旅程的深深感激。香港中文大学(深圳)将永远在我心中占有特殊的位置,我为成为一名港中大(深圳)校友而感到自豪。虽然这段旅程犹如坐过山车,但我绝不会用世界上任何东西来交换这段宝贵的经历。”
原文:As I progressed through my final year, the pieces began to fall into place. My major GPA took a sharp rise, with the final two years averaging around a 3.6, and a 3.9 for the final semester—a number that once seemed as distant as the stars. My capstone project earned a distinction and the university’s Best Capstone Project Award. And then came a job offer from Huawei Research, for a position typically reserved for master’s graduates. It’s surreal to think about how far I've come.
From being a mediocre student with little programming knowledge to an incoming Compiler Engineer at Huawei Research; it surely has been been an incredible journey of self-discovery and growth. One that simply would not have been possible without the support of my mentors, friends, and fellow colleagues that I have been incredibly fortunate to have met here in CUHK-Shenzhen.
As I pack the last of my belongings and prepare to leave this chapter behind, I am filled with a mix of emotions. Excitement for the future, sadness at leaving, but most of all, a profound sense of gratitude for the journey. CUHK-Shenzhen will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am proud to be an alum. It's been a rollercoaster ride, but one that I wouldn't trade for the world.
Vincentius Janssen给学弟学妹们的话
对香港中文大学(深圳)现在和未来的学生们,我想给出这个建议:拥抱每一个机会,即使是挑战。上那些难度较高的课程,参加那些意想不到的活动,与陌生人展开对话。大学生活是一段自我发现的旅程,每一次经历,无论好坏,都会以你无法想象的方式塑造你。建立有意义的联系,寻找导师,交好朋友,最重要的是,永远不要停止学习。你在这里的时间会很快过去,所以请充分利用它。
原文:To current and future students of CUHK-Shenzhen, I offer this piece of advice: embrace every opportunity, even the challenges. Take the hard classes, attend the unexpected events, strike up conversations with strangers. University life is a journey of self-discovery, and each experience, whether good or bad, shapes you in ways you cannot imagine. Build meaningful connections, seek out mentors, make good friends, and most importantly, never stop learning. Your time here will pass quickly, so make the most out of it.
希望Vincentius的故事能激励每一位同学,在大学的旅程中不断探索与成长,迎接属于自己的辉煌时刻。