ENKR's Blog | Jing Hui PANG

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📌 Why I Started This Blog

initially, i started writing because i wanted to leave something behind—a way for my grandchildren or anyone curious about who i was to know me beyond just a name or a few photos (...fr). i wanted to capture my thoughts, experiences, and journey in life so that even after i'm gone, my words will remain.

✍️ What I Learned Along the Way

over time, i realised that writing a blog wasn't just about leaving something behind—it became one of the best ways for me to reflect. sitting down to write helps me process everything—the ups and downs, what went well, what i could've done better, and how i should move forward. this habit has become something i look forward to each week, a way to slow down and think.

💡 What This Blog Covers

right now, my blog is mostly about journaling—documenting my life and thoughts. but i also share technical insights, knowledge, and lessons i've learned along the way. everything here is a reflection of how my life unfolds, one event at a time.

⏳ How Often I Write

i journal once a week—well, most of the time. there are weeks when life gets too hectic, and i go without writing for a while, but i always come back.

Reflecting on 2024's achievements while aiming higher—i am humbly sharing my progress, hoping others find a spark of inspiration or glean insights for their own journey.

Discover beatbox journey of Jing Hui PANG (ENKR) from solitude to stage performance. Learn about the personal growth, technical skills, and inspiring moments that defined this musical transformation. Share your own musical journey and join the discussion!

WIP

I have built a repo as a preparation hub: - Interview Preparation Materials - ByteByteGo - System Design Interview

References

• System Design - The Big Archive 2023 Edition - ByteByteGo.com
• Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big Ideas Behind Reliable, Scalable, and Maintainable Systems

Embark on my personal odyssey as I navigate the challenging world of coding interviews through LeetCode. Uncover the strategies that propelled me to secure a coveted position at ByteDance, learn from my journey's ups and downs, and gather actionable tips to boost your own performance in coding interviews.

Explore the powerful mottos and sayings that have shaped my outlook and driven my decisions throughout life. This collection of inspirational mottos is not just phrases to read but lessons to live by, each with a story and a profound impact on personal development. Join me as we delve into these empowering words, and maybe find a motto that resonates with your journey.

After a deep conversation with Malaysian beatbox legend Artsy, I am reflecting on why beatboxing has been such a big part of my life. This is my journey to rediscovering the roots of my passion and reconnecting with what made me love beatboxing in the first place.

✨ Highlights of the Week

i'll probably write a separate post to reflect on the time i was gone (a major priority shift), but for now—last week marked a pretty special milestone:

i officially stepped into NUS as a student for the first time! settled my student card, submitted the final application forms, and attended orientation!

i also got the chance to talk to a lot of people—some in the same life stage as me, some more senior (even with families to care for), and some just starting out in the field.

it was so inspiring to meet like-minded individuals, to feel that energy again.

it honestly reminded me of the vibe back in ByteDance—being surrounded by passionate, driven people who challenge and uplift you.

and now i can't wait to make the most out of these 3 short years as a student here at NUS!

during orientation, two seniors, YouSheng & Ben, shared some really practical advice, here are my top 3 takeaways:

1. make full use of the library – even though we're only the second cohort of this course, some past year papers and resources are already available!
2. time management is key – ben shared how hectic his work schedule is, and how he still manages to juggle it with school. inspiring stuff.
3. attend lectures in person – showing up for class is far more effective than skipping and rewatching at home (discipline, my old enemy... lol)

📝 Reading Insights

i've been diving into the book 《段位》 by 戈旭皎 recently—a thoughtful recommendation from my aunt.

each chapter tells a short story that illustrates the challenges we face at different stages of life, and how we might navigate through them.

what i love about this book is how it offers not just wisdom, but perspective—it's helping me better understand myself, and see more clearly how i want to improve.

truly one of those books that finds you at the right time. 📖🌱

hi readers,

wow. it's been... more than 2 months since my last journal.

definitely feels weird to not write anything, really weird.

even though i know-it's probably just me who'll be reading this in the future. and maybe that's enough.

where did i go? what's been keeping me busy?

i disappeared for something big, something great. since around march or april, i've been pouring 200% of my focus into it.

and to myself:

jinghui, you’re doing amazing. keep going - good things are on their way.

what i've been up to:

1. made a BIG decision
2. been preparing for my upcoming university programme
3. catching up with the latest AI trends—lots of readings, lots of coding!

i just feel like... there's still so much to learn.

sometimes, i really wish i could buy myself more time. ⏳

but hey-

you've been doing great, jinghui.

keep growing. keep showing up.

and don't stop believing in yourself. 🌱

✨ Highlights of the Week

it was a short week thanks to the mid-week public holiday, and honestly, apart from that, things were pretty chill.

but one major thing hppened: i conquered one of my biggest interview traumas. 🥺

back in 2023, i interviewed with a company that completely caught me off guard. there was a question that shut me down entirely—i froze. no follow-up questions, no attempts to clarify. just silence. i was so deep in self-doubt that all i could do was sit in that fear. 😞

but after that interview, i made a promise to myself. i dove deep into that specific topic. i studied it until i truly understood it—not just to memorise it, but to recognise the underlying pattern. i didn't want to be caught off guard again.

fast forward two years, and guess what? i got another shot. i had the chance to interview with them again.

this time, i clarified inputs, rephrased questions, walked through my thinking process, offered multiple approaches, did a mini speedrun to validate the logic, and coded the full solution. not only did i stay calm, but i actually enjoyed the whole process.

what i've come to realise is—yes, AI will probably replace a lot of coding. but what makes coding fun isn't just the code. it's that 0-to-1 moment—the "ah ha!" breakthrough, the joy of unravelling a complex puzzle. it's the ability to notice new patterns every time, and that feeling... that is what i fell in love with again this week. ❤️‍🔥

aside from that, i also started revisiting system design, and i'll begin jotting down my notes here. excited to build this up week by week! 🧠📘

ohh! and another highlight—andy chiew said something that really stuck with me during one of our pantry chats: "changes happen to you so that you're given a chance to make a choice. it might turn out bad, it might turn out good, but in the end, it becomes an unregrettable experience that shapes who you're going to become."

the moment he said it, i paused. it just hit different. i jotted it down on my note app right after. it resonated deeply with how i've always viewed changes—not as disruption, but as opportunity. an invitation to grow, to make intentional decisions, and to evolve.

it reminded me that every change, no matter how uncertain, is a chance to choose who i want to be. and that's powerful. 🌱

🥰 Memories | April 28 - May 4

✨ Highlights of the Week

a bittersweet highlight of the week was kaiqing's departure. 🥺

it came as a surprise, but i'm glad we got the chance to connect more before he left. we talked more over tea time, shared pantry convos in the morning and late afternoon, and finally built a bond i wished started earlier.

i genuinely wish him the very best, and who knows—maybe our paths will cross again someday. 🫡

🥰 Memories | April 21 ~ 27

✨ Highlights of the Week

the other big highlight this week was me recompleting my leetcode 75 challenge—but this time, with a different mindset. instead of just grinding through and memorising solutions, i set a new goal: to recognise the underlying patterns behind each problem. this shift from memorisation to understanding felt like such a game-changer.

and here's the best part—i didn't just keep it to myself. i took the opportunity to teach my sister some of the problems after solving them, hAHAHA even tho she didn't really wanna know HAHAHA. and yes, wow, that process really cemented the concepts in my mind. teaching forces you to break things down simply, and in doing so, you end up learning it even better yourself. i honestly believe this is one of the best ways to lock knowledge into your brain for good.

every time i go through this learning process, i can't help but feel so grateful to be alive in this AI era. learning has never been easier. there's honestly no excuse not to know something nowadays—you can just GPT it up. whether it's ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Claude, or even 豆包 (shoutout to bytedance—my go-to for chinese queries!), there are just so many tools right at our fingertips.

i feel so lucky to be able to do this. lucky to be alive, lucky to still be learning. 🥺

humans are amazing. and so is AI. 🚀

makes me wonder—how much more can i learn if i just stay curious every day ✨

🥰 Memories | April 14 ~ 20