"One of the most memorable moments in my academic journey occurred on an ordinary yet profoundly significant afternoon during my sophomore year. That day, I happened to come across a post on the FBM's official WeChat account about an outstanding senior who had been admitted to a world-renowned university for further studies. In that instant, I was deeply moved—realizing that someone from the same major and the same campus could, through relentless effort and clear goals, reach such broad horizons. The power of that role model was like a beam of light, illuminating what had been a rather directionless and uneventful university life for me. At the time, my GPA was only 2.77 in my freshman year. Back then, I hadn't truly focused on my studies, often distracted by the vibrant array of university activities. But that moment awakened a dormant drive within me. From then on, I no longer allowed myself to slack off. Instead, I pursued my dreams with determination and perseverance, eventually achieving a GPA of 3.81 in my junior year. This experience taught me that turning points in life often begin with a single spark of inspiration.
Among my professional courses, the most challenging one was undoubtedly 'Database Management' during my sophomore year. This MySQL-based course was also my first encounter with coding in university. For the first few weeks, I sat in the classroom utterly bewildered, listening to the teacher explain unfamiliar terms and logic as if trapped in an indecipherable cipher game. Seeing the growing gap between myself and the course, I realized that if I didn't adjust quickly, achieving a desirable grade would be out of reach. So, I took the initiative: previewing materials before each class, carefully marking unclear points in the slides, and seeking clarification from the teacher during consulting hours. In my spare time, I also used platforms like Bilibili for self-study and reinforcement. Bit by bit, I finally cleared the fog, gradually building logical thinking and technical foundations, and ultimately achieved the grade I aimed for in this course. This experience not only helped me overcome an academic bottleneck but also made me realize that perseverance and initiative are key to growth."