A week in the life of a computer science engineering student in the UAE
(Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
Sunday
Today wasn’t a very eventful day, but it was busy. Here, we have weekdays from Sunday to Thursday, so Thursday is the beginning of the weekend. My classes today are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and so I have to leave for university by 10 a.m. to get picked up by the university bus.
However, I set my alarm for 6:52 a.m. I know some people might find the timing weird, but I have a lot to do! After my morning routine, which consists of brushing my teeth, bathing and the unavoidable web surfing, I do a few stretches (that’s all the exercise I do). Then I drink some coffee (the most beautiful form of caffeine), study a bit, have my breakfast and get ready by 10 a.m. Now you know why I wake up at 6:52 a.m.
I am pedantic by nature, so I need to reconfirm that I closed the doors and switched off the lights at least two times and this takes time! The bus travel takes around an hour and a half and I reached my university by 11:30 a.m. We have two classes, differential equation and circuit analysis. Those are really interesting because they are full of problem solving. There are times when you want to run away because you don’t get anything close to the answer, but where is the fun without some effort? Also, when you learn these subjects, you can then understand those advanced math and science memes!
Differential equation is all about solving equations containing derivatives. To put derivatives into perspective, velocity is the derivative of distance covered. Circuit analysis is all about finding voltage, current, resistance and power delivered to each of the components in a circuit. So, let’s say you connect five bulbs to a battery, you can find how much current and voltage goes through it.
My university. (Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
Monday
Today was a very interesting day because of the circuit analysis lab. You get to experiment with really cool stuff like oscilloscope and signal generators. We learned how to measure direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) measurements. For a DC current, we found its voltage and resistance first through formulas. And then we did the experiment with the same setup, found the values and then compared these two results. For AC, we measured the frequency and voltage of the signal.
For me, AC measurements were the highlight. Until now, I have never done any AC experiments, even in school. Even when we read about them, we were not let in proximity of AC currents, probably because they’re much more dangerous than DC. To give a perspective, to suffer the same kind of damage on the human body as an AC current, a DC current has to be four times its strength. Fun fact: did you know that Thomas Edison was so determined to prove that AC currents are dangerous that it indirectly led to the invention of electric chairs? The war of currents is very interesting to read about.
Then I went back home, had dinner and studied circuit analysis, discrete mathematics and differential equations for quizzes next week.
The AC signal generator. (Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
Tuesday
I have a YouTube channel where I post videos about science, math, cooking and more. I have just started the channel, but I’m taking it as a serious thing and dedicating my free time to it. I was going to shoot today, but I couldn’t finish my video because my birds were very noisy. I have two parrots and a finch. Did you know birds are basically dinosaurs? So basically, I have three pet dinosaurs! I tried to bribe them with treats but they were highly disobedient. So, I decided to do it tomorrow evening. I never thought making videos would involve so much work.
My pet bird. (Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
Today, I had an English test. It went on well. Life after secondary school is very different though, especially if you switch to a new system of education. I studied in CBSE curriculum in secondary school, but the university I attend uses the American system, which is very different. You don’t have a permanent class where you learn all the subjects, you go to different classes and teachers for different subjects. At my old school with CBSE curriculum, we had one class and one teacher for all subjects. It was like a small family. This new system is not bad, but at first I found it difficult to adapt. I was like a water out of fish. But as days pass, I feel that studying in university overall makes you feel independent.
Then I came back home and had dinner. My mother is fed up with me. I am a vegetarian and my parents are not. So my mom literally has to make two curries, one for me and one for them.
Wednesday
Today is a very important day. The first Emirati astronaut reached the International Space Station. I am so proud of this country, of how they really dream big and work for it. That’s solid inspiration right there.
I had to go early to university today. The bus was at 7:15 a.m. In class, we learned about discrete mathematics, which deals with sets and mathematical basis of algorithms. We also learned about object-oriented programming, like the programming language Java. It was really cool.
I finally shot the video for my YouTube channel today about the phases of programming and my take on the struggles of programming. I intended it to be a light-hearted rant, hopefully people will see it that way. It went on well. It’s a very humble setup for the shoot as I’m still in rudimentary stage of my channel. And then I had to study a lot because next week is so full.
The setup for filming my YouTube video. (Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
I haven’t really introduced my family! So my family consists of me and my parents. I am a single child and I can tell you that “the pampered only child” is a myth. My mom is a math teacher and my dad works in a ship building company as safety officer. I became a vegetarian three years ago because I find it a more sustainable way of consuming sustenance. Things are difficult for my mom but she somehow manages to make food for both variety of eaters. Yes, she complains that I am a snob, but she and my papa let me do what I feel is right. My mom and papa are kind, really cool people, I guess. Well, they’ve got a cool kid surely!
Thursday
Voila! It’s finally weekend! I just love weekend! I mean, who doesn’t? It’s not because I don’t like going to school. I love school. But there is something about the weekend...
I have a lot of work to complete in these two days. Today, we replaced our old desktop with a new one. It’s funny because many people think I can repair computers because of my major. And I always go like, “I am only in my sophomore year!” I honestly want to repair stuff. I love the satisfaction of that, but I don’t think CSE is about that.
Nothing special happened today. I reshot the video I shot yesterday, because I wasn’t happy about it. I forgot to mention some key points and found it to be lethargic. Shooting a new video is definitely easier than editing a bad video, at least in my case.
Also, I have started to have an obsession over a particular chocolate, called Candy Nut. It’s so yummy. I love it because it’s so rich with peanut, caramel and chocolate. Doesn’t that scream yummy? But I don’t think I should be eating that every day. However, nothing beats the king KitKat. I Iove KitKats. They’re just perfect.
I am writing this at 2:48 a.m. (so technically it’s Friday). I am that person who longs for the weekend so that I can sleep longer but then doesn’t sleep. Maybe I should go to sleep now… Bye!
Friday
In case you don’t know, it takes a millennium to upload a video in YouTube (OK that was a hyperbole), but it feels nothing less than that. Maybe that’s the relativity Einstein was actually talking about...
I have a lot of stuff to do. One major thing on my list is a differential equation assignment and then I have my circuit analysis test on Monday. I have a lot to learn for that. Honestly, I am concerned. This is one subject that makes you feel like a pro and fool in a matter of split second.
Oscilloscope. (Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
Saturday
I was tired today. Maybe other members of Gen Z can relate to this. I decided to give myself a tiny break from studies and I watched a movie called “Ambili.” It’s a Malayalam movie. It was really good, but it made me cry. I am not complaining though. But maybe I should have watched something funny. Being tired and sad isn’t a cool combination. Is it just me or do all of you feel that funny movies are rare these days?
After that I went back to studying. I am really hoping I can ace the test tomorrow. I really want to. Here is a little secret: I study on a scholarship. My university offers merit scholarship to us each semester that are based on our GPAs. To all who do have scholarships, I think we can relate to the strong anxiety that comes with each test, quiz and assignment.
P.S. by the way, I am so glad Spider-Man is back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Like “Spider-Man: Far From Home” was such a cliffhanger. It would have been awful for fans if Sony and Marvel didn’t come to a deal. Also, Tony himself said that Peter is the next Tony Stark, so he shouldn’t be going anywhere! I have to mention this: I am a huge Ironman fan. We are surely friends if you too are Team Ironman. Also note that I have completely neglected the existence of “Endgame,” (the movie where Tony dies). It did not happen. I really want to have a lab like Tony’s.
Sunday
The day went on well. The circuit analysis test was good. OK so there are certain things I think you will be interested to know. I am a CSE student and socially dysfunctional, which means I find it highly difficult to speak to individuals. Addressing a gathering is not a difficult task for me, but speaking directly to an individual, like approaching a stranger, mission impossible! There are people like me who belong to this invisible bridge between introverts and extroverts.
We ordered food from outside. I love food. You know, some days, food has been my sole motivation to wake up. Even if every restaurant I go to serves the same kind of stuff in different forms, even though my mom screams at me for all this what she calls “hypocrisy,” because she feels that plants also have emotions and pain, there is something in food that makes me happy.
Here are some beautiful sunset pictures on my way back. Let’s end this on something aesthetically pleasing. I don’t why, but I like this picture. It looks well shot.
(Courtesy of Aleena lifiya)
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