Our guest blogger is Abel, an Ethiopian student majoring in Computer Science! He's going to tell us what it was like to participate in a competitive programming event.
On November 16, 2024, my team and I participated in the ICPC Pacific Northwest Regional (Washington D2 Site) for the third time. The contest was held at the University of Washington, Tacoma, and it remains one of the most exciting and challenging programming competitions I've ever experienced.
Our journey began in 2022 when we were freshmen. Competing for the first time, we managed to solve two problems, gaining valuable insights into the contest's structure and atmosphere.
In 2023, we returned with more experience. The environment felt familiar, and we were more confident. This time, we performed better and finished in 6th place.
Each year has been a learning experience, helping us grow as a team and improve our problem-solving skills. This year, all of our hard work paid off. We won 1st place at the Washington D2 Site! It was an unforgettable moment that showed us how much progress we've made since our first contest.
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| The winning team: Yonatan, Abel, and Biniam |
What is ICPC?
The International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is one of the oldest and most prestigious competitive programming events in the world. Teams of three university students are tasked with solving complex computational problems within a set time. The event is intense, and the competition isn't just about writing code. It's about teamwork, quick decision-making, and navigating challenges without external help.
