Charles Nichols

My dear reader,

I have stumbled upon a new pursuit, one that has ignited a fire within me.

Competitive programming

A sport of intellect and skill, where one writes algorithms to solve problems and competes against other likeminded individuals.

I spent the day in research, exploring into the intricacies of this sport. I discovered that it draws upon coding competitions such as Google Code Jam, Meta Hacker Cup, and Topcoder Open, where the most challenging and creative of problems are presented to the competitors.

I cannot begin to express the excitement that overcame me upon learning of this pursuit. As an avid lover of problem-solving and the intricacies of code, to combine the two and test my abilities against others is a most thrilling prospect.

I spent the remainder of the day studying past competition problems and familiarizing myself with the various platforms upon which this sport is conducted. The level of difficulty and ingenuity of the problems astounded me, and I find myself eager to begin practicing and honing my skills.

But this is not simply a pursuit for personal enjoyment, for I see that it can also sharpen my abilities in problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management. It is also an opportunity to build a portfolio and make a name for oneself in the industry.

I am eager to begin this journey and see where it takes me, for I know it will be a path of hard work and dedication. But I am ready for the challenge, and I look forward to measuring my progress against those who have come before me.

So it shall be with competitive programming, a never-ending journey of self-improvement and discovery.

Your devoted,
Charles