You’ll Never Know Unless You Try!
I still remember a few days before seeing the announcement for this new training—it was during a small gathering for our fourth cohort. A few days after the event, I was excited to see information about the Deep Learning track.
I had always hoped to create something related to image recognition. I never expected that would require learning Linear Algebra. Is it really necessary? Well, if it is, then I’ll go for it!
Before applying, I even borrowed a notebook from a colleague that helped him pass the exam with flying colors. After flipping through the first few pages of the required reading and realizing I didn’t hate it, I decided to apply!
Hmm... Is This the World of Mathematics?
As someone who has never been strong in math, I knew I had to put in extra effort to figure out how to make sense of Linear Algebra and navigate the world of mathematics.
My general process looked like this: stay calm, understand the unique structure of the text, find my own way to study math, find a way to study math in English, comprehend symbols, grasp mathematical terminology, understand the meaning of each paragraph, understand examples, practice examples, practice exercises, review repeatedly, and practice until I could actually apply it.
Only after becoming familiar with math symbols and terminology could I truly enter the text. It took me around 40 to 90 minutes to work through one page of text, at least 180 minutes per example problem, and much more time for proofs—and that’s just for a single pass.
Studying math is like fighting a time monster—you completely lose track of time. But the immersion is quite pleasant. Some steps follow the plan, others don’t, and I just have to adjust and find my own rhythm.
Moving Forward Through the Unknown
I’ve grown used to tackling unknown challenges every day. Once I break a problem down into actionable steps, I can keep moving forward. In the moment, there’s no time to wonder whether something is difficult—you just do it.
Looking back, the Linear Algebra textbook felt massive. Each weekly task was tough. Every single question pushed me beyond my limits. Solving them was no easy feat.
A Choice Without Regret
Every result has its reasons. I spent a lot of time studying, but given my learning curve and the number of repetitions I needed, it’s clear that time alone wasn’t enough.
I was just two points away from passing the exam. But the real gap wasn’t the two points—it was the ability to construct mathematical proofs.
I never fully understood how mathematical reasoning and proof work. That meant I couldn’t turn all the time and effort I spent into the results I needed. That’s something I didn’t handle well.
Some things, once missed, can’t be redone. Not everything can be revisited. That’s painful, of course—but it’s not the end of the world. If you care enough, you’ll always find a way. Someday, the answers will come.
Farewell!
This was a short journey that ended just as it began. The training wasn’t just about math—I also loved hearing classmates share their neural network designs during the weekly meetings. But passing the math test was key to moving on to the next stage.
Although I didn’t pass, I’m still very satisfied with the results. As someone completely disconnected from math, I tried something I’d never done before. This was as far as I could go for now.
I’m truly happy to have walked this path alongside the WeHelp community, Pengpeng, and so many amazing classmates. The hurdles I couldn’t clear—I’ll overcome them one by one. The unfinished WeHelp to-do list—I’ll keep working on it. And who knows, maybe we’ll meet again someday!
That’s all for now! The first phase is officially complete. *Stamp!*
Tomorrow is a brand new day—and I’ll keep moving forward!