Student Testimonials

Here are the unedited answers that AP students gave to the question: What was the most significant thing you learned this year?

• Through this class I learned how to manage my time. Move over I improved my problem solving abilities and also helped my ability to communicate what I think.
• I have learned how to not give up and to keep trying even if I'm frustrated. Especially with the project--text Excel making it simpler--I have learned to go through and continue to analyzing, debugging and refactoring even if it feels hopeless.
• I learned that I could always surpass any problem I faced, whether it's in Cs or not. Debugging has taught me to never give up and that there is always a solution. The solution, however, may take a long or short time, but you will always reach it. I took this concept and used it outside of CS, such as with sim or social life. I learned to persevere even when it gets tough/frustrating and found out that something the solution was very simple and I just had to look at the problem differently.
• How complex and creative programming is. Incredibly interesting how a few lines of text can cause an action and the way problem solving can be handled opens up many different ways to do the same thing.
• The most significant thing I learned this year was to do my work. Due to me not really doing the homework assigned, I could not simply squeeze on by like I do with other classes, relying on prior knowledge and my own intelligence to get me by. Instead, I would need to actually work hard, take diligent notes, actually read the text book, make sure I have access to a computer, get help, etc. to succeed in this class. A struck to me, so I need to build a better work ethic so I can succeed in the class and in the future, aka college and next year. Since I haven't really struggled at all to build a good work ethic and study and all that.
• The most significant thing was how to code. I had no coding experience when I came, I did not even know what Java was, but now, I know loops, OOP, recursion, etc. My most favorite thing was arrays and array lists. The thing I probably will benefit from the most is loops, from that we were able to do something.
• The most significant thing I learned this year was to be patient. Especially during Text Excel, I had to learn not to get frustrated, to stay calm, and to keep working. Countless times I was stuck and didn't know what to do, but I learned that if I keep going, I'll eventually get it. Just like Mr. Stride said, I needed grit to get through this class.
• This class has really helped me learn how to understand code. In the past, my coding was stitching and cobbling together other pieces of code I could find to do what I wanted, with only some of the logic and flow being original. Now, I have many explanations for what used to be "dark magic," and can actually grok the code I write, and as a result program and debug far more efficiently and confidently.
• I learned that in order to succeed in CS, I need to be willing to seek out help when I am struggling.
• For me, it was learning how to step back and break down a problem from multiple standpoints until I found one that worked well for me.
• I learned that integrity is something that can be easily lost in greed and lying. I learned that there is always an easy way out, but it's not necessarily the best and most moral way to go. Always do your own work and never copy.
• The most significant thing I learned in this class this year is to not procrastinate on projects or else you will be up pretty late. I also learned that creating programs can sometimes be irritating but the final result is really cool because it does amazing things.
• During this course I've learned so much about problem solving in life in general. Computer Science has taught me how to break down problems and this process has taught me how to see situations in a new way. Now, when I am faced with a problem, I take a deep breath and write down the steps needed to be taken. Immediately, I get my solution!
• It helped me remember my passion for computer science after taking a break from it, and really refreshed my skills while giving me better coding habits.
• I suppose that I learned through this class & others, to manage my time and be patient with myself. If I have trouble understanding or applying something, I usually get very frustrated with myself, but I saw, through the many new and exciting things I learned in this class, that if I just calm down and understand my strengths & limitations, I can do just fine. I learned how to have grit.
• I learnt about the importance of hard work when pursuing something that is new. Without working hard it is difficult to learn and grow as a person.
• The most significant thing that I learned in this class is the value of perseverance. Normally, I quit when things get hard or depend on others to solve my problems for me, but in this class I learned to ask for help and persevere through all the problems I encounter.
• This year I had a lot of difficulties in this class after the first semester, which really gave me a hard time. One thing I learned, which took me a while, is that I need to manage my time more efficiently and work harder no matter what rather than taking shortcuts in life.
• I think the most significant thing I learned was that I don't think like some people do when solving coding problems. (or just solving problems in general). I can get a job done but perhaps not as neatly or succinctly as others can. I also now know that, though there's nothing wrong with computer science, I don't think I will continue going more inside of school. I don't think it's for me in the end.
• I learned that computer science takes a lot of patience, hard work, and complex thinking. Working through the big projects care with a lot of trouble, and I had to really focus to figure out my bugs and know how to fix them.
• Scanners and arraylists make everything easier.
• I learn that using someone's work without citing it is bad by Frac Calc project. Even if you don't know how to do it, never just copy it or steal if from other people. If you use it, cite it.
• Most significant thing I learned was using the arrays, scanners and loops because it opened up so much more possibilities. But, I also learned to stay persistent while studying and learning it's okay to ask for help when needed.
• I think the most important thing I've learned is that pride is more of a nuisance than anything else. I learned that sometimes you have to feel awkward, and struggle to truly learn. When I add these two elements (way too late) for the first time I really succeeded in understanding material, not just capable of doing Practice-Its.
• One important thing I learned from this class this year is logic. You need to have logic behind just about everything you are doing it all can't be random. In order to solve something you have a logical plan. So whenever I went to see how I could solve a problem I needed to find a logical solution that made sense and could work.
• I would say I learned how to follow a deadline. I can get my work done by the time it needs to be done.
• I think one of the most valuable things that I learned from this class was about internships and job opportunities. When the guest speakers can in, they really emphasized how important internships are in order to pursue a career. They also said to be passionate about what you do because if you don't have passion for what you do, then that means you won't do very well. Another thing that was significant that I learned in this class was time management. That it is very important because you don't want to wait until the last minute and end up doing a sloppy job.
• The most significant thing I learned in this class this year was that hard work and effort definitely pays off at the end. Often times when I worked on the projects and there were errors, I would get frustrated and give up. However, I still decided to persevere, and there was nothing better than the accomplished feeling of solving the problem successfully. I came into this class without knowing any computer science and I have really learned a lot this year! :)
• The most significant thing I learned in class this year was the ability to try harder and work through problems that may been countered. Each steps get solved with careful planning and diligence.
• Alongside the computer science content, I learned about all the possible job choices for me that I could participate in that are related to computer science. The speakers that came really helped me understand that comp sci is hard and it is okay to be struggling and you can still achieve a job in the area by just being passionate and have a willing to learn and understand.
• The most significant thing I've learned this year was really discovering how bad my procrastination is. During the school year I've learned that procrastination is the hardest thing to overcome while striving for success in a subject that is difficult. In computer science it's extremely had to work and learn about something I have no interest in.