I just got a certificate from Harvard University
My experiences and feelings from CS50x as a 8th grade student.
Ever dreamed of getting something that sounded and looked out of reach? Well, for me, it was the reality of an earning a certificate from Harvard University’s CS50x programme. For an 8th-grade student, all this wasn’t just about learning to code but it was the discovery of new things, limits, and capabilities that lay covered inside me with the help of the ever-incredible Professor David J. Malan.
I stumbled upon this opportunity quite accidentally. My father was scrolling through Facebook when a reel about CS50 came up. I was curious and, upon deeper search, found out it was a free introductory computer science course given by Harvard University. It was famous for being challenging, demanding, and life-changing; it caught my interest immediately. But I’d be lying if I said the idea of enrolling wasn’t intimidating, It’s Harvard, after all! Yet something in me said, “Why not?” and signed up, unaware that this was to be one of the most rewarding journeys of my life.
The course was a rollercoaster right from the very beginning. The first lecture eased us into programming with Scratch, but things quickly escalated as we delved into C programming, algorithms, data structures, and building real-world projects. Debugging stubborn code for hours tested my patience more times than I can count. There were moments I felt like giving up, but the satisfaction of passing a problem set made it all worthwhile.
Balancing CS50x with schoolwork was an entirely new challenge. Mornings often started with me tackling problem sets at dawn before heading to school. There were nights where I switched between school assignments and course lectures, wondering if I’d taken on too much. But these moments taught me valuable lessons about perseverance and time management.
Projects were the pinnacle of this course. With each assignment, I could take what I had learned and make something out of it: a simple website, a web application, or solving complex problems in code. These mini-victories kept me motivated, each one a step closer to the certificate I dreamed of earning. For most of the students, the Tideman problem set was the hardest, but for me, Finance from problem set 9 was the hardest.
I am also proud to inform you that I got the chance to talk with Prof. David J Malan in a live lecture (twice!). I asked him questions, the first time was the live lecture of SQL and then onwards at week 9 of flask. It was amazing to ask him questions directly and get feedback from such a renowned professor. This experience definitely made the course even more special for me.
Then, on December 20, 2024, the moment of truth finally arrived, I got my certificate! Seeing my name under the Harvard logo was surreal, a mix of pride, excitement, and gratitude. For me, It wasn’t just a piece of paper, it was proof of about 120 hours of hard work, resilience, and a passion for learning.
CS50x didn’t just teach me how to program — it taught me how to think critically, tackle challenges, and believe in myself. Prof. Malan’s passion for teaching made every lecture inspiring. The problem sets were tough but rewarding, providing opportunities to learn from mistakes and refine my skills. I’m incredibly grateful to the entire CS50 production team for creating such a phenomenal course.
Most importantly, I want to thank my father. He has seen my struggles and triumphs from start to finish. Without his encouragement and support, I wouldn’t have made it this far. He believed in me even when I doubted myself, and for that, I’m forever grateful.
Well, for those who have some big goal and feel, “But maybe not”, my advice would be, “Go for it.” You might be surprised by what you can accomplish. If an 8th grader like me could do a Harvard course, imagine what you could do by just taking the first step.
