I used to stare at LeetCode questions for so long…
And if I didn’t understand them quickly, I’d ask AI for a hint.

It worked… temporarily but when I came back to the same problem days later, I couldn’t solve it again.
That’s when I realized .. I wasn’t learning how to think , I was learning how to finish.

So I changed my approach.

Now before I even touch my keyboard, I sit with the problem.

I try to truly understand it.
What is it asking?
What are the edge cases?
What happens if the input is empty? One element? Duplicates? Negatives?

Then I grab paper.

Honestly… I don’t think I can solve a problem without paper anymore.
I write the important details... I draw it... I simulate it.
I explain the logic to myself like I’m teaching someone.

Only after that do I ask:

Is this two pointers?
Sliding window?
Prefix sum?
Binary search?
Because most DSA problems are just pattern recognition in disguise.

Then I solve it the “dumb” way first ... brute force even if it’s slow.

Because brute force builds understanding...optimization builds performance.

After I find the first working approach, I pause again:
Can this be faster?
Can I reduce time complexity?
Can I remove extra space?

This mindset helped me a LOT ..especially in Codeforces.
Sometimes your first solution passes all tests locally…Then you submit it will Wrong Answer.
Because you didn’t think deeply enough about constraints or hidden edge cases.

I’m not perfect...Iam still struggling but this method changed how I approach problems.

#WorthSharing
#zaya_journal

I am not into DSA these days but this used to be my approach back when when I was in A2SV

May allah make us from people who will gonna benefit from the rest of the days 🤲

A2SV

In case this helps someone someday, I wanted to talk about my time at A2SV.

First of all, if you do not know what A2SV is, it stands for Africa to Silicon Valley Program. It is a nonprofit organization that prepares university students for big tech interviews like FAANG or MAANG.

I first heard about A2SV during my first year of college, and it was one of the reasons I chose AAiT. At the time, I thought being an AAiT student was a requirement because A2SV was only operating in AAU. Later, I found out that it accepts any AAU student. I was part of the G5 in person program. I would say I experienced A2SV during its bright days. Everything I am sharing here is based on my experience back then. I am not sure if the curriculum has changed since.

The Education

The first thing A2SV focuses on is data structures and algorithms. The first year is an intensive DSA program that lasts almost eight months, followed by a summer camp where you learn beginner development tech stacks. The course starts with beginner topics like arrays and strings and goes all the way to advanced topics like tries, advanced dynamic programming, and trees. If you want to become the Ethiopian Gennady Korotkevich, A2SV is the place to be.

When it comes to development, I would say A2SV lags a bit. You might learn more practical development skills by joining a local startup that ships products quickly. Again, I am speaking based on my experience from two years ago. It makes sense, though, since the main goal of the program is to prepare you for interviews, not to teach you how to build production level applications.

The Education System

The teaching and learning process is excellent. I would even suggest Mr. Birhanu Nega sit behind Emre Varol and see how Emre built and shaped the system. The resources are well organized, and the mentors take their responsibilities seriously. They track your progress one on one and truly care about how you are doing. If you fall behind for even a week, you will get on a call to figure out what you missed and what you need help with.

My favorite part of the lectures was the moon walk, though. 🙂 (You will not get the joke unless you are an A2SVian.)

The Perks and Benefits

Financially, A2SV is what made me rich enough to afford shawarma every few days. 😊 You get an unlimited monthly internet package until the end of the season. You also receive 100 birr per lecture from Monday to Saturday, as long as you are on time. During the internship period, we were paid a net 11,500 ETB per month. Who else would pay an intern that much in Ethiopia? Do the math for a three and a half month internship. And remember, this was two years ago. For comparison, campus cost sharing was 450 birr back then.

Opportunity wise, A2SV exposes you to people from big tech companies. Many senior developers and managers from big tech visited us. The fellow students you meet there are usually very driven and passionate. Through networking, you get exposed to many different opportunities.

I had more to say, but I honestly forgot after getting distracted by something else. I might need to get my ADHD checked. Anyway, this is enough for now. I can share more thoughts and suggestions in the future depending on your questions.

😭.

Allhumma Aamiinn 🤲

اللهم صلِّ وسلِّم وبارِك على نبينا وحبيبنا ورسولنا وقدوتنا محمدٍ عليه الصلاةُ والسلام

I am the brother..

(Iftar is in 2 minutes from now🙂)

By any chance, are you from St. Mary or do you have a friend there, or do you have any information about the workspace mentioned in the video? Is it really free for anyone? I saw people in the comment section of the video arguing. Some say it is only allowed for St. Mary students. I need your help if you have any information.

in one or the other way, we are all in this situation right now …

اللهم نريد منك السَّلَام في كلّ مكان

Standups & cooldowns

You may have heard these terms one way or another. At well organized software companies, they are meetings you usually have at the beginning and ending of the day. Standups are where you share updates on what you are going to work on today. Cooldowns happen at the end of the day, where you share what you achieved during the day. I am not sure, but I think other fields like doctors have similar things too.

Anyway, here is my point. This pattern of work exists because it helps you measure progress. When you write things down and add checkmarks for what you finished and what you did not, you can clearly see where you stand and whether you are on track with the bigger plan you are trying to reach.

I try to follow the same idea in my life. In the morning, I write what I plan to do for the day. At night, before I sleep, I add checkmarks. This is especially helpful when you have responsibilities coming from different directions. The more detailed you break down your work, the more doable it feels. Also, most plans should not just stay in your head.

Instead of writing generic plans, write things like:
fix the courses API from that server
go to campus and get my ID
call Mr John Doe about the electronics assignment

You get the idea. Later in the day, I add checkmarks. The ones I did not finish get moved to the next possible day.

You can write your plans and updates anywhere that is easy to access. I use a private Telegram group with just me and my other account. You could use Notion or any app, or even the diary.

I will be honest though. It has been a while since I followed this approach, and now I feel kind of lost. The difference in productivity is clear. I think I need to start posting monthly plans and recap posts here so it holds me accountable in front of people. So yeah, monthly recaps and plans here, daily plans and cooldowns privately. Hopefully every month will feel productive.

#monthlygoal@AbduIntheLoop

March Plans

> do one side project; not that much of a big scale thing rather just a simple one for improving portfolio.

> take one crash course on blockchain, remittances and money transfer topics to be specific. so to help me push forward on the final year project I am working on.

> cut social media app’s screen time to 20hrs a week (it’s 35hrs now in average).

> maybe read one book on the time that’s cut from social media apps. It’s Ramadan so Quran could also be counted :) But I’ll try to read one other book besides the Quran.

> not get fired from my job

> celebrate Eid 🙂


so, I think this is a doable monthly plan. To make it more interesting, I will reward myself if I achieved, say 80% of it. If I failed, I will be punished.. will think about the punishment later

🌸 Ethiopian Women in Blockchain 🌸
📅 March 8, 2026
⏰ 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Bole Bulbula

As part of Ethiopian Blockchain Week 2026, we’re bringing together the women shaping Ethiopia’s Web3 ecosystem for an afternoon of inspiration, connection, and real conversation.

Join us to celebrate founders, builders, students, community leaders, and innovators who are driving blockchain adoption forward. Come and learn from the women who are running the blocks — hear their journeys, their challenges, and how they’re creating impact in Ethiopia’s digital future.
Whether you’re new to blockchain or already building, this space is for you.

✨ Inclusive Innovation. Blockchain for Everyone.

🔗 Register here

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#EthiopianBlockchainWeek #WomenInBlockchain #EBW2026 #InclusiveInnovation

Self Teaching Has Never Been This Powerful 🚀

In this era of technology, almost everyone has access to a phone and the digital world. That means learning by yourself has never been easier.

But it wasn’t always like this.

Let’s rewind a few years back ... before AI.
-We had YouTube courses.
-We had online tutorials.
-We had free websites and paid advanced programs.

You could learn anything.

But here was the problem:
-You’d start a course…
-Halfway through, you’d get confused.
-You wouldn’t understand something.
-You’d pause the video and start Googling.
-Then YouTube.
-Then articles.

You’d spend hours trying to understand one concept.

Yes, you gained knowledge during that process but it felt exhausting.
.. Some people quit.
..Some said, “This is too hard.”
..Some felt they needed a mentor ( a real human to guide them step by step.)

And honestly? Not everyone has that.


Now fast forward to today.

AI changed the game.

-You’re watching a complex course.
-You don’t understand something.
-You ask AI.
∆ It explains it clearly.
∆ Based on your level.
∆ Based on your preference.

That’s powerful.

But here’s the dangerous part.

Some people are not using AI to understand.

They’re using AI to avoid understanding.

They let AI solve everything.
They copy.
They paste.
They finish the task.

They get the dopamine hit of “Job Done” ... without doing the mental work.

And that’s extremely dangerous.

Because when real life problems show up ..problems that require thinking, patience, and struggle , the brain that got used to easy wins gets tired fast.

AI is powerful.

But it should be your assistant , not your brain.

Here’s the right loop:

• Watch the course
• When confused, ask AI to elaborate
• Experiment with what you learned (THIS is the critical part)
• Struggle a little
• Then continue the course

That loop saves time.
It reduces frustration.
It removes unnecessary roadblocks.

But you still have to think.
You still have to experiment.
You still have to struggle a little.

There is no perfect time to start learning.
There is no “ready” moment.
If you have access to the internet and the will to grow,

You already have everything you need.

JUST START !!!!!!!

Learning never stops. 🚀

@DEVLUTO

For the sake of God, please don’t say you’ll be there in 10 minutes without even getting close to the place. Instead, look at the speed of the car you’re in, check the distance on Google Maps, calculate the time using the formula v = s/t, and tell me the time (t). Seriously though, please at least tell the truth. Thank you!

When it’s not Ramadan, I could sit and wait in a cafe. But during Ramadan, where am I supposed to wait? I can’t sit on the street for 30 more minutes like a beggar. What else can I do? Maybe become a real estate sales for 30 minutes.

raining… 🌧️

ALHAMDULILAH…

We are already on the 17th night of Ramadan, btw. And it’s third Ramadan jumma’ah. We still got time to compensate for what we have missed so far and return back to Allah. May Allah help us.

I am talking about
الشيخ عبد الرحمن السديس حفظه الله، حياكم الله

POV: Me after explaining to my non-Muslim friend that we don’t eat the entire night during Ramadan, but still buying enough food to eat all night. 😁

I don’t know but there’s an urge to buy even the thing you wouldn’t necessarily buy if you weren’t fasting.