Hey CodeForces,

27th July 2024 that's yesterday marked another exciting contest for me, Codeforces Round 962 (Div. 3). I later found out that it was unrated, but I remained determined to give it my best. I managed to solve three problems: A — Legs, B — Scale, and C — Sort.

For each problem, I made sure to thoroughly think through the solution and read the problem statement carefully, aiming to avoid the need to re-read. This strategy helped streamline my approach. However, I encountered a Time Limit Exceeded (TLE) issue with problem C — Sort when using a map approach. To overcome this, I switched to a prefix sum approach, which worked and allowed me to solve the problem successfully.

The contest was an enjoyable experience, and I had a lot of fun tackling the problems and finding solutions. It gave me a boost of confidence to solve more quality questions and participate in future contests. I'm eager to continue improving and honing my skills in competitive programming.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Sincerely,
Mickeey

Hey CodeForces,

23rd July 2024 was a significant day for me—it marked my first ever contest on this platform. I had a whirlwind of emotions leading up to it: uncertainty about my approach, questions about my ability to solve the problems, and yet, a quiet confidence that I could rise to the challenge. Before this, my experience was mostly on LeetCode, where I could usually solve only two problems per contest. But this time, I wanted to push myself further and see how far I could go. After all, as the saying goes, "You only grow in your life once you leave your comfort zone." That's the piece of advice I would love to give myself, as it truly motivates me.

During the contest, I managed to solve one problem, A (Diagonals), which felt like a small victory. I also tackled problem B (Bouquet (Easy Version)), but unfortunately, I encountered a Time Limit Exceeded (TLE) issue. As a result, my first rating is 377. While it's not a grand achievement, it's a starting point, and I'm proud of taking the plunge.

Why am I writing this here? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it's a way to document my journey, a way to remind myself of where I started and how far I can go. The future is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: I'll give my best in every contest I participate in.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Sincerely,
Mickeey