My LeetCode Journey: From Beginner to Earning the Annual Badge! 🎉

Hey Dev Community!

I’m excited to share a personal milestone I’ve reached—earning the Annual Badge on LeetCode! 🏅

It’s been an incredible year of solving problems, learning new algorithms, and refining my coding skills. As a graphic designer who’s venturing into more technical domains like motion design, I initially didn’t think coding would be a key part of my creative process. But as I kept pushing myself to learn and solve problems on platforms like LeetCode, I realized just how much it’s boosted my logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Here’s a quick overview of my journey:

1. Starting Point: I began with basic problems, focusing on understanding concepts like arrays, strings, and loops. The key was consistency—dedicating time daily, even if it was just 15-30 minutes.

2. The Challenges: Some days were tough! I often got stuck on problems, but I found that tackling them with patience and breaking them down step-by-step helped. It was about staying persistent and not giving up.

3. The Growth: As time went on, I began to understand algorithms like Dynamic Programming, Graph Theory, and Trees much better. What was once overwhelming became more intuitive.

4. The Badge: Earning the Annual Badge was a huge accomplishment. It wasn’t just about solving problems—it was a testament to my growth as a coder, and it fueled my desire to keep learning.

If you’re just starting out, here are a few things that helped me:

• Consistency is key: Even if you can only do a few problems a day, the cumulative effect adds up over time.
• Break down problems: When you get stuck, take a step back. Break the problem into smaller, manageable chunks.
• Learn from solutions: Don’t just stop when you solve a problem—take time to read other users' solutions and learn new techniques.
• Join the community: LeetCode’s forums and discussions are great for learning from others and solving problems together.

I’m looking forward to continuing this journey and taking on even more challenging problems. For anyone interested in improving their coding skills or preparing for technical interviews, LeetCode is a fantastic platform!

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Let’s dive deeper into the world of software engineering together! I regularly share insights on JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js, React, Next.js, data structures, algorithms, web development, and much more. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills or collaborate on exciting topics, I’d love to connect and grow with you.

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