
<div className="intro-section">
  From January 2024 to May 2025, I pursued my M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University—a challenging and unforgettable chapter. This photoblog is my memory lane, capturing the moments of growth that unfolded both in and beyond the classroom.
</div>

# The Beginning

Choosing CMU wasn't just about its stellar reputation in computer science and engineering—it was about stepping into an ecosystem where I am surrounded by brilliant and hardworking people. Despite initial concerns about tuition costs and future uncertainties, this choice proved to be the most transformative decision of my academic career.

# The People Who Made It Special

<div className="people-section">
  <h2>Lab Members, Family, and Friends</h2>
  
  <div className="people-grid">
    <Person 
      name="Wireless Technologies Lab"
      role="Research Advisor and Lab Members"
      type="lab"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_swarun.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_veronica.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_andy.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_kuang.jpg"]}
      captions={["Professor Swarun Kumar", "Veronica", "Jiangyifei", "Kuang"]}
    />
    <Person
      name="Family"
      role="The support pillars"
      type="family"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_alice.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_parents.jpg"]}
      captions={["Sister", "Parents"]}
      description="My family who supported me every step of the way"
    />
    <Person
      name="Friends"
      role="Amazing people I've met at CMU"
      type="friend"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_weichen.jpg","/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_howard&johnson.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_rodrigo.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_harvey.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_anish.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_elisa.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_frank.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_kevin.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_edward.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_jerry.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_george.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_phyllis.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_connie.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_jimmy.jpg","/images/blog/cmu-graduation/people/blog_cancungroup-2.jpg"]}
      captions={["Jaswanth, Weichen, and Louis", "Howard and Johnson", "Rodrigo", "Harvey, Hans, and Jerry", "Anish", "Elisa", "Frank", "Kevin","Edward", "Jerry", "George", "Phyllis", "Connie", "Jimmy"]}
    />

  </div>
</div>

# Academic Journey

## Spring 2024

<div className="semester-section">
  
  <Course 
    code="18-613"
    title="Introduction to Computer Systems"
    type="core"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="17-691"
    title="Machine Learning in Practice"
    type="ml"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="17-514"
    title="Principles of Software Construction"
    type="swe"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="94-801"
    title="Acting for Leadership and Communication"
    type="soft"
  />

  <div className="highlight-box">
    <span className="text-2xl">💪</span>
    <div>
      <strong>Workload Survival:</strong>
      <span className="text-white-400 ml-2">Surviving CMU's Academic Intensity</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Fall 2024

<div className="semester-section">

  <Course 
    code="18-749"
    title="Building Reliable Distributed Systems"
    type="systems"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="18-794"
    title="Deep Learning and Pattern Recognition"
    type="ml"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="94-800"
    title="Negotiation"
    type="soft"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="18-980"
    title="M.S. Graduation Project - Phase I"
    type="project"
  />

  <div className="achievement-box">
    <span className="text-2xl">🏆</span>
    <div>
      <strong>Major Achievement:</strong> 
      <span className="text-green-400 ml-2">Third Place at NOVA Hackathon</span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Spring 2025

<div className="semester-section">
  
  <Course 
    code="18-631"
    title="Information Security"
    type="security"
  />
  
  <Course 
    code="18-982"
    title="M.S. Graduation Project - Final Phase"
    type="project"
  />

  <div className="highlight-box">
    <span className="text-2xl">🎯</span>
    <div>
      <strong>Research Focus:</strong> Attended my First Conference as a Presenter
    </div>
  </div>
</div>


# Beyond the Classroom

<div className="experiences-section">
  <h2>Memorable Experiences</h2>
  
  <div className="experience-grid">
    <Event 
      title="NOVA Hackathon & TartanHacks"
      type="Hackathon"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_nova-hackathon.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_tartan-hacks-2025.jpg","/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_tartan-hacks-2025-3.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_tartan-hacks-2025-2.jpg"]}
      captions={["NOVA Hackathon crew", "The TartanHacks squad", "Sleep deprived nights", "Hackers hacking"]}
    />

    <Event 
      title="HotMobile Conference/Palm Springs"
      type="Conference"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_palm-springs-conference-2.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_palm-springs-conference.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_palm-springs-conference-3.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_palm-springs-conference-4.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_palm-springs-conference-5.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_palm-springs-conference-6.jpg"]}
      captions={["On stage as a presenter", "HotMobile Conference", "Dinner Gala"]}
    />

    <Event 
      title="Cancun Spring Break 2025"
      type="Travel"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_cancun-bar.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_cancun-swim.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_cancun-insta.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_cancun-dinner.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_fireworks.jpg"]}
    />

    <Event 
      title="Graduation Celebration"
      type="Graduation"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_graduation-2.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_graduation.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_graduation-dinner.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_WeichenDinner.jpg"]}
      captions={["Friends and family who stayed to celebrate my graduation", "Running away from HH, cause why not?", "Dinner after graduation", "Dinner event with Weichen's family and new friends"]}
    />

    <Event
      title="Other Fun Activities"
      type="Other"
      images={["/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_snowboarding.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_hiking.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_moreskiing.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_paintball.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_pittsburghpartybus.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_hotpot.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_5Jason.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_kayak.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_halloween.jpg", "/images/blog/cmu-graduation/events/blog_debugging.jpg"]}
      captions={["Snowboarding & Skiing", "Hiking", "More Skiing!", "Paintball", "Party Bus", "Hotpot", "Free food at Spring Carnival!", "Kayaking", "Halloween", "Debugging nights(very memorable😅)"]}  
    />


  </div>
</div>

---

# The Next Chapter

<div className="future-section">
  <h2>From Pittsburgh to Montreal</h2>
  
  <div className="mb-6">
    <div className="p-6 bg-gradient-to-r from-gray-700 to-gray-600 rounded-xl border border-gray-500">
      <div className="flex items-center space-x-4 mb-4">
        <div className="w-12 h-12 bg-black rounded-xl flex items-center justify-center">
          <span className="text-white text-xl">🍎</span>
        </div>
        <div>
          <h3 className="text-xl font-bold text-white">Software Engineer at Apple</h3>
          <p className="text-gray-300">Starting June 2025 • Montreal, Canada</p>
        </div>
      </div>
      <p className="text-gray-200 leading-relaxed">
        As I prepare to embark on my first full-time job, I am ready to keep learning and embrace more challenges!
      </p>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<div className="image-grid">
  <ImageWithCaption 
    src="/images/blog/cmu-graduation/blog_packing.jpg"
    alt="Celebrating with friends at graduation"
    caption="Packing my drive from Pittsburgh to Mtrl"
  />

  <ImageWithCaption 
    src="/images/blog/cmu-graduation/blog_drive.jpg"
    alt="Family photo at graduation ceremony"
    caption="The gorgeous sunset at the US-CA border"
  />

  <ImageWithCaption 
    src="/images/blog/cmu-graduation/blog_arrived.jpg"
    alt="Final celebration with diploma"
    caption="Arrived at Montreal"
  />
</div>

Blog

My Journey at Carnegie Mellon University