Hello everyone! I know I’m posting this quite late in the last quarter of 2025, but I’m finally ready to share a major update: I successfully completed my first semester of the Master’s degree in Computer Science at FAST-NU, one of Pakistan’s most renowned universities for computing!
The Double Edged Sword: Work Life Study Balance
Starting a Master’s in January 2025 was a huge step, and doing it while maintaining a full time job has been nothing short of a challenge. Anyone who knows the reputation of FAST-NU knows that simply graduating on time requires dedication. Add a demanding job to that, and the difficulty factor skyrockets.
However, I’m thrilled to share that the hard work paid off: I secured a 3.89/4 GPA in my first semester!
A Massive Shout Out to Giggso
This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support system at my company, Giggso. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the entire Giggso team for their flexibility and encouragement. A special and heartfelt thank you goes to Ravi Venugopal, Abhinaya MuthuKrishnan. Their specific support, guidance, and understanding were the bedrock that allowed me to manage both my professional responsibilities and academic rigour. And Giggso demonstrated their commitment to employee growth by funding my Master’s degree. This level of investment and trust has truly motivated me to excel!
Diving Deep: The Three Pillars of My First Semester
My first semester comprised three fascinating and well designed courses. The faculty, with their equal dedication, ensured we grasped the core content and were challenged to perform at a high level.
1. Research Methodology: The Blueprint for Innovation
This course was arguably the most crucial for setting the stage for my entire research journey, including my eventual thesis. We didn’t just learn about research; we learned how to do it. The course covered critical techniques such as:
- Structured Literature Review: Understanding the methodology for conducting impactful research.
- The Three Pass Approach: Mastering the essential technique of reading and evaluating research papers (First Pass, Second Pass, and Third Pass).
- Base Paper Selection: Strategically identifying foundational work in a domain.
The capstone experience was writing a detailed review paper. I focused mine on Large Language Models (LLMs), a topic at the forefront of modern computing. This hands on experience, coupled with frequent networking and intellectual exchange with the faculty, provided me with invaluable knowledge that will guide all my future academic explorations.
2. Theory of Programming Languages : Unraveling the ‘Why’
ToPL was a journey back to the fundamentals, offering a deep dive into the very core of our daily tools. We explored:
- Evolution of Languages: Understanding how different programming languages were conceived and have evolved over time.
- Architectural Principles: Dissecting the underlying principles that govern language design.
The real world value of this course lies in its ability to foster better logic building. By understanding why a language is structured a certain way, we become more adept at designing, implementing, and evolving our own ideas in any given language.
Our project involved a comprehensive language analysis, where each student selected a different language to study its pros and cons, submitting a detailed report and presentation. Seeing each other’s work was a powerful learning experience, broadening our knowledge base and clarifying the best language choices for future development tasks.
3. Data Visualization: Communicating the Insights
This was arguably the most visually engaging and immediately applicable course! Data Visualization focused on transforming raw numbers and text into actionable narratives. We learned the art and science of dashboard design, covering:
- Visualization Techniques: Mastering the best graph types for different data forms, including numerical, categorical, and text data.
- Text Analysis: Applying techniques like sentiment analysis and categorization for effective representation on a dashboard.
- Graph Selection: Critically evaluating which chart is best suited for which insight.
For our major project, we utilized Tableau to tackle a challenging Kaggle competition dataset. We meticulously designed a multi level dashboard structure:
- Overview Dashboard: Providing high level KPIs and key metrics.
- Detailed Dashboard: Allowing deep dives into specific segments and trends.
This project was crucial for honing my ability to not just analyze data, but to communicate key insights clearly a skill I can directly integrate into my day to day work tasks.
The Road Ahead
This first semester has been an exhilarating blend of professional responsibility and intense academic growth. I am gaining a holistic understanding of Computer Science from foundational research practices to immediate, applicable skills like data visualization. Some knowledge is already being utilized in my job, and the rest is building the necessary foundation for future career development and my eventual thesis.
Stay tuned for updates as I navigate the next stage of this exciting journey!
Halcyoona 