Hello everyone,

I wanted to share some thoughts about my competitive programming journey so far and also seek guidance from more experienced programmers in the community.

When I started competitive programming, I had absolutely no idea what programming was really about. I didn't understand problem solving, algorithms, or even how to approach a coding problem. Looking back, I would say it took me nearly six months just to understand what was actually happening.

One of the biggest mistakes I made in the beginning was focusing too much on the story of the problem instead of its essence. I would get lost in the narrative and details rather than identifying what the problem was really asking. As a result, even relatively simple problems felt overwhelming.

Over time, I slowly realized that every problem is essentially hiding a pattern, observation, or logical requirement behind its story. Once I started looking for the core idea instead of the wording, things began to make much more sense.

Today, I feel much more comfortable reading problems and understanding what they are trying to say. My solving speed has improved significantly compared to when I started. Even when I cannot fully solve a problem immediately, I am often able to figure out a large part of the solution and identify the correct direction.

One habit that has helped me tremendously is writing down test cases and dry-running my approach before coding. Whenever I get stuck, manually tracing the logic on small examples often reveals mistakes or observations that I would otherwise miss. This simple practice has probably saved me more time than any trick or shortcut.

Another observation I have had is that it feels increasingly difficult for beginners to gain rating compared to what many older users describe. This may simply be because the overall level of competition has become stronger over time, but I sometimes feel that new participants face a much more competitive environment than before.

I have also noticed growing discussions about the use of AI tools in competitive programming. While such tools can be useful for learning, I hope that competitive programming continues to reward genuine problem-solving ability and independent thinking. The most valuable part of this journey, in my opinion, is developing the ability to solve problems yourself.

Despite the challenges, I still enjoy the process. There is something very satisfying about finally understanding a problem that looked impossible at first and then successfully implementing the solution.

I am still learning and have a long way to go. Therefore, I would like to ask the experienced members of the community:

• How did you prepare for competitive programming?
• What resources helped you the most?
• How did you practice when you were a beginner?
• What mistakes slowed down your progress?
• How did competitive programming help you with placements, internships, or interviews?
• If possible, I would love to hear your story as well.

I believe many beginners, including myself, could learn a lot from your experiences.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing your advice and stories.

Good luck to everyone on their CP journey!