Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey at IST.

My name is Sidnei Teixeira, I'm 22 years old, and I'm currently in the final year of my Master's degree in Computer Engineering and Computers. Since an early age, I've been interested in understanding how things work in general, which led me to have an interest in mathematics, physics, and of course, computers (at the time, my idea of computers was only the physical/hardware aspect). I enrolled in LEIC at IST, Taguspark without knowing anything about programming, but with interest and curiosity to learn. 

Today, I am proud in the journey I've had, having received (not individually) 2 awards, some certificates of merit, and a research scholarship for my ongoing master's thesis.

What did winning this award personally mean to you?

Receiving the award (and everything that comes with it) was an instant reward for all the effort throughout the course. Obviously, the feeling of accomplishment is pride, for having remained true to good study and work habits throughout the course. Secondly, perhaps happiness, not just for myself, but for the team for having developed a project that deserved recognition, and finally, gratitude. I think it's important to thank all the parties involved, and who contributed to the existence of the award in the first place. I feel it's a milestone in my journey, and something that I will always take pride in revisiting.

Why are awards like this important?

More than receiving the award, it was receiving the recognition that came with it. I think as a norm, humans always seek to feel distinguished as a form of reward for their work, and I believe that this type of award (not the monetary value, but everything else) perpetuates this distinction, whether it's through contact with the companies involved in the award, the professors from IST, from DEI, or through the news and testimonies published. Of course, the monetary value serves as an incentive for young minds, and it's also essential to create a sense of motivation, as it's the way to stimulate interest and effort during the course.

In your opinion (aside from awards ;) ), what can and should be done to attract more students to Computer Engineering at Técnico?

The information about the Taguspark campus that I had at the end of high school was zero. I only found out about the campus after a teacher advised me. I believe the most important point to attract students to Técnico is to maximize the level of information about its existence and the available courses in high schools. Whether it's through activities, field trips, etc.

Do you have any advice for future students of Computer Engineering at Técnico?

I believe the best advice is to nurture good habits and to focus not on receiving awards or being the best student, but on learning in the most efficient way possible. The foundation of university is knowledge, so those who can understand and memorize what they learn more easily will certainly achieve better results. It's very important to take notes for all courses. In my first year of LEIC, I hardly took any notes, and I still regret it today when I need to review something. Taking notes is also important because it becomes active learning. And when I say notes, I don't mean just writing down what the professor says. Sometimes it's enough to make notes at home, on the slides about a part that was less well understood. This not only improves understanding of the subject matter but also makes the review more efficient, as you'll surely have the same question when revising, and now you already have the explanation there.

I think it's also important to create a circle of friends with whom you identify and stay with them throughout the course. Knowing well with whom you work will help immensely in terms of execution, as well as distributing the work among each member.

Finally, make the most of the availability of the professors of the course to clarify doubts. Don't feel ashamed to ask questions, even if it's by email. If you don't understand something, it's usually much more efficient in terms of time to ask the professor than to spend X hours searching for an explanation that clarifies your doubt. The important thing is to make sure you understand what you learn.