42 originated in France. It is a tuition-free programming education institution that operates 24\/7 with no teachers and focuses on project-based and peer-to-peer learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
42Tokyo is the Tokyo campus of the 42 network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 The Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide to the Galaxy<\/em> series<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPiscine\u201d is French for \u201cswimming pool.\u201d The name comes from the idea of throwing people who can\u2019t swim into the pool to see who can learn to swim by struggling not to drown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the name of the entrance exam for 42.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life Saver is a volunteer team of students who contribute to 42Tokyo in various ways, supporting Piscine candidates and staff. From my perspective, a Life Saver is someone who helps candidates figure out whether to ask staff or a nearby peer when they encounter a problem. I kind of regret not writing down my thoughts during my own Piscine experience because, as time passes, memories and emotions fade. Recently, I saw someone online sharing daily reflections from their Piscine\u2014amazing! Looking back at my old entries, I can still feel the emotions I had at the time. Wow, I really thought that way back then!<\/em> Even if it was mostly just boring daily stuff, it still feels meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Episode 9 of the anime \u201cThe World According to the Movement of the Earth\u201d<\/em>, there\u2019s a line about writing that struck me: \u201cWords\u2026 they\u2019re practically a miracle. I\u2019m not some great person with profound messages to share, but through writing, I can communicate with my past self from months or even years ago. Even though I didn\u2019t write reflections during Piscine, now feels like a good time! The reason I wanted to become a Life Saver is that I received so much help during my own journey. I\u2019ve been at 42 for over a year now, so maybe I can give back. Am I a role model now? Do I have any outstanding achievements or flashy experiences? Some memorable moments: \u201cHey, why didn\u2019t I get the expected result? Your computers must be broken.\u201d I\u2019ve even met a few people with bad tempers or poor attitudes. One vivid memory from my own Piscine experience: During a review, I was paired with a tall, muscular classmate with a serious expression. He spoke Japanese very fast, and I struggled to keep up. \u201cYou don\u2019t speak Japanese, and you don\u2019t speak English. What are you even doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Honestly, I didn\u2019t know either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though English is taught from kindergarten in Taiwan, I never kept up with the lessons. But life took a turn: my husband got a job at a Japanese company, so we moved to Japan. \u201cIt\u2019s free. You have nothing to lose. Why not try?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s how I ended up there. When that classmate said those words, I felt crushed and guilty for causing trouble. Now, as a Life Saver, I\u2019ve learned this: About \u201cunclear requirements\u201d: There are two kinds of \u201cunclear\u201d: either it\u2019s written but you don\u2019t understand, or it\u2019s simply not written. Speaking of unclear instructions: \u201cWhat\u2019s a prime factor?\u201d When it\u2019s just one person, you can ignore it. But multiple people said the same thing, so I added instructions. (The game is here: game.allie.tw)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n One core concept in Piscine is recursion. \u201cTo iterate is human, to recurse divine.\u201d Speaking of loops, Piscine only allows It reminds me of Demon Slayer<\/em>. This year, being a Life Saver felt very different from when I was a candidate\u2014because of AI.What is the Piscine?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
What is a Life Saver?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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As a Life Saver, you are explicitly instructed not<\/strong> to answer any questions that could reasonably be answered by asking a fellow candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019ve tried keeping a journal before (those entries are still hidden somewhere on my website lol<\/em>), and my longest streak was 46 days. But eventually, I stopped.
It\u2019s not that I didn\u2019t know what to write; the hardest part was turning thoughts into words. It takes time to organize your thoughts and weave them into sentences. What you read in one minute may have taken me an hour to write.
Having tried it myself, I truly understand how hard it is, and I deeply admire those who managed to journal every day during Piscine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As long as you can use words, you can transcend time and space.
You can cry over a message from 200 years ago or laugh at a legend from 1,000 years ago. Can you believe that?
Our lives are trapped in this era; we can\u2019t escape it.
But only when we read words can we hear voices from the past speaking to us.
In that moment, it\u2019s as if we\u2019ve broken free from this era.
Thoughts written down live on forever and can even inspire someone in the future.
Isn\u2019t that just\u2026 like a miracle?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Words\u2026 really are a miracle, aren\u2019t they?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, any time is the right time to start something. If you want to do it, do it. If you want to write, start writing. It\u2019s never too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I had this thought even earlier, but I always felt like I wasn\u2019t good enough\u2014not in terms of technical skill, but because Life Savers represent 42 to the candidates. I didn\u2019t feel like a good role model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No. I\u2019m still just an ordinary person. But I love 42\u2019s philosophy and system, and I want to contribute to it and share that vision with others.
Ironically, I feel like I\u2019ve received more help than I\u2019ve given\u2014so thank you to all the staff and teammates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As a Life Saver, you generally don\u2019t answer project-related questions. That means you might get complaints like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy won\u2019t you help me solve this problem? Do you even know how?\u201d
\u201cWhy aren\u2019t the tasks clearly written? What does this even mean?\u201d
\u201cWhy did the grading system fail me? I\u2019m sure I\u2019m correct\u2014it must be a bug!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be honest, I had those same doubts when I was a candidate, so I don\u2019t think these are unreasonable questions.
Asking questions is good. Computers do<\/em> break sometimes. But getting angry or lashing out? That\u2019s unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I had studied Japanese for three months with a tutor, self-studied for another three months, and then spent three months in language school before joining Piscine.
Even so, my Japanese was weak, and my English was poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When he saw I wasn\u2019t responding, he switched to fluent English\u2014but I still couldn\u2019t follow.
He started losing patience and eventually snapped:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People often say, \u201cTaiwanese people are good at English,\u201d and maybe that\u2019s true\u2014everyone around me seemed good at it. But me? I\u2019ve always been bad at languages. Maybe I\u2019m just not smart enough. I never imagined living abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he discovered 42Tokyo and suggested I join Piscine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019d already spent over a year without working, burning through our savings on moving costs, furniture, and living expenses.
42 was free, a chance to make friends, and an opportunity to learn programming. Perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, near the end of Piscine, I was paired with him again for another review. I was terrified\u2014my Japanese hadn\u2019t magically improved. But surprisingly, he was much more patient and even smiled more.
I don\u2019t know what changed, but it wasn\u2019t me.
(For the record, he passed Piscine. He\u2019s really talented.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Anger solves nothing. If I can\u2019t answer a question, I won\u2019t answer it just because someone is mad.
If it\u2019s a hardware issue, we\u2019ll swap the machine\u2014no need to rage.
If it\u2019s a user error, slamming the keyboard won\u2019t help.
Thankfully, some candidates improved their attitude later on. I don\u2019t remember their names, but I hope they passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Maybe because I\u2019ve worked before, and bosses often give vague instructions (sometimes because they don\u2019t even know what they want), I accepted this easily.
Piscine tasks are graded by machine, which feels brutally black-and-white. I both hate and love that system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whichever the case, what do you think? What will you do next? That\u2019s what matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Recently, I made a simple prime factorization game. At first, I only wrote \u201cPrime Factorization\u201d as the title\u2014no explanation. The interface was simple, so I thought people would get it. But many didn\u2019t:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy isn\u2019t there any explanation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I thought this was elementary-level knowledge\u2026 but maybe not.
(If you asked me elementary-level English questions, I\u2019d probably fail too.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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When I first saw it: \u201cWow, this is amazing!\u201d<\/em>
Just a few lines of code, but so elegant.
There\u2019s a saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything recursion can do, loops can also do\u2014so why learn it?
I think it\u2019s less about syntax and more about learning a way of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\nwhile<\/code> loops\u2014no for<\/code>.
If you\u2019ve coded before, for<\/code> loops probably come to mind first. Compared to for<\/code>, while<\/code> is simpler and more primitive.
And not just loops: Piscine only allows write<\/code>, not printf<\/code>.
Why learn an old language like C instead of trendy ones like Python or Java?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original breathing technique is the Sun Breathing style, from which all other techniques derive\u2014just like modern languages stem from C.
C is powerful and efficient but requires mastery of pointers and memory\u2014like Sun Breathing requiring special talent.
C gave rise to C++, Objective-C, C#, and influenced Java, Go, Rust, JavaScript.
(And yes, the analogy is very nerdy. Please don\u2019t take it too seriously!)<\/em>
(If AI writes code for you without learning programming, is that like killing demons without knowing breathing techniques?)
(Isn\u2019t the Demon Slayer entrance exam kind of like Piscine? Throw everyone into the pool and see who survives!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I read an article recently:
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