Build logs and learning notes from an aspiring electrical engineer. 2026-06-21T00:00:00Z https://alexanderchiu.net/ Alexander Chiu 2026-06-21T00:00:00Z https://alexanderchiu.net/blog/starting-this-site/

Why I built a portfolio now, three years before I apply to Waterloo — and what I plan to fill it with.

<!-- STARTER NOTE — a template for your learning log. Write short, honest posts: what you tried, what broke, what you learned. Copy this file to add a new one. --> <p>I'm in Grade 10, and I won't apply to university until Grade 12. So why build an engineering portfolio now?</p> <p>Because the best part of a portfolio isn't the website — it's the <strong>work</strong>, and work takes time. If I start documenting projects today, by the time I apply to the University of Waterloo I'll have years of real builds to point to instead of a list of intentions.</p> <p>The plan for this log is simple: short posts about what I'm learning in electronics and code — including the things that break. Next up is my <a href="/projects/first-arduino-circuit/">first Arduino circuit</a>, then working toward a <a href="/projects/line-following-robot/">line-following robot</a>.</p> <p>More soon.</p>