Time has flown by so quickly – here I am, already a junior, with just one more year and a semester before graduation. It feels like only yesterday that I was fresh out of high school, wrestling with the same kinds of questions that some of you might be facing right now. Should I go for a large university with a huge student body, or a smaller one with a more close-knit environment? Study close to home or abroad? Go for a theory-heavy curriculum or a project-focused one? The questions just piled up. And then…, I discovered CMKL.
Back in 2021, CMKL’s AiCE program was brand new—nothing like the long-established institutions. I almost wrote it off until I learned more about the competency-based approach and project-focused curriculum, and that’s what really pulled me in. My first semester was no joke. I was thrown into a machine learning project to work on classifying disposable trash into different categories—something that felt way out of my league, especially given that, coming from a public school in Cambodia, my coding knowledge was barely scratching the surface, and AI? I knew only the basics – a few theories here and there. I thought, "No way can I pull this off." The project seemed far too ambitious, especially for a first-semester freshman. But against all odds, my team and I managed to finish it, and by the end of the year, we had even developed a fully functional mobile application out of it. Looking back, I’m glad we were thrown into an R&D project from the start. I have learned so many things, both technical and otherwise. If there’s one big takeaway, it’s that I shouldn’t second-guess myself; when there’s a will, there’s usually a way. You just have to jump in, do your research (Google, ChatGPT, journal articles—whatever it takes), and not be afraid to ask for help. The project work is by far my favorite part of CMKL—working with real stakeholders and making an impact beyond the classroom is both fulfilling and challenging.
The competency-based learning approach was another initial challenge. The freedom to plan your learning journey and set deadlines sounds great, but it’s tricky when you’re still figuring out who you are. Many of us struggled with this at first, but our academic and faculty advisors helped us map out a path that aligned with our goals—or, in some cases, just our interests if our goals weren’t yet clear. The school also provides a recommended roadmap, which we could adapt instead of starting from scratch. At first, it was confusing and a bit anxiety-inducing, but I learned to take the reins on my learning journey and trust myself.
Social life at CMKL has been, admittedly, a mixed bag. The small community means you keep bumping into the same faces, but it also allows for close relationships. I’ve gotten to know my academic advisor, professors, and even some of the staff very well. If anything, I feel heard here. I remember casually mentioning an international food event in my freshman year, and a few months later, it happened. The environment at CMKL feels a lot like a startup—there’s a sense of openness to new ideas and collaboration.
It’s been a rollercoaster with its fair share of ups and downs, each teaching me invaluable lessons along the way. To any high school graduates considering joining our community, I’d say go for it—you might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.
