Introductions
October 8, 2024
Prudence Yao
# Team
Fullstack Engineer
Heya I’m Prudence, excite to meet you all. I'd like to share some of my life stories. And here is my portfolio pruprupru.art if you have interest to check out.
1. Where do you live today, and how did you end up there?
I was born and raised in Shanghai. Needless to say Shanghai is famous for its modernity and vibes. New stores/restaurants/exhibitions/shopping malls pop up every few weeks. I love my hometown but it can easily empty my wallet.
I’m currently living in Hangzhou because previously I worked for Alibaba and Hangzhou is its headquarter. One thing I can easily access in Hangzhou than Shanghai is its beautiful nature view. I never get tired of visiting Xihu West Lake and the hiking area nearby as the view varies in four seasons.
Another thing Hangzhou city is famous for is its digitization. Whether it is handling gov documents or making a doctor’s appointment, its digital platform has one of the smoothest use experience I’ve ever seen.
2. Do you have a favorite holiday? Why or why not?
I don’t have a favorite holiday per se, but I do have a favorite travel experience. After leaving my previous job, I went to a place that wasn't on most people's travel destinations. I went to Wudang Mountain to immerse myself in learning Taichi Sword for 2 weeks, which has been the highlight of my vacation experience.
Feeling a declining in my health due to work stress in my previous job, I was eager to find a way of life that is healthier than the typical office job that requires you to sit in front of desk 8 hours a day. During my time in Wudang, I spent 5 hours every day practicing Taichi Sword outdoors, often changing my cloth 3 times a day due to my sweat. It helps me establish a new routine: waking up at 7 am, going to bed at 10 pm, and feeling fully energized without the need for caffeine. My body was active, and my mind was at ease. My legs become more flexible, my shoulder and my head was no longer painful and my skin looks smoother (haha).
Contrary to the common belief that Taichi is mainly practiced by the elderly, I was pleasantly surprised to find a vibrant community of college students studying in China, the US, and Japan, all interested in Taoism and traditional wisdom. We had a very fun time discussing Taoism and our life stories in a local bar (yes there is no strict prohibition on drinking in Taoism schools). We all hope to see each other again in Wudang some day.
Upon returning home, I found myself slipping back into my old habits of late nights and infrequent exercise. However, I am continuously striving to uphold the disciplined routine I learned at Wudang Mountain.
3.What are your hobbies, and how did you get into them?
Over the past three years, I've developed a new passion for snowboarding. Before I tried it, I never thought I'd enjoy the winter season as much as I do now. It was a friend who introduced me to this thrilling sport. I vividly recall the joy of my first descent down a snowy trail, as well as the frustration of repeatedly falling as a novice. Snowboarding is a sport that continually challenges me to push my limits and conquer natural fears, such as the fear of speed and heights.
Now that I've reached the point where I can glide down from mountain peaks (not in high speed though), I can confidently say that the breathtaking snowscapes are worth every effort. This sport has reshaped how I expect to spend my winters.
I’ve been to snow resorts in Zhejiang, Changchun, Chongli and even in Japan, each location offering unique and memorable experiences. I am also happy to introduce several of my friends to snowboarding.
I attempted to get certified as Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors, but I didn’t succeed on my first try. However, that's part of the sport's allure—it demands dedication, practice, and a continuous learning process.
4.Did you attend university, and if so, what did you study?
I went to New York University Shanghai which was a newly established campus 10 years ago. I was in its second graduating class.
During my freshman year, the university didn't push us to decide on a major immediately, which gave me the freedom to explore my interests. The major I chose and eventually graduated with is Interactive Media Arts. I also completed a double major in Computer Science, but it's the unique perspective of Interactive Media Arts that I feel truly defines my educational background. This major provided me with a broad understanding of interactive media, including fields like virtual reality, interactive installations, and even smart fabrics.
Attending a new school is just like joining a startup—it was a dynamic environment with little bureaucracy and many opportunity to contribute to its growth and identity. I was honored to initiate the interactive Haunting House in its Halloween event and contribute to the Commencement Countdown events.
5.What was your first job? What do you remember most about that job?
My first job was as a full-stack engineer in a global agency called R/GA which has its headquarters in New York. During my time there, I had the opportunity of building high-profile websites and applications for marketing campaigns for many renowned brand including Google, Netflix and Instagram.
One particularly memorable project I was in charge of was for Google Developer Day in 2020, titled ‘Noodling’. It's a game where you can do noodling with your hands. The game uses your computer’s camera to detect where your hand is with Tensorflow, a ML model. There is also physics simulation and UI system.
Additionally, I was fortunate enough to spend two months working at Google's Tokyo office. The office's cafeteria was extraordinary, offering a variety of cuisines from sushi to barbecue you name it, all available for FREE.
6. What's the one thing you want to accomplish at Gradual in the next year?
My speciality in frontend development is particularly focused on UI interaction and complicated 2D/3D web animations, I’d love to contribute to improving Gradual’s user experience, whether that involves refining landing pages or data visualization dashboards.
In general, I have a strong interest in exploring how I can contribute to enhancing the product to better meet the users’ need, within or beyond my role as an engineer.
Like
Comments (0)
Popular
