steve kwan user experience designer

Guest post: To whom it may concern, by Dickolas Wang

(January 18th, 2006 - 12:49AM)

I have known Steven Kwan for eight years. In this time, I have watched as he grew from an energetic teenager with an innate sense of mores to a knowledgeable and professional -- but still energetic -- adult. I have come to truly respect him as a friend and as a colleague.

I first met Steve as a peer early in high school. During this time, I knew Steve to be a talented student simply in need of a little push to go from being merely "talented" to being an "achiever". I really came to know him, though, in my year as Top Academic Grade 12 Student. It was in this year that Steve really began to put together his work ethic. He passed PE 10 and achieved marks that were in the same ballpark as mine. I was also impressed by his wit: when I made a joke towards him, he promptly fired back in kind, "What the hell happened to your face?" Touché, Steven. Despite this being our only conversation in the three-plus years we had known each other, I was also impressed by his chutzpah in proceeding to speak to me further in class. I could never hold his earlier insult against him after that.

It was in this class that I first became acquainted with his technical prowess. While I, having not taken Info Tech 11, was busily studying out of the Visual Basic manual we had been saddled with on my way to winning both the Info Tech 12 and Info Tech 11 awards that year, Steve saw no need. Instead, Steve used the time to network, becoming acquainted with the people in our class. This did not hurt his performance, though, as his final project -- which I believe was an egg-timer program -- measured up in every respect to the Minesweeper game that my partners and I built.

After this, Steve proceeded to study Computer Systems Technology at BCIT, where his work ethic really hit a new level. His drive to succeed and willingness to work long hours at the sacrifice of his own health and relationsip with his family impressed me and, I dare say, shamed me as I took time out from my pursuit of an eventual 94.5% average in Combined Honours Mathematics and Computer Science at UBC to speak to him. He taught me that talent didn't mean everything: that you can make up for whatever deficiencies you may have if you are willing to do gruelling hard work -- and he was certainly willing. Today Steve still carries on this philosophy, and remains only three years away from attaining a Bachelor's degree. When he receives it, I intend to be there applauding, as I ought to have that time off after completing my PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.

Steve is also well-respected amongst his work colleagues. In the last three years, he has become a Senior Software Engineer and has righted the ship at his new company. Also, he has taken an active role in hiring and has become a vital member of the management, as he writes on his blog and tells me online from his office.

In his off-time, Steve is a very accomplished hiker, through which he has been able to achieve bodybuilder-sized calves, which he is justifiably proud of. He also has an uncanny eye for web trends, as he has been "blogging" long before blogs became popular. stevekwan.com has been a vehicle for his wisdom and advice as well as a showcase for his web development talents for over six years. Were it not for his example, my own online output would never have been able to surpass his in quality and I would never have become The Internet's Foremost Dickolas Wang.

In conclusion, you will not be sorry that you hired Steven, as he is a top-notch individual and a man of many talents.

Sincerely,

Richard Liang (the one who doesn't owe money all over town)

Dickolas Wang, or Richard Liang, is a Ph.D student and self-absorbed prick from Berkeley, California. You can read more about him on I, Dickolas Wang.

Ed.: Hey Dickolas, thanks for the guest post. By the way, did I tell you about my plans for this weekend? I'll be spending time with a GIRL. At my HOUSE.