The first program I wrote was pizza calculator! I wrote it in python 3.7, and I stored it on a 8gb hard drive to show my dad (I didn't know what github was)
Advent of Code
Over time, I started to dabble in writing code more, although it felt uncomfortable. I partook in a seasonal activity my friend told me about, called Advent of Code. AOC really helped shape my ability to think as a programmer, and I got up to day 8 by hacking together solutions while trying to learn python with trusty GeeksForGeeks.
Address Book
My first semblance of a ' big ' , my dad took advantage of my newfound interest in coding to create an AddressBook on the road trip to Las Vegas. It was writte in C#, and was my first object oriented project.
Discord.py
Discovering discord.py, I found my first real use for writing programs. I wrote many different random bots for my own personal use (todo bots), or fun bots to use in servers with my friends. I began to toy with other APIs at this time, even using Google and Discord API in tandem to create a script to paste discord messages onto a google sheets for my friend who was restricted from discord.
Extra Curricular Activities
After further developing my programming skills, I started to join extracurricular activities around my school and community. For example, I joined Irvine CubeSAT, a district wide program aimed at sending nano-satellites to space in my Freshman Year. I learned basic C++ and Rust, helping write code to control the power supply of the nano-satellite.
Machine Learning
As I worked on projects in school and with my friends, I began to create small projects that used basic Machine Learning. While I didn't understand much about how the ML worked, I worked on basic computer vision through science fair projects, starting with weed detectors and moving onto more advanced CV such as melanoma detection and semantic segmentation.
Programming Skills
Around this time I also began to work on my programming skills by completing problems on sites such as USACO and Hackerrank, placing silver in USACO.
Accepted to Georgia Tech
I started going to Georgia Tech! Seeing my friends be so skilled in their own interests in computer science motivates me to learn more myself.
Front end frameworks
Now, I am learning front end frameworks and technologies in order to create new projects and applications, starting with this website!
Distributed Services and Cloud Architecture
Over the summer I learned about using cloud services through AWS and Azure to create distributed services and applications. To cement this, I created a online CS grading portal online using AWS Lambda, AWS API Gateway, AWS S3, AWS Cloudfront, and Azure MySQL databases.
Revisiting Machine Learning
Over 2024 summer I interned with Georgia Tech & IBM applying machine learning techniques to predict the paths of storms ahead of time. Now I am continuing that research with IBM Researchers utilizing new techniques to create more realistic looking weather fields.