Triya Gudipati

“[I was happiest during] this time in choir class in sixth grade. We were doing a show-and-tell on projects of our choice and I did mine on programming. It was a basic math program where it would simplify certain complex numbers like square roots. I found it really interesting that I could create and develop stuff without an existing engine, [and] it was a big accomplishment because it was the first program I’ve ever made. I felt like I had done something without anybody’s help and therefore I had done something by myself in the world. I shared it with my class, it was not a very complex thing, so they weren’t enthusiastic but they were definitely interested. It was a good moment for me. [I have been programming] for five years since then, and I like it more now than I did then. [Now,] I usually recreate old games like “Pong,” “Asteroids” and other small things like that,” – Tyler Michajliczenko, 10