How I Learned to Code (nicholaschen.me)

Nicholas Chen's journey into coding showcases a dynamic trajectory from a high school programming club to various software engineering internships and personal projects. Starting with building a hangman game in Java and learning C++ fundamentals, Chen participated in competitive programming and collaborated on multiple projects, including creating GPT wrappers and a posture-checking robot. His experiences expanded to more advanced topics such as machine learning with Python, building mobile apps using Kotlin, and utilizing modern frameworks like Next.js and TypeScript. This narrative highlights the value of experiential learning in the tech community. By engaging in hackathons, internships, and collaborative projects, Chen not only developed his technical skills but also gained exposure to real-world coding practices, such as unit testing and version control with Git. His iterative learning approach, using resources like Geeks for Geeks and connecting with peers, emphasizes how the AI/ML community can benefit from hands-on experiences and collaborative environments. Notably, his work on an ETL pipeline for customer feedback and participation in ML model challenges demonstrate a commitment to applying learned skills in practical settings—an essential trait for any aspiring AI/ML professional.