#CodingLabStudents: Tan Yap, 12, HCIC 2024 Platinum Winner

November 21, 2024 Community - Thinzar

At Coding Lab, we believe in nurturing curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills in our students through coding, and Tan Yap is a shining example of this philosophy in action!

Tan Yap’s coding journey began when she was just in preschool, sparked by a robotics class that piqued her curiosity. Since then, her passion for coding has grown immensely, from Scratch to Python, and now exploring languages like JavaScript and C++. She has even competed in the prestigious Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2024 and won the Platinum award in her first-ever competition, only awarded to the top 1.5% of participants — an achievement that speaks volumes about her dedication and drive!

Read on to learn more about Tan Yap’s journey and her inspiring insights into the world of coding!

Congratulations on winning an award at the HCIC! How did you feel about your achievement?

I felt a happy sense of achievement as it was my first time taking part in a coding competition!

How was your HCIC experience? What have you learnt? What was the best part of it?

I would say that the best part was the learning process! I’ve learnt much about coding and robotics, such as Arduino, etc.

Tell us how you first got started with coding.

My coding journey started when I was in my last year of preschool. I got my parents to buy me a book on Scratch because I became curious about coding after attending a robotics enrichment class in preschool. After reading the book, I began to learn more about Scratch on the internet, fiddling around with Scratch on my own. I later took a Coding Lab Scratch course. After that, while teaching myself some more about Scratch, I chanced upon Python. Again, after reading up and fiddling with Python for a while, I signed up for Python courses, then went on to learn other languages such as JavaScript and C++!

Here is Tan Yap starting on her journey in Scratch!

What do you like about coding? How has coding made a difference in your life?

I like how everything is straightforward. It is especially satisfying when I am able to write elegant code. Coding is now one of my favourite hobbies – I also enjoy coding minigames for fun and for certain school projects.

How did you get started at Coding Lab?

I was introduced to the Coding Lab when I went for the Scratch course. I went on to sign up for more lessons with the Coding Lab. The Coding Lab classes are designed to be modular – for coding knowledge to be stacked on top of one another, building a strong foundation for coding. This modular system is organised, and also treats us students as mature individuals.

What are some difficulties that you faced while learning to code and how did you overcome them?

Whenever I encounter errors and bugs, or when I cannot find the most elegant solutions, I will try to figure it out on my own first, before referring to the internet or AI. I find that this process is one of the best ways to train and discipline my coding mind.

Tan Yap hard at work with her coding project!

Why do you think learning to code is so important?

Coding is about learning new languages to be used to translate human intentions to the computer, so that the computer can perform what the human mind wants it to do. Learning to code is important because it trains the mind for creative abstract thinking and problem-solving using the computer.

What do your family and friends say when they find out that you know how to code?

My parents have always been very supportive of my pursuits. My friends (I am from a girls’ school), on the other hand, were quite surprised, because most of them do not code. Coding seems to have been stereotyped as a “boys thing” – that girls would be neither interested in, nor be as great at coding, as boys would. I feel that this is a regressive misconception. I strongly encourage more girls to take up coding. We can achieve as much and even more than the boys can in coding and computer science.

Apart from Coding, what are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?

When I am not studying for school subjects or coding, I would be reading (I have an obsession with Ancient Egypt and other ancient civilisations), playing the piano (I love Bach), practising Wushu (my choice of weapon is currently the sword), playing with my cats, creating digital art pieces, watching Young Sheldon, etc.

What are your future aspirations? What do you want to be when you grow up?

I wish to leverage my strengths and create something that will bring progress to mankind.

Do you have any advice for young people like you who are learning to code?

Coding should be a fun exploration, instead of a chore. I advise them to start small, with block coding, before moving on to simpler languages. Most importantly, even though coding may get frustrating at times, never give up!

We’re incredibly proud of Tan Yap’s achievements and the dedication she has shown in developing her coding skills. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of a solid foundation in coding. Through the guidance of our experienced educators and the structured curriculum at Coding Lab, she has continued to excel and inspire others.

We hope Tan Yap’s words inspire you to take your first steps in the world of coding. Remember, coding is not just about learning to write code—it’s about learning to think creatively, solve problems, and make a difference in the world. At Coding Lab, we’re excited to see how our students like Tan Yap will continue to innovate and contribute to the future of technology!

Our #CodingLabStudents blogs feature our ambitious students and their ongoing coding journeys – be it the budding coder or advanced Python Pro, we appreciate each and every single one’s efforts as they progress to greater heights. 🌱

Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 5 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!