#CodingLabStudents: Yii Kia Shian, HCIC 2024 Silver Winner
Kia Shian, an avid coder and cyclist!
Meet Kia Shian, a passionate young coder who has been exploring the world of programming since the age of 7!
His dedication and creativity have led him to achieve remarkable milestones, including winning the Silver Award at the prestigious Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2024 as well as the Gold and Judge’s Choice - Best Presentation Award at the International Coding Showcase 2023.
Combining his love for coding with his knack for problem-solving, Kia Shian has consistently demonstrated resilience and innovation in his projects. From crafting educational games to envisioning AI-driven solutions for societal improvement, Kia Shian is an inspiring example of how technology can be harnessed to make a difference. Let’s dive into his coding journey, aspirations, and advice for fellow young programmers.
“I enjoy how our lessons give us the freedom to explore and customize our programs, and how the teachers help me with making my ideas become reality. This hands-on approach has helped me develop my coding skills and creativity, making learning both fun and rewarding.”
Congratulations on winning an award at the HCIC! How did you feel about your achievement?
I felt a great sense of accomplishment because I spent a lot of time preparing for this competition and my hard work paid off.
How was your HCIC experience? What did you learn, and what was the best part of it?
It was very fulfilling. I spent time reading and coding and learnt a lot of new, cool things that I could do with Python. The best part was when I got my Silver award.
What do you enjoy about coding, and how has it impacted your life?
I really love it and get a sense of accomplishment when I finish my program after hours of debugging and it works perfectly! Coupled with my love for building Lego sets, it has led me to join Robotics as a CCA in school and take part in many fun competitions.
How did you get started at Coding Lab?
I signed up for a holiday course to learn Scratch in Primary One. I like how we have semi to full autonomy over our programs so we can customise and modify them, and the teachers help me with letting my ideas become reality! Since this first holiday course, I have developed an interest for coding.
What challenges did you face while learning to code, and how did you overcome them?
There were times when I could not understand why my programs did not work, so I watched YouTube tutorials, read coding books and then analysed the code before trying to fix the problem. I also made use of AI Tools like ChatGPT to help with debugging.
“I aspire to design AI systems that can benefit society, like creating financial advisors that monitor the stock market and make investing accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. It’s exciting to think about how coding can shape the future.”
Why do you think learning to code is important?
In this new digital age, technology is playing a larger role in our lives, so knowing how to code will give us a big advantage when we join the workforce.
Do you have a favorite project you'd like to share with us? Why is it your favourite?
The project is called The Sustainable Fishing Game. I submitted this for the International Coding Showcase 2023, and it aims to educate the player about the importance of sustainable fishing, by not fishing endangered animals, participating in illegal fishing or overfishing. It is only through sustainable fishing that the player can accumulate enough money to win the game. I like it because it's a simple yet educational and fun game!
How do your family and friends react when they find out you know how to code?
They were quite impressed that I knew how to code as their impression of coders was like those hackers in movies and video games.
Here is Kia Shian with his awards for the International Coding Showcase 2023!
Aside from coding, what are your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like folding paper aeroplanes and testing them with different types of folding techniques. I also like gaming, reading and cycling!
What are your future aspirations? What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up, I want to integrate AI with society, such as designing AI financial advisors that can monitor the stock market and make decisions on our behalf, so that not only the rich can invest.
Do you have any advice for other young people learning to code?
Do not give up when your program fails, just keep trying and put in your best! You can also make use of technology like AI as a tool to help you.
Kia Shian’s coding journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, curiosity, and a passion for learning. With his impressive achievements at the HCIC and beyond, he has shown that coding is not just about solving problems but also about creating meaningful solutions that impact lives.
From debugging challenges to envisioning a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into society, Kia Shian’s story is sure to inspire young coders to dream big and keep pushing boundaries. We can’t wait to see what this talented programmer will accomplish next as he continues to innovate and grow in his coding adventure.
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!
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