Student Project Details

Name: Ephraim C.
Grade: 10
WTSA Event: Coding

Current Post-High Plan(s)/Career Goal(s):

My current goals for my future careers are quite varied, but one I will share is that soon I will be getting into theatre and A/V tech soon (partnership with TPS and TPS partners) since A/V has been a thing satisfying that little spot in my brain for a hot while that needs to be dealt with.

Why This Event?

I was nominated by my AP Comp-Sci teacher to help run this whole WTSA (first year) experiment.

The Design Brief

The Coding High School event starts out with two preliminary tests, the first being before the conference, and the second being at the conference, though you must pass the first one to get to the second one, after that the semifinalists move on to develop a software to address a problem.

Toolset & Engineering/Design Methodology

Tests are done either on paper or by computer, development happens on an IDE, Such as jGRASP or Visual Studio Code, and with languages C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript/Node, Python, Ruby, Swift, and/or Rust.

Overcoming Challenges

It was a disappointing to not make the semifinals, I would have liked a shot at the program development challenge. Without a second event I wasn't as involved in the competition as I would have liked. But me and the others who didn't advance got to scout out other events to see what would be best for IDEA.

WTSA State Conference Experience

The most memorable part of the conference for me was honestly just going. Comparing WTSA to a FIRST competition, even District Champs, is very hard. WTSA has a much different vibe than FIRST, and I get it, its not just a robotics event. Theres so much more to do, but the vibe was either very high or mellow, very little in-between. In FIRST, its very pumped up, everyone's always on the edge of their seat, waiting to see if red, or blue alliance won. WTSA (or just TSA) is split across 50+ different events from art to biotech.

The Veteran's Brief (Advice for Newcomers)

Make sure you meet with your team twice or so every week atleast, though focus on yourself! AND meet with your Advisor once a week with all the TSA members! Make sure that before you head to the conference that you are aware of the trials and exercises that you have to do for your event!

Future Competitive Goals

Robotics likely because we at iDEA could use the FTC supplies for that. On-Demand Video since I LOOOVEEEE videography, and MAYYYYYBE webmaster because web design is awesome.