About Me
My Background
Currently, I am a senior at Great Valley High School. I moved from Belarus to the United States at the age of 14. I am deeply passionate about computer science because it is the most mathematically and logically rigorous branch of engineering. I am equally passionate about robotics because I love seeing how code can make a meaningful impact on the physical world. Beyond my STEM-related pursuits, I spend my free time on creative endeavors such as playing guitar, laser cutting, and exploring linguistics.
My Direction
I intend to continue deepening my connection to computer science and its practical applications in robotics. I am motivated by the challenge of building systems that can adapt, respond, and remain dependable in uncertain environments. As I continue my education, I want to carry with me a commitment to honesty and adaptability, and apply these values in creating work that makes a tangible difference.
Skills
Computer Science
Core
Tools & Systems
Computer Aided Design
Tools
Fabrication
Soft Skills & Leadership
Experienced
Languages
Projects
BLITZ
A web-based editor for designing and refining autonomous robot trajectories. Built to make robotics path planning more accessible and customizable.
Pursuits
First Tech Challenge
Last summer, I was invited to join FTC Team 14423 — The RoboCorns during the DECODE season as the Trajectory Specialist and Lead Programmer. In this position, I take the initiative to design state machines, controls, and autonomous path planning, which has given me the chance to apply my BLITZ project in a real competitive setting. This season, I’m especially excited to be working with a swerve drive system, since it brings together everything I enjoy most about applied robotics: the elegant motion of a mathematically intelligent system.
VEX V5
I have been competing in VEX Robotics as a member of the Great Valley High School Robotics Club for three years since my freshman year, judging and participating in regional and state-level events. I also mentored the middle school teams for two years, and in my senior year I volunteer regularly at the high school, helping both new and experienced members with coding, design, strategy, and other team-related aspects. VEX is where I first discovered my passion for control theory, which helped me narrow my broader interest in computer science into something more focused and enjoyable.
Music – Guitar
I have been playing acoustic guitar for five years, and it’s still my favourite way to relax and reset. I mostly play fingerstyle because I enjoy arranging full songs on a single instrument. Learning to play guitar is one of my biggest personal achievements, since it’s the first skill I taught myself entirely on my own. Seeing how much progress I can make through consistency and effort motivates me to bring the same dedication to my other interests.
CAD-ing
In my junior year of high school, I took an engineering class and immediately fell in love with design and fabrication. Since then, I’ve enjoyed creating decorative pieces, personal gifts, and laser-cut parts for robotics projects. I occasionally tinker with electronics or add 3D printing to the mix, but laser cutting is where I feel the strongest connection. I enjoy this work because it gives me space to express creativity in a way that isn’t as prominent in most of the other STEM activities I do.
Model UN
Over the past four years, I have taken part in several Model UN conferences where I learned to make quick decisions, negotiate effectively, and redirect discussions under tight time constraints. Even though the scenarios are simulated, the constant need to adapt, persuade, and collaborate mirrors real leadership challenges, and I now find myself applying those same skills outside of conferences. Model UN has also pushed me to greatly strengthen my confidence and skill in public speaking.
Linguistics
I’m drawn to linguistics because in my opinion it is the proper, scientific way to study how language works. I study it casually for my own interest, often applying what I learn to my conlangs or to better understand languages and cultures very different from my own. I am especially interested in exploring languages that differ greatly from what I am used to, because learning about them stretches my understanding in a way that feels like a good mental massage: it bends my brain in directions I never use, but the result feels deeply satisfying. If I ever have enough time in the future, I hope to become comfortably conversational in Turkish because of its simple but expressive agglutinative structure, and in Chinese because of its flexible and elegant semantic system. Studying linguistics has also given me a more patient and thoughtful perspective on cultural and language-related debates.