By Kristina Ching
Not many 16 year olds can say they know how to code, and even fewer can say they’ve developed and released an app. Despite the growing number of coding academies and online programs, in-depth knowledge of computer science and coding still remains rare among high school students. Sishir Giri of Tustin High is just one out of an exceptional group of kids that are exceeding expectations.
He’s been coding since he was in eighth grade, beginning with C++, a general-purpose programming language with object-oriented and generic programming features. He went on to learn .net framework with C#, and from there began to grasp an even better understanding. In his freshman year, he moved on to Java, taking an online class from IVC that summer. Since then, Sishir’s taught himself HTML, CSS and PHP, resulting in the creation of an impressive portfolio of websites. His skills alone are hugely impressive and considering his age, what he’s accomplished with them is even more commendable.
In only his third year of high school, he’s learned and is proficient in six programming languages and released multiple apps and wesbsites, including one for Tustin’s enginering program. His fourth app, Helpindesk , was awarded first place in the Congressional App Challenge, after coming up short in 2016, when he placed third for a beta version. Congresswoman Mimi Walters commended him for being “able to successfully tackle a common problem for many students – access to quick and concise answers on subject matter while outside of the classroom.”
He was invited to her office this past Friday with his teacher, Ed Hernandez, to accept the award for Helpindesk. The experience was “fabulous” for Sishir, “meeting [Rep. Walters] and the other students who were there to showcase their apps.” He says he, “knew [he] had it coming, but was still totally ecstatic just to experience it.”
In California alone there are 68,352 open computing jobs, and the industry is only growing. The projected rise of computer science as an attainable and stable career path reflects in shifting curriculum at schools around the nation. Websites like code.org aim to teach kids as young as five basic coding skills. Code.org boasts some impressive stats, only supporting the idea that our workforce is changing rapidly. According to their website, 25% of US students have accounts with them, 11 million of which are female, a demographic which has been historically underrepresented in STEM fields. They claim that over 750,000 teachers have used their program, and 10% of the entire world’s students have participated in their Hour of Code.
It’s clear that computer science is rising in popularity and demand; it’s now a top major at universities across the United States and the world. With the proliferation of technology in today’s digital age, we need programmers more than ever. Schools are stepping up in preparing the next generation for the evolving job market, and their attempts to provide programs and opportunities to increase proficiency in computer science are truly commendable. However, it’s students like Sishir that have taken their own initiative and found passion in code that will literally write our future. He isn’t alone in his pursuits, but it is his true determination that makes his particular journey so inspiring.