Quarantine has been a major event in many of Generation Z teens’ lives. When teenagers get thrown into an era where time feels unlimited, responsibilities feel negligible and accountability is thrown out the window, unique results are bound to happen. For Lambert senior Ryan Du, this opportunity became the very launchpad from which he found his lifelong passion: coding.
“I feel like it’s the idea that you can build anything, similar to how kids like Legos because you can do anything with it,” Du explained.
With 12-hour long YouTube videos, a MacBook and a burning desire to learn, Du taught himself various coding languages including Python, Swift, HTML and Java. He started building small projects for the fun of it, such as a fridge tracking app to minimize food waste and a music to vibrations app to give users a more immersive listening experience.
In high school, Du was able to find the right community to help him take his skills to the next level. His next idea was ambitious, seeking to streamline the entire process of literature reviews by organizing articles, citations and other crucial resources needed during the research process. He collaborated with one of his close friends, Vineeth Sendilraj, whom he met through his experiences on the Lambert iGEM team.
“It was like we had to work on something that can actually make a difference, and sort of and try to build something that other people actually want,” Du described.
The app was called Yuno, and garnered an impressive number of 750 people on its waitlist for release. Although not yet completed, the project has taught Du important lessons and helped him gain valuable experience.
Du also explores his interests via school clubs. He currently serves as the president of Lambert’s Computer Science Club and also competes as a member of the Lambert iGEM team. He helps to code during projects and develop the team’s website.
“[iGEM] is like a company of so many different dynamics; you have to figure out how to work with people, present your ideas, and it’s really intense stuff all at once,” Du expressed. “And so I feel like if it wasn’t for iGEM, I wouldn’t be as ambitious as I am today.”
Du looks forward to potentially organizing his own start-up in the future. He has recognized the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship through his unique experiences, and wants to explore his interests in this field further. Du’s love for coding and building innovative solutions remains a driving force for him. With his talents and experiences, Du is excited to take on what the future holds for him.
