At Pi515, we believe in empowering our community by fostering meaningful connections and providing opportunities for growth. One of the ways we do this is by welcoming college interns who bring fresh perspectives and energy to our mission. Today, we're excited to introduce you to Tera, one of our incredible interns! Read on to learn more about her journey and the impact she’s making with Pi515.
Say hello to Jia Wen (Tera) Khong, one of our incredible Tech Mentor Interns! Since joining Pi515 in October, Tera has been an integral part of our Tech Mentorship Program at John Deere ISG, offering valuable support to our students during class. We’re so lucky to have her as part of our team! Read on to learn why Tera chose Pi515 and how her experience with us has shaped her journey.
Advanced Mathematics, and Science stream courses
Basic programming languages like Python, get exposure to current trends with technology. If you never had the chance to learn about it, you will never know if you're going to like it or not, and it can be another excellent option to study as a major/minor in college.
Start researching colleges and fields of study in your junior year. You can also apply for a scholarship early. Be open to new experiences and networking with people who can help you in the future selection. Get involved on campus which can help you build up your skills, especially communication and problem-solving.
I am particularly impressed by Pi515's dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds. I believe that technology can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, and I am eager to help facilitate that journey for students in the Tech Mentorship Program.
Interning as a teaching assistant for Pi515 has significantly enhanced my knowledge in Python while boosting my ability to communicate complex concepts effectively. This role has allowed me to engage deeply with high school students, and collaborate with instructors on curriculum development.
Interning at Pi515 has taught me valuable lessons in both technical and interpersonal skills. I have gained a deeper understanding of Python programming and developed my ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to students. The experience has also improved my problem-solving skills, as I frequently assisted with troubleshooting coding issues. Additionally, collaborating with instructors and peers has enhanced my teamwork abilities and given me insights into effective teaching strategies. Overall, this internship has not only solidified my technical knowledge but also helped me grow as a mentor and a communicator, shaping my future career path in the tech field.
Python
I would like to choose Albert Einstein, the man behind the theory of relativity, a brilliant physicist who fundamentally changed how we understand space, time, and gravity. If I could teach him Python, I would focus on scientific computing and simulation. With his profound knowledge of theoretical physics, Python would offer Einstein a tool to model complex physical systems, run simulations, and explore ideas that were difficult to test in the real world with just pen and paper.
Start with small, achievable projects and focus on practicing consistently. This will help build confidence and solidify foundational coding concepts. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help, and utilize the online resources for self-learning. Stay curious and patient, it's totally fine to make mistakes as the programming world also took time in debugging.
My professor from Drake sparked my initial interest in coding after his first class with a very interesting example: PB&J Sandwiches (If you're interested, I believe you're able to search online for this activity). I love coding because it always has multiple ways to solve one single problem. And when you start learning a programming language, you can find the similarities in using the others, just different syntax. It also made me feel satisfied after dealing with a big database, and obtained a deep insight from that data.
