Jared is a senior at University of Texas at Austin, with an emphasis in game development. Before starting college he had a lot of coding experience, plus participated in cybersecurity contests through CyberPatriot. He works with Breakout Mentors students in Unity, a professional game engine capable of realistic 3D games. Let’s get to know him a bit better:
When did you start to code?
I first learned to code with Scratch in middle school, but I wasn’t very invested until I started coding in Unity with C# in high school. Following game development tutorials for class led to me finding a passion for learning computer science principles.
What is your favorite game or project you have created with a student?
I was working with a student on a 3D multiplayer shooter recently who had only been working in Unity for a few months. The project so far was very impressive, and I found myself learning a lot along with the student. I really enjoy these projects that challenge what I know as well. It helps to demonstrates the problem-solving and research skills often needed for programming.
What advice do you have for kids learning how to code?
I would really suggest to start small. Programming, especially with large tools such as game engines like Unity, can be daunting trying to do seemingly simple tasks. Breaking up a projects into small tasks that are checked off when completed really helps to keep a sense of accomplishment and a good understanding of how each part relates to one another.
More Great Mentors Just Like Jared
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