Mayank Kakad

Hello, I am Mayank Kakad, a student of Computer Engineering in KJ Somaiya College of Engineering. I had interest in programming from the time I was in school, so I joined a course to learn C and C++ in my 8th standard, following which we had Java as our elective subject for the next 2 years. I had also learned HTML during my school itself. Programming had always been my first choice in everything, which led me to learn Visual Basic, JavaScript, 8085 Assembly language during my Junior college. It was then, when I decided, that I will pursue nothing but programming as my career, and made a firm decision to opt for Computer Engineering for my B. Tech degree. KJ Somaiya College opened up a variety of options for me, there were a lot of things to learn yet. I went on to learn Python, CSS, PHP, SQL, Embedded systems, Android App development, and also ethical hacking and cyber security. There is a lot of things to explore yet. My only aim was to have the command of efficient algorithms and use of appropriate data structures, which makes learning the syntax too easy. I have implemented some projects like Banking System in Java and also Automatic Driving Simulator in Firebird V robot containing Atmega2560 as the microcontroller. Currently I am working on projects like a student friendly educational website, and a website which connects players around an area wanting to play an outdoor sport but with players short and players who have no one to play with, also rewarding the players based on time for which they played. A lot of interesting topics I am eager to learn are Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and iOS app development.

I had started showing interest in Competitive programming at the start of the 2nd year of Computer Engineering. The efficiency of codes required excites me to try harder and harder to make my programming skills more and more efficient. Competitive programming has played a very important role in making my algorithms better and better. It also enhances my time management skills, as the most efficient algorithm has to be implemented in the shortest possible time.

I have completed an internship with ARCON Techsolutions, in the domain of development, in which I worked on network and security, and UI automation.

I always enjoy participating in Hackathons, as they also target the creativity of the programmer along with their algorithms and command on programming languages. Hackathons also allow us to know about the brilliant minds around the world and study their amazing ideas. I have also participated in Ideathon where we reached till the final round of it, where just pitching the idea was the objective of the competition.

Apart from hackathons, I have participated in other competitions as well. I finished 3rd in a competition named ‘Code in X’ where a program was expected to be coded in an unknown language. Also I have won a competition named ‘Maze Runner’ where a bot had to be assembled and a maze was expected to be cleared in least possible time.

Apart from Programming, I have interests in sports as well. I like to watch almost all sports, and I also play Cricket, Football, Badminton, Swimming, Athletics, Basketball, taekwondo and Chess. I am currently, a part of the KJSCE cricket team. And I have also been the representative of Computer department in Shield which is our inter-branch sports championship, and have also been a Cricket Event head in the all-India sports fest of KJSCE- SKREAM. I have won State level Silver and National level gold medal in taekwondo tournaments.

I hope I get selected for the hackathon, and get to learn a lot from this one as well. The aim is only to get better and better and open up the mind to a lot of amazing ideas and efficient methods of coding.