My name is Anshu Adiga, and I am a student at Massachusetts Academy of Mathematics and Science at Worchester Polytechnic Institute. My sending school is Shrewsbury High School. I was born in Des Plains, Illinois and moved to Kansas soon after. I have been living in Shrewsbury, MA since 2021. I have a younger brother as well as a dog named Ace. In my free time, I enjoy walking my dog or cooking. I sometimes also play Minecraft.
I contributed 150 hours to the Shrewsbury Robotics Summer Program, where we worked with students passionate about STEM. Our primary goal was to guide them in building LEGO robots using ev3 components and participating in friendly competitions. The highlight for me was witnessing their joy and excitement when their rockets soared or their robots operated successfully. These moments evoked memories of my early STEM experiences and the thrill of creating something tangible. I particularly valued observing their teamwork and problem-solving abilities during the robot competition. Each team showcased their distinct ideas, and it was fulfilling to support them both technically and through guidance.
Throughout my dedication to robotics, programming has been the cornerstone of my
contributions to the team. During my tenure with Team 467 at my sending school, I
assumed a wide range of responsibilities, but one of the most favorite was programming
the autonomous (auto) phase for our robot. My role included the seamless integration
of sensor data, motor control, and timing, ensuring the robot’s navigation of the field
and achievement of objectives.
Although I was not a member of the drive team last year, I was deeply engaged in
numerous aspects of the robot’s performance and operation, which provided me with a
unique perspective on the integration of all components during competition.
One of my notable accomplishments was programming the arm alignment for Team 467’s robot
in the 2024 FIRST Robotics game, Crescendo. This year’s game presents a challenge
where robots must manipulate game pieces that
represent musical notes and position them in specific locations on an expansive game
board. The precise movement and positioning of these pieces are pivotal to scoring
points, necessitating meticulous planning and testing to align the robot’s arm
effectively for this task.
This year's robotics competition involves maneuvering large game pieces shaped
like musical notes and placing them precisely on a vast field. Accurate movements and
positioning are crucial for scoring points. Teams must carefully plan and test their
robots' arms to ensure effective alignment for this task. As a member of Team 190, I am
assigned to develop the robot's climbing feature, essential for many FIRST competitions.
I aim to enhance my role by qualifying for the drive team, where I would use my
programming skills to control the robot during matches. This season offers exciting
possibilities for both technical development and hands-on competition.
Another major part of my academic career has been my involvement with the math team. I
had been part of the active math team at Shrewsbury High School, and I decided to take
another step by applying to the MAMS math team. Math competitions offer a different kind
of rush that I really like. These competitions usually provide problems that are so
challenging that one has to put in more effort to think first analytically and then
creatively. It's not all about knowing a lot of formulas or memorizing techniques of
solving; rather, it is applying reasoning logic to solve often apparently daunting
jigsaw puzzles. The sense of accomplishment, which comes immediately after the solution
to a hitherto apparently insurmountable problem, is one of the most satisfying things
that happen and acts to keep me motivated even to undertake tougher challenges.
I get excited about the variety of problems that different math competitions expose me
to, from algebra and number theory down to geometry and combinatorics. Each problem
requires a different approach, and the exercise my brain goes through in deducing the
best method to solve a problem is just thrilling. There is this rush when competing
under the challenge of time, with each second counting and every correct answer feeling
like a personal victory. Beyond the competitive aspect of it, it allowed me to be a part
of a math team that works and discusses things with like-minded people. The discussions
we have after competitions over solutions or finding alternate methods brought my
thinking of the subject into perspective. I am ecstatic to continue this journey with
the MAMS math team, where I will be challenging myself even further, now able to delve
into even more intriguing mathematical challenges.
In my free time, I enjoy learning new programming languages and getting better at
software development. I've tried out different languages like Python, Java, and C++.
Each one is different in its own way and is good for different things. Python is easy to
use and flexible, which makes it great for writing scripts and analyzing data. Java is
better for making complex programs that use objects. C++ gives you a lot of control and
makes your programs run faster, which is especially useful for managing memory and
optimizing performance in big applications.
Currently, I am immersed in Swift, driven by my aspiration to enter the realm of Apple
app development. Acquiring proficiency in Swift has unveiled new opportunities for me,
and I eagerly anticipate the prospect of creating applications that can operate on iOS
devices. In addition to my personal projects, I take pride from contributing to
open-source projects on GitHub. Open-source development facilitates collaboration with a
global community of developers, facilitates the exchange of ideas, and enables me to
contribute to meaningful projects. It serves as an invaluable platform for continuous
learning, skill enhancement, and altruism within the technology community by addressing
practical challenges alongside others.
I started playing chess when I was five years old, and it has been my favorite hobby
since then. What struck me was the great depth of strategy and mental effort when
playing this game, and I enjoyed the fact that one can constantly improve his or her
mastery in it. I then started playing chess noncompetitively with my friends and family.
Since then, I have expanded my horizons to enter into the online chess world and
regularly participate in a number of matches on sites such as Chess.com. This
accessibility of playing against geographically separated opponents has enriched the
experience with a great opportunity to hone my tactical ability by playing with people
who have different styles.
I enjoy the format of playing rapid chess, where different players take about 10 minutes to complete all their moves. The balance is just right for me, being
enough time to do some serious deep strategic thinking, without the debilitating time
pressure from blitz chess, yet it requires quick and strong play at the same time. It
gets me right into the depth of activity on the board. More importantly, online play
opened a whole array of tools, such as game analysis and puzzles, that I found
indispensable in improving my play. Chess is an always rewarding and intellectually
enriching hobby-from playing with friends to family or just online strangers.
