Anshu's Website

About Me

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.

Community Service

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.

Hobbies

Robotics

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.

Math Team

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.

Programming

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.

Chess

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.

Welcome!