What drew you to data science?
It all began when I started exploring various fields of science. I was an average student in school, and wanted to do something different. I started exploring different activities such as skating, playing the guitar, etc., but I was not enjoying any of those. I stumbled upon the world of programming, and got very interested and excited. Once I started learning. I wanted to earn money from it, and hence set my goal to become a data scientist. I made my roadmap with the help of various people on YouTube, and eventually explored more about web development, Android development, data science, etc. One of the major reasons why this field attracted me was because I was interested in mathematics. I began focussing more on linear algebra, calculus, and discrete mathematics with the help of an online learning platform. Then I began working on machine learning and its statistical model. Very few students from my class (Grade IX) had opted for this field, so I took it up as a challenge to become an inspiration for many.
Tell us about your company Antern and how it works.
Antern is a start-up that we, a group of teens, have built. We create courses on job-ready skills such as machine learning and computer science for a very low fee. We prepare people to have confidence when they step into their job. We do this by teaching them the basics and practicals of the subject they have opted for. We also give them projects and assignments to work on and test their knowledge frequently.
How do you convince your audience to trust you since you’re this young?
We are currently opening scholarships to bring in more clients. We devote time and effort to make them job-ready. We have started focussing on college students. We will boost their performance, and our brand will be promoted by word of mouth.
What are your thoughts on internships?
I’m a data science intern at Artifact, and I think it is one of the best internships I have ever done because it provides me great learning opportunities. I work under a person who has already done their Masters and has many years of experience working in MNCs. I don’t ask my mentor what to do and what not to do, and I try to figure it out myself in the best way that I can, and in the end, I ask him to give me suggestions. If I am stuck, he guides me by asking me to try out different possibilities.
What kind of content do you create on YouTube?
Newera is an initiative wherein I provide in-depth content for free. I work on foundation skills by providing them with information and education on advanced topics.
How do you manage school and work? What are your hobbies?
Going to school is very important for holistic growth as it teaches you discipline and to make friends. When I go to school I learn a lot as well as refresh my knowledge. I am currently in Class IX and I have already completed my syllabus for Maths and Physics, and of course, my favourite subject. History, My hobbies are reading, including books written by entrepreneurs, listening to podcasts, and also, investing time on myself, and having fun as well.
What are your future plans?
My plan for Antem is to expand my audience and to help people more. I want to build a product that will make a difference in today’s advancing tech world, using recent technology such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. We will develop Artificial Intelligence products that we are working on as well. We are aiming at taking better business decisions using Artificial Intelligence, and giving those to business leaders. Personally, I want to get into a good institution such as MIT, Oxford, Harvard, or IIT.
What will be that one thing that you would like to change in our society?
I want to make parents understand that every child is unique and needn’t be compared with any other. No child should be forced into taking up hobbies and activities they don’t enjoy. Give them a chance to explore, and they will do wonders with their life.
Picture Credit : Google
