Shri Ashokan Year 8 · London, UK

Overview

Founder • Systems Builder • STEM Lead

I am a Year 8 student building serious STEM projects and student-led systems in school.

Focus areas: Maths • Science • Computing • Team Leadership • Design • Coding • Teaching Support

Current role: Founder

  • Year 8 · London, UK
  • Founder, MSC Initiative
  • Building in public
  • Built with Astro
  • Performance-first
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Structure

Portfolio Pages

Background

About

I build clear systems that help students learn and take part.

I started with a strong interest in Maths, Science, and Computing. Over time, that grew into building practical projects, leading teams, and improving how activities run in school.

Main Focus Areas

  • Running student-led STEM projects
  • Designing fair and clear participation systems
  • Building useful digital tools and pages
  • Supporting teams with structure and planning
  • Keeping projects consistent over time

My goal is simple: make good ideas practical, organised, and useful.

✨ Love for Computing

My Passion

Computing isn’t just a subject for me; it’s a way of thinking, creating, and solving problems. I love exploring every part of it, from designing visuals to writing clean, efficient code, to helping others learn and grow.

I approach computing as a complete system:

Graphic Design

I build modern, sleek visuals, icons, and interfaces that are both functional and appealing. Every project I create has a style and identity that fits its purpose.

Coding

I enjoy coding across multiple areas, including websites, digital platforms, and interactive tools. Writing clean, structured code is like solving a puzzle that can be shared and scaled.

Teaching & Mentoring

I get a real sense of satisfaction when I can guide others to understand computing concepts. Teaching helps me break down complex ideas and create frameworks that others can use confidently.

My Philosophy

I see computing as more than just programming or tools. It’s a way to design systems that work for people, a language for creativity, and a way to explore ideas that can have real impact.

I believe that combining coding, design, and teaching gives me the full picture. It lets me create solutions that are not just functional, but meaningful, intuitive, and engaging.

How I Practice It

  • Leading and supporting coding clubs for younger students
  • Designing interactive projects and websites from scratch
  • Teaching programming concepts and helping peers improve
  • Experimenting with graphics, UX, and interface design
  • Exploring new technologies and staying curious about emerging tools

Computing fuels my creativity, sharpens my problem-solving, and drives me to push projects further. Every line of code, every design choice, and every lesson I teach builds my understanding and lets me share that passion with others.

Personal

Favourites

What I Like

  • Games: Minecraft
  • Formula 1: I support Red Bull Racing — Max Verstappen all the way!
  • Eurovision: I support Lithuania every year!
  • Genre: Romance

Next F1 Race

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Favourite driver: Max Verstappen

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Experience Timeline

Leadership & Teaching Experience

I started leading STEM work in primary school and kept building that experience each year.

Year 4 onwards

I started and ran Computing and STEM clubs. I planned sessions outside lessons, organised activities, and worked with teachers for support and feedback.

Year 5

I helped younger pupils from a nearby infant school during their transition. I also co-ran a Summer Term Computing Club to build confidence with digital learning.

  • Helped run a Coding Club for younger pupils
  • Started a Computing Club for my own year group
  • Designed and delivered structured STEM sessions

Year 6

In Year 6, I held formal leadership roles:

  • Digital Leader (Year 4–6), supporting pupils and staff with Computing
  • One of the first Hall Monitors, helping with behaviour, safety, and daily routines

I also led a student team during Cultural Week and helped plan a Micro:bit course with the school technician for my class.

In a headteacher charity challenge, I turned £1 into £87 by running paid Computing Club sessions, raising money for an education-focused international charity.

This is where I built habits in planning, delivery, and responsibility.

Teaching Support

Secondary Teaching & Project Experience

I support Computing lessons and student activities while still completing my own work.

Last year, during a period with a substitute teacher, I supported delivery for my tutor group under the guidance of the Head of Computing & IT and faculty staff.

This year, I continue to:

I have held this Coding Club support role since October 2024.

Planning & Structure

  • Project planning
  • Activity design
  • Roadmap building
  • Competition setup
  • Clear incentive systems

Technical Work

  • Website structure
  • Access setup
  • Scoring logic
  • Digital delivery tools

Creative Work

  • Graphic design
  • Visual identity
  • Consistent branding

Teaching Design

  • Session planning
  • Workshop support
  • Curriculum fit
  • Student engagement

I focus on delivery that is clear, fair, and easy for others to follow.

MSC Initiative

MSC Initiative

Built by students, with strong structure and long-term goals.

Mission

MSC (Maths, Science, Computing) is a student-led STEM initiative designed to make challenge and learning more engaging and accessible.

It started as a competition and grew into a wider platform where students can compete, build, collaborate, and lead.

At a glance

Founded: 23 September 2024

Focus: Maths • Science • Computing

Audience: Secondary school students

Format: Events • Quizzes • Newsletters • Collaboration

Journey timeline

23 September 2024 — FoundationMSC Initiative launched.

Autumn 2024 — Core team formedLeadership structure set up.

Spring 2025 — Pilot programmesFormats tested and improved.

March–June 2025 — First full cycle15 winners and 214 students supported.

Now — ExpansionProjected participation: about 410 students.

MSC is now supported by staff and integrated into school STEM activity.

How I Work

Philosophy

I design systems that are clear, practical, and able to grow over time.

Systems I build

  • Event delivery structures
  • Leadership role maps
  • Participation and scoring systems
  • Faculty-aligned activity plans
  • Long-term rollout plans
  • Expansion models

Core principles

Rules I use when building and running projects:

  • Clear structure reduces confusion.
  • Simple systems scale better.
  • Good systems last longer than one person.
  • Students do more when trusted.

Vision 2030

Long-term direction for growth:

  • Cross-school expansion
  • Primary + secondary connection
  • Central leaderboard platform
  • Annual STEM summit
  • Leadership development model
  • Replicable adoption plan

Current build focus

Main priorities for this cycle:

  • 2025–26 rollout
  • Digital platform updates
  • Faculty coordination
  • Newsletter growth
  • Long-term expansion roadmap

MSC is not just a one-off event. It is a system designed to keep improving.

Results

Impact

I track outcomes through participation, winners, and long-term growth.

Impact Dashboard • 2024–26

214Students Supported
15Competition Winners
410Projected 2025–26 Participants
2Years of Growth

These projects are now part of the school STEM delivery cycle.

Beyond lessons

I keep learning STEM, design, and systems work outside regular lessons.

I am especially interested in how structure helps students build confidence earlier.

Resilience

Alongside school and leadership work, I also manage ongoing health challenges.

This has made me more disciplined and better at planning under pressure.

That mindset shapes how I build reliable systems.

Building at 13

Creating structured projects while in Year 8 has shaped how I think about leadership.

Being close to the student experience helps me build practical systems that actually work.

Age should not limit responsibility or quality.

Why I build

Good structure creates real opportunity.

When students are trusted, they usually do more than expected.

I build systems that make that possible at scale.

Strong systems create confidence, consistency, and fair opportunities.

Get in Touch

Contact

For collaborations, project discussions, or guidance, email me directly.

Email me at shri@mscinitiative.app