Fingers flying across the surfaces of the keyboard, he inputs code into his laptop, mentally checking for errors while looking for more efficient ways to complete the task at hand. Inhaling softly after he finishes typing, he tentatively moves his cursor towards the “compile” button, curious to see if the code will execute correctly. With a click of the mouse, the computer compiles the code, yielding no errors. Sighing with relief, he moves onto the next segment of code.

Ekdatha “Datha” Arramreddy (12) always tries to find ways to solve problems and improve situations, whether it be in his computer science course or volunteering at the Reading Partners organization. As part of this program, for five to six hours a week, Datha tutors elementary school kids to help them catch up in their reading and enhance their learning abilities.

“I care about helping other people a lot. Tutoring the kids is definitely exciting because it’s almost like working on your own little project and then seeing it develop into something,” Datha said. “For me, it’s nice to reflect on how much the kid has improved, and how much I have helped them improve. All the kids are very capable, but sometimes they don’t have that one on one attention that we get at private schools.”

In addition to tutoring his own student, Datha also helps train new volunteers and does workshops to help existing volunteers improve in their interactions with the kids. Further demonstrating his analytical mindset, Datha created a questionnaire to better pair kids with their tutors, allowing for a stronger bond and making it easier for the students to accept help.

“I got matched with a student off my own questionnaire. We both liked basketball and Pokemon, so we instantly had a connection,” Datha said. “That was really nice because with my last student, we had to take a few months to build a relationship to where he could trust me and ask questions. Since we had developed a relationship instantly, we got off to a quick start, and he’s been catching up really quickly.”

Datha’s work with others is apparent in his interactions with his friends. His energy and positive attitude complement his diligent nature. Datha can always be seen smiling and joking around with his friends around campus.

“Datha is a clown. In a good way. It’s just fun to be around him. Yes, he’s hardworking and smart, but he’s just fun to be around, and he brightens all of our days,” Andrew Cheplyansky (12), one of Datha’s close friends since 7th grade, said.

Even though Datha is attentive in both volunteering and computer science, he always makes time to hang out with his friends and lift their spirits. Another of Datha’s friends, Darshan Chahal (12), has known him since kindergarten and has observed Datha’s journey in becoming a more outgoing person.

“We were always best friends and hung out at recess. He has always been a great friend and a good person to talk to when I have a serious matter to get off my chest. Over time, he’s definitely grown out of his comfort zone and has branched out to interact with more people outside his main friend group,” Darshan said.

Datha’s penchant for working hard and seeing things through is reflected in his desire to learn more about computer science. Furthermore, Datha is passionate about understanding the correlation between one’s thoughts and their decisions through data derived from computers. His excitement for computer science led to his interest in his family’s work and their encounters with technology. As he continues in high school he hopes to explore his passions in computer science and continue giving back to the community.

“Computer science is like an avenue through which I can solve problems, and I don’t necessarily want to combine it with volunteering, but I want my future work in computer science to be centered around addressing problems for the benefit of many people,” Datha said. “Computer science has helped me tap into my creative side and given me confidence that I can create something of value to others.”