Code Quest: A Journey to the KL Coding Cup

Written by Time Tammakul

St Andrews 107 – Year 10

Last month, I went on an exciting journey to Malaysia, representing St Andrews 107 from Bangkok in the highly competitive KL Coding Cup. As a first-time participant, I spent the majority of the 3 days and 2 nights practicing coding challenges and sharing programs with like-minded classmates. This trip provided a unique experience and a chance to showcase the coding skills collectively demonstrated by our school, while I got to explore the dynamic culture and attractions of Malaysia.

At the KL Coding Cup, teams from St. Andrews 107, consisting of 11 students, were divided based on their age and class. Each team tackled real-life scenarios with coding. Collaborating with my friends on coding challenges enhanced our problem-solving skills and deepened our understanding of writing code. The competition had a tense yet enjoyable atmosphere, with every participant working together towards a fixed goal while at the same time competing with other teams. While we didn’t achieve victory, the experience gained was a triumph in itself.

On the day before the competition, my team and I tackled challenges together, helping each other and contributing to the improvement of our teamwork. While working during the competition, we planned to collaborate on one document to track our coding process. Despite facing numerous difficulties with our code, we eventually overcame them by pooling our expertise and thoroughly checking the program to identify where it went wrong. In the end, we acquired multiple skills, ranging from teamwork to unique methods of debugging programs.

Participating in the KL Coding Cup was a precious experience that pushed me beyond my limits. It became a journey of personal growth, as the challenges and collaboration demanded not only coding skills but also effective communication and adaptability. This experience helped me gain a broader perspective on coding, requiring me to use resilience and creativity. While the coding was mentally tiring, the places we visited helped us rejuvenate and get back on track to continue our studies in school.