Month: August 2017

About Me

ProfilePictureOfPraveshHello, my name is Pravesh Khanal. I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) from The Ohio State University. I have specializations in Software Engineering and Computer Graphics and Game Design.  In addition to Computer Science, I am interested in learning other cultures and languages.

I speak Nepali, English, and a small amount of Hindi. My experience with learning languages leads me to my interest in programming because I simply viewed it as a language of the machines. Currently, I have years of experience with Java and C#, but I am constantly exploring and learning new programming languages so I also have hundreds of hours of experience in C, Matlab, and Python. Using these languages, I have written a new programming language, a 2D game engine, 3D physics simulations, interactive 3D applications, and a lot more.

My aspirations for Computer Science began when my curiosity for how things work drove me to learn the mechanics of daily technology. Particularly, I wrote programs for an Arduino inside a robot to compete in championships in the STEM club during High School. These experiences taught me that code can have a physical body and it can be powerful if in the right hands. Now, I design, develop, document, and test my programs so that I can improve my understanding and help solve various problems in the real world.

 

Year in Review

Here are all my reflections about the previous years which describe how I have evolved as a person and as a student.

2017: My first year at The Ohio State University ignited my passion for Computer Science and Engineering. My decision to pursue this field was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I joined ICE scholars and it was a great collaborative learning experience that taught me about the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.

2018: I decided to take summer classes which distributed my course load over fall and spring classes giving me more time to focus on individual classes better. I took part in programming championships provided by Google.

2019:  This year, I was able to use my skills I had learned in the past year to create several interesting projects. I learned new programming languages, new collaborative methods, and new software to solve various problems.

2020: I learned a lot about software engineering and game design with several projects, collaboration, and a new form of learning through Zoom. Since I commuted to the University on a daily basis, the introduction of online classes meant that I had more time to focus on my study instead of driving to campus. Although the pandemic disrupted the way I used to learn, it taught me to adapt and persevere.

 

G.O.A.L.S.

Below are my progress and future plans with G.O.A.L.S.

G.O.A.L.S. stands for: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement

Global Awareness: My ability to speak several languages and my participation with ETSS have helped me appreciate the power of diversity and unique cultural background. I plan on traveling to more countries in the future to expand on my global awareness.

Original Inquiry: When I joined ICE scholars, I researched several entrepreneurship methods with the various entrepreneurs we met on our trips. I also conducted research about borders and boundaries within the university with one of my professors.

Academic Enrichment: I took part in Programming competitions within the University and globally during my time at Ohio State. I also used my experience with ICE scholars to broaden my network with other members in and out of the community.

Service Engagement: I plan on participating in alumni clubs that are part of Ohio State. I also plan on giving back to my community through various means.

Career

Here are the jobs, clubs, and internships that I have been part of.

1. Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Internship | Kokosing Industrial | 6235 Westerville Road, Suite 200, Westerville, OH 43081 (June 2017 to August 2017)

  • Mapped roads and estimated total costs of construction projects
  • Installed software and set up new computers for the IT department

2. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Club | Northland High School | 1919 Northcliff Drive, Columbus, OH 43229 (August 2016 to December 2016)

  • Designed, built, and programmed robots to compete in the robotics championship
  • Participated in Robotics State Championships

3. Community Gardening Summer Internship | Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) | 1060 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203 (June 2014 – August 2014)

  • Collaborated with community members to build a healthy garden
  • Researched climate, plants, and area for viable crops
  • Lead a team of 6 members to plan and create a community garden
  • Provided healthy vegetables to approximately 35 community members

4. Member of Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Scholars | August 2017 to August 2018

  • Collaborated with several team members to travel and learn about entrepreneurship
  • Brainstormed and designed different business ideas

Artifacts

I have worked on several interesting projects and most of them are located in the GitHub link below.

Github Link

1. Project 1: 2D Game Engine

I have created a game engine using Visual Studio in C-sharp with 3 other team members. Our engine ran the first level of Mario with all its features. Then, we modified the game and added our own custom features to the game.

2. Project 2: 3D game in Unity

I worked with 4 other team members to create a 3D game called The Onion in the Dungeon. This is a rogue-like game where the goal is to collect a key and unlock the gate at a specific location. I created the procedural generating map for the game. The map includes several moving traps, dangerous enemies, and projectiles that can harm the player. If you would like to learn more, feel free to look at the Github link above.

3. Project 3: Custom Programming Language from Scratch

I created a programming language called Quandary that is Turing complete (it can solve any problems a Turing machine can). It is written in Java and can be used to write any programs given the language’s grammar.

4. Project 4: Advanced Energy Vehicle (AEV) Project

I worked with 3 other members to design, optimize, build, and test an AEV. We designed the model for the AEV using a 3D software. We programmed the arduino to perform certain tasks. We compared the calculations to the actual results, modified our design and code, and documented that process in the link below.

AEV Project