first blog more written

src/articles/mdx/high-school.mdx

@@ -1,24 +1,66 @@
 import allBlack from "../../img/IMG_3095.jpg";
+import style from "../../img/2026-04-07-20-45-39-165.jpg";
+import savvy from "../../img/2026-04-07-20-44-35-818.jpg";
+import {ReactComponent as Nextcloud} from "../../img/Nextcloud Logo Vector.svg";
 
 # My high school experience
 
 <img src={allBlack} width={500} alt="turtleneck thumbnail"/>
 
-My coding journey started with Code Combat, a Python coding RPG game.
-I wrote my program during FBLA regionals freshman year, using C# and Windows Forms.
-The event taught me how to implement client-requested features and EF-Core SQL mapping.
+My first coding experience was in middle school playing Code Combat.
+You could say Python is the first language I learned, not particularly uncommon.
+That was probably the most fun I ever had in a middle school classroom.
+I was way ahead of class and even played in my free time.
 
-I also did plenty of hackathons in my high school career,
-including [HackIMSA](https://devpost.com/software/examin),
-[NHacks VII](https://devpost.com/software/examin),
-[PantherHack](https://devpost.com/software/examin),
-[Hack3](https://devpost.com/software/mura),
-[10piHacks](https://devpost.com/software/dormup).
+## High School Extracurriculars
 
-**I did many clubs and as a result was always busy. My favorite clubs include:**
-- CS Clubs
-- Science Olympiad
-- Science Team (WYSE)
+The first time I competed in my software engineering skills was FBLA. I did the Computer Programming event, which
+required us to setup a spreadsheet app that could record data and export into various formats. Funny thing is that
+my dad pulled an all-nighter to finish it. It was written in C# and using Windows Forms for desktop support.
 
-Since freshman year, I enjoyed doing side projects to improve my coding ability to solve real world problems.
-My first one was finishing the FBLA Computer Programming app. I finished the app according to the rubric.
+I didn't do well in the event but was inspired to fix it based on the rubric they provided. This is where I learned C#
+and also their web support. [GitHub repo here](https://github.com/tymur999/CommunityServiceDBTracker).
+After C#, I learned React to grind and spam hackathons with my friends. Our stack included React or Next.js, Firebase, with
+Typescript. [My Devpost](https://devpost.com/tymur999) hosts all my hackathon projects, which include:
+- [DormUp](https://devpost.com/software/dormup) - roommate finder app
+- [ExamIn](https://devpost.com/software/examin) - Quizlet x APClassroom
+- [Mura](https://devpost.com/software/mura) - YouTube spin-off for learning
+- [RecycleBot](https://devpost.com/software/recyclebot-zmr3tx) - my first solo project
+
+Not to flex, but every submission after my first hackathon has won some award.
+Nonetheless, hackathons helped us get comfortable with React in a short time limit.
+But of course, I like to be different, so this is some my take on an abstract design.
+
+## Programming Hobby
+
+<div className="row">
+    <Nextcloud/>
+</div>
+
+I began to experiment with Ubuntu on an old computer, and I enjoyed its ease of use and up-to-date repositories.
+I've been daily-driving Linux distros since 5 years ago. I decided to self-host all my applications
+through Kubernetes and Docker. I made a goal for myself to remove Big Brother companies from my stack,
+so replace Google Drive with Nextcloud, etc. My life goal is to be independent, and that extends to my data.
+
+
+## The Graduation
+
+<div className="row">
+    <img src={style} width={500} alt="style superlative"/>
+    <img src={savvy} width={500} alt="tech savvy superlative"/>
+</div>
+
+On my graduation, I won the senior superlatives for best style and most tech savvy.
+I took the pictures with my friend Rahil who also won most tech savvy.
+We decided to duo the tech-savvy and then he took my picture outside some pines.
+
+I also won the Visionary Scholarship, which boosted my confidence in my creative abilities.
+It really taught me to trust my intuition, like nothing else.
+While men tend to be logical, I like to feel my way through everything and listen to my gut.
+
+I applied to various schools, around 21+. I had some issues because I maxed out CommonApp, so I applied to some
+schools directly on their websites. Unfortunately, I didn't get into University Of Illinois for CS+Math.
+That's wild since I got into Georgia Tech out-of-state but the state school denied me.
+The Princeton interview stressed me out, but I was deferred and then rejected, which I still treat as an accomplishment.
+My top two choices were Michigan State and Georgia Tech, mostly because MSU was so cheap.
+I chose Georgia Tech at the end because a Georgia Tech degree just looks too good to pass up.