Childhood curiosity reprograms a district

At 5, Nicholas Carlini had a healthy curiosity.

He began by messing up the family computer, erasing what he could. Resulting in his father, Giuliano, reinstalling programs numerous times.

"It’s always been curiosity. … He wanted to know what would happen if he deleted everything from the computer. Then we found out. It’s like the time he and his brother put a soda can in the freezer just to see what would happen,” Giuliano said.

The soda exploded resulting in a 45 minute clean up. A soda also explodes if placed inside Tupperware then place it in the freezer. Again, it results in a 45 minute clean up.

It was through trial and error that Nicholas Carlini, now 18, was able to grow his skills — particularly with computers. In recent years, Carlini used those skills to revamp the Sequoia High School Web site, move computer labs, update school computers and assist with the Sequoia Union High School District in updating a site utilized by faculty and staff. His volunteer efforts were recognized at a Board of Trustees meeting last week. Although the work will be rather impressive on college applications, that isn’t what Carlini had in mind when he volunteered. He simply likes the challenge — and, of course, programming.

Carlini’s aptness for computers began at an early age. He recalled creating simple games beginning in kindergarten. Carlini, who lives in Belmont, took a class while attending the Charter Learning Center in San Carlos. In fourth grade, Carlini began learning more tricks with programming before moving on to javascript.

One of Carlini’s projects in school included developing an adventure game which took place on his school campus. Carlini took photos of the school and implanted those images into the game to set the scene.

When it came time to choose a high school, Carlini was drawn to Sequoia for its International Baccalaureate program. The prestigious program can result in a special degree, one which Carlini hopes to graduate with this spring.

His passion for computers and breaking code came through in a large IB project comparing differential cryptanalysis, or ways to get around security provisions and break codes. The paper came with a 4,000-word limit. Carlini’s 35 page completed project was about 3,995 words with 15 pages of appendixes.

It was his knowledge in computers that resulted in him realizing how much better the Sequoia Web site could be. Carlini recalled surfing the site while he was in eighth grade and information being outdated at the time. During his sophomore year, Carlini approached Principal Morgan Marchbanks about making some changes. During part of his junior and the beginning of his senior years, Carlini did just that. The site went live Nov. 4. Carlini also helped update other campus computers, revamp school computers and modernize the intradistrict network used by faculty and staff.

Other than computers, Carlini has also had an aptitude toward math.

"I still remember learning how to add in preschool,” he said.

Carlni enjoys playing soccer and badminton, refereeing soccer and playing chess. He started the chess club during lunch on campus. He is also part of Team 100, a noted local high school robotics team with students from Sequoia, Carlmont and Woodside high schools.

After graduation, Carlini plans to study computer science at one of four schools: MIT, the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University or Carnegie Mellon University.

To view Nicholas Carlini’s work visit http://www.sequoiahs.org.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.