About Me
The experiences, interests, and stories that have shaped who I am.
Hi, I’m Derek.
I’m a student who loves building, designing, and figuring out how things work. My interests span engineering, 3D printing, robotics, coding, art, and mathematics, and I especially enjoy projects that let me combine creativity with problem-solving.
Outside the workshop, I also enjoy swimming, water polo, debate, and working with others through teaching and community projects.
What Shaped Me
Growing up across different cultures and using Korean, Chinese, and American has shaped the way I see the world. Moving between different environments taught me to adapt, observe, and connect with people from different backgrounds.
Sports, debate, robotics, art, teaching, and community service have shaped me in different ways as well—helping me become more independent, persistent, confident, and open to trying something new.
My "Hand Story"
Hands have followed me through nearly every stage of my growth. What began with a small clay hand in preschool gradually became a way for me to explore how I learn, create, and think.
Each hand became a milestone in that journey—from LEGO and 3D printing to robotics, programming, and prosthetic design. Each one reflects a different question I was asking at the time: Can I make it? Can I make it move? Can it help someone?
To me, these hands are more than projects. They mark my growth in curiosity, persistence, creativity, and the growing idea that what I make can have meaning beyond myself. And the story is still unfolding.
“I want to keep exploring, making, and learning—not just to see what I can build, but to discover what I can become.”
- Derek Ahn