About Me

Hi, I'm Ahmick. I'm a junior software developer and recent Bachelor of Science graduate in Computer Science from the University of Canterbury. Originally from the Philippines and now based in New Zealand, I developed a strong interest in programming during secondary school and have continued building my software engineering skills through university projects, collaborative development, and personal learning.

My Programming Timeline

2019 - 2021

My first introduction to programming was during my NCEA Level 1 Digital Technologies (Computer Science) subject in New Zealand. This was when I learned my first programming language, Python.

2022

During my first year at the University of Canterbury, I initially pursued Software Engineering before switching to Computer Science.

2023

Took SENG201 where I learned Java, teamwork, version control, and software engineering fundamentals through a sports manager application project.

Learn more about SENG201 here!

2024

Took SENG302, a full-year Agile Scrum software engineering project involving full-stack web development, Git workflows, REST APIs, testing, pair programming, CI/CD, and collaborative development.

Learn more about SENG302 here!

2025

Took INFO263, focusing on dynamic web development using PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Learn more about INFO263 here!

My Education Timeline

Secondary Education

Middleton Grange School

Year 11 - 13

NCEA Levels 1-3 (2019-2021)

Tertiary Education

University of Canterbury

Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)

2022-2025

My Travels

Philippines

I was born in the Philippines' capital city of Manila. Here, I spent most of my younger childhood up until 2014, when we, as a family, decided to move to New Zealand.

My Hobbies

Programming

Why would I choose this pathway if I didn't genuinely enjoy it? While debugging can be frustrating - especially when the solution just doesn't seem to appear - there's a unique satisfaction that comes with solving a persistent issue. That feeling of finally ticking something off the specifications, knowing it now works as intended, is what makes programming feel so rewarding. It's like completing a difficult puzzle that only you could figure out, and I find a strange kind of peace in that.

Basketball

Since I was very young, basketball has always been a part of me. I've loved both playing and watching it for as long as I can remember. When it comes to basketball, I'm not really focused on improving my skills and become a pro; it's more about rooting for my favourite team. Seeing them win and lose makes me feel like I'm part of the team emotionally. That shared sense of excitement and connection is a big part of the experience.

Gaming

Gaming is one of my main ways to unwind and escape stress. Playing solo offers me that peaceful, focused environment I sometimes need, but gaming with friends creates some of the best memories. Whether it's late-night voice chats, celebrating wins together, or coming up with hilarious banter we throw at one another, those moments turn gaming into something more than just a pastime - it's quality time with friends that I really cherish and look back to.

Listening to Music

Music has always been a personal escape - something I turn to when I need to disconnect or process my thoughts. When I'm stressed, overwhelmed, or just mentally drained, putting on the right track can genuinely shift my mindset. My playlists are pretty diverse, I would pretty much listen to any genre that is thrown at me - except for country and opera music, sorry. No matter what genre it is, music helps ground me and bring me back to myself.

Watching Anime

I started watching anime in 2016, and it quickly became something I really connected with. I was drawn not just by the action and unique art styles, but by the deep storytelling, emotional highs and lows, and the strong connections between characters. Watching characters grow, face impossible odds, and overcome personal struggles really resonates with me. Some stories and moments have stuck with me for years, which I think shows the lasting impact anime can have on my life.

Formula 1

I started watching Formula 1 in 2025 after a friend introduced me to the competitiveness of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during the 2021 season. Max Verstappen immediately caught my attention, especially during the 2025 season after his comeback from being 104 points behind Oscar Piastri with only a few races remaining, eventually falling just 2 points short against Lando Norris in the title fight. Since then, I’ve started collecting Formula 1 merchandise such as LEGO sets, R/C car replicas, and team apparel.