My name is Patrick Passos, and I'm a 19-year-old from Brazil.

My journey into technology began at 12 years old when I enrolled in a programming course focused on game development, where I created my first games. This early experience sparked my passion for coding and problem-solving.

At 17, I joined a technical high school specializing in informatics to deepen my coding skills while completing my secondary education. During high school, I realized the importance of English proficiency in the tech world, so at 18, I committed to learning the language through complete immersion. I read extensively, created a YouTube channel for daily English practice, and changed all my devices, phone, TV, computer, to English, transforming every aspect of my life into a learning opportunity.

At 19, I participated in an exchange program in Canada to further enhance my English skills and broaden my cultural perspective. After the exchange, I traveled to San Francisco, where I experienced the dynamic Silicon Valley environment firsthand. Being surrounded by startup founders and innovators inspired me deeply and showed me the potential of technology to create real impact.

When I returned to Brazil, I dove into the hackathon scene. I started with the NASA Space Apps Challenge, the world's largest hackathon, which opened my eyes to the power of collaborative problem-solving and real-world applications of technology. Since then, I've participated in numerous hackathons, continuously sharpening my coding skills and developing practical solutions for meaningful challenges.

Now, as a recent high school graduate, I'm fully committed to participating in more hackathons, advancing my technical abilities, and building projects that solve real-world problems. I'm excited about the opportunities ahead and eager to collaborate with talented teams to create impactful solutions.