While Others Scroll, Cedric Builds: A Gen Alpha’s Journey to His AI Engineer Dream

In this digital age, more than 36 million kids aged 0–11 use the internet regularly, 11.6 million more than teenagers aged 12–17. Nearly two out of three Gen Alpha children aged 8 to 10 spend up to four hours a day on social media, mostly on apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. But Cedric, an incoming Grade 6 student (Class of 2032), is breaking that pattern. 

Instead of using tech for entertainment only, Cedric is harnessing it as a tool for learning, coding, and innovation. While most of his peers are busy consuming content, Cedric is diving deep into Artificial Intelligence (AI), programming, and technology, proving that Gen Alpha can do much more than scroll.

That curiosity has become a journey shaped by coding, artificial intelligence, and innovation. Inspired by tech visionaries like Jensen Huang, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sergey Brin, Cedric has begun to chart his own course, one that combines technology with ambition and a dream to become a technopreneur.

Exploring Passions Early: Tech and AI

Cedric’s fascination with technology began in early primary school. What started as coding electives in Grade 1 quickly evolved into something much deeper. Eager to learn beyond the classroom, Cedric independently completed online courses from Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, including the highly advanced Machine Learning and AI with Python program from HarvardX.

Building on his passion and initiative, BINUS SCHOOL Simprug played a key role in supporting Cedric by recognising his vision and granting him the opportunity to establish the school’s first-ever AI Club, allowing him to inspire fellow students and lead meaningful exploration in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. To prepare him better for this role, the school arranged for him to be tutored by a BINUS University faculty.

The AI Club BINUS SCHOOL Simprug empowers students to explore real-world applications of artificial intelligence through hands-on projects and peer learning. Highlights include developing a prototype of a facial recognition attendance tracker, mentoring younger students in coding and math fundamentals, and designing new AI learning modules such as Agentic AI leveraging Flowise and n8n for the upcoming academic year. The club fosters curiosity, collaboration, and a strong foundation in emerging technologies.

Enhancing Skills Through Global Programs and Competitions

Cedric’s proactive learning journey has led him to compete and collaborate on national and international stages:

• Earned 3rd place in the Coding Bee Battle (Middle School category) and earned a semifinal spot for the 2025 Code Olympiad.
• Ranked 2nd and 3rd at the NEO Science Olympiad 2025 and STEM Olympiad 2025, earning a perfect score and becoming the top three gold medalists worldwide, representing Indonesia with pride.
• Was invited to participate in the Code Olympiad Innovation Challenge (Senior High category) despite being much younger than other participants. He took the lead on deploying AI for his team’s project, with the team advancing to the Final round in mid-July 2025.

His passion also earned him an exceptional opportunity: admission to the forward-thinking Inspirit AI Scholars Program, an intensive two-week boot camp led by Stanford and MIT alumni and normally reserved for high schoolers. Cedric was offered a place in the Advanced cohorts where he collaborated with global peers on AI-driven projects, bringing back valuable insights to elevate his school’s AI Club.

Balance Beyond the Screen

Cedric’s journey isn’t limited to tech. He continues to excel in core subjects like Math and Science. His strong aptitude for mathematics is reflected in the range of awards he has earned across regional and international competitions, including a recent Silver award at Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad (SASMO). Outside academics, he is a national-level fencer, winning 1st place in the U12 Boys’ Foil at the Kejuaraan Sirkuit I Anggar IKASI, and also actively practices swimming and Argentine Tango, showcasing his all-rounded spirit and discipline.

Every Journey Starts Here: Where Curiosity Becomes Capability

At BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, every journey starts with curiosity and is shaped by purpose. Cedric’s story is a powerful example of how passion, opportunity, and mentorship can transform early interest into real achievement. Rooted in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, our school challenges students academically while nurturing creativity, inquiry, and global-mindedness.

From Early Years to High School, BINUS SCHOOL Simprug guides students through a personalized learning experience that fosters independence, resilience, and confidence. Beyond the classroom, enriching programmes such as International Immersion, Society, and the Passion Project empower students to explore their interests, develop leadership, and gain real-world skills. At BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, we don’t just support dreams, we help students build them.