Mount Vernon Student Gives Keynote Address at Microsoft Conference

Editor’s note: the following was submitted by Mount Vernon Presbyterian School

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“Throughout my life, curiosity has been the driving factor leading me to develop my passions,” said Mount Vernon Presbyterian School student Aidan Brady. “Since the age of three I have been fascinated by computers - what they do, how they work, and more than anything, their creative potential. As a child I vividly remember walking around the house with a screwdriver and taking apart whatever random electronic appliances I could find. Later it got to a point where my parents would take me on trips to the dump to find more gadgets to take apart. This continued for years, and I have to say that if not for my freedom to pursue my curiosities, I probably would not have the same interests I do today.”

Now as a rising Mount Vernon senior, Aidan’s pursuits have earned him worldwide attention.

In April, he was asked by the Microsoft Corporation to be a keynote speaker at its annual developer and investor conference, Build 2015.

“Honestly I thought the whole invitation may have been a prank at first,” he said. “Through email and fairly casually, I might add, a Microsoft executive named Dave Mendlen reached out to ask if I would be willing speak. The company was searching for a young, independent developer with experience in Minecraft modding, and I guess I fit the ticket,” shares Brady.

Rehearsing backstage Aidan prepared remarks for nearly 5,000 audience members and thousands of others who watched the conference live online, including his fellow classmates.

During the experience he spent considerable time with Microsoft’s Chief Evangelist Steven Guggenheimer.

“He has my dream job,” Aidan stated. “He gets to do the technical things, but he also works on the business side of things.”

And evidently Aidan is well on his way. While he was at the conference, Microsoft offered him a summer internship, which he has eagerly accepted.

Aidan humbly shares that among his many projects, several years ago he began developing a Minecraft mod called Mekanism empowering users to expand and enhance their gaming experience.

“I’m positive that Microsoft would not have found me, if it weren’t for my advocation (sic) of open source software - all the code I write is online and free for people to learn from,” he added.

At last count, Aidan’s mod has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times.

“I have so many projects I’m working on right now I have resorted to keeping a list of my daily responsibilities to check over every night,” the student added. “Aside from my Minecraft modding, I’m actively working on my vocabulary app “Wordzie,” in the process of designing and developing an app for the Sandy Springs Conservancy (and possible the National Parks Service), managing my website, and as of recently, getting involved in E-mini futures day trading with my friends. All that, alongside keeping up with my studies and preparing for standardized tests, is definitely making use of my time! I look to curiosity as the greatest contender for my career goals later on - and I hope others view it the same way for themselves.”

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Photo credit: Mount Vernon Presbyterian School