Nathanael Thie

Julia Kristeva's notion of the semiotic and symbolic refer to two interdependent aspects of language. The semiotic is defined as the matriarchal aspect of langauge that displays the speaker's inner sentiments and impulses. The semiotic aspect is repressed not only by society but also by the patriarchal aspect of langauge that Kristeva calls the symbolic.Nathanael Thie is a multifaceted innovator going beyond the 'symbolic' realms of algorithmic logic as a means of defining oneself. He had worked in UI/UX for the kitchen appliances company Breville, and won numerous awards in programming competitions such as UNSW ProgComp, Australian Informatics Olympiad, thus earning him a spot in the privileged National Computer Science School (NCSS) where he gained nuanced insights from industry workers from WiseTech, Optiver, Macquarie and Atlassian. Nathanael is nonetheless keen to pursue fields of computer science and software engineering, however there are other sides of him that set him apart from stereotypical 'CompSci student'. Upon receiving yearly school reports, his principal Dr. K Jaggar always tells him "people who are good at both English and software are rare, and they end up making millions." Nathanael uses his 'semiotic' flair in English and literature to tutor other students amidst numerous extracurricular activities, displaying a seamless attitude towards balancing workflows and managing time. As a student of Sydney Boys High School, Nathanael redefines himself as a 'scholar sportsman' having represented the school in AAGPS Cross Country and AAGPS Athletics, and competed in CHS Sailing at a state level. He has a passion for music and arts, performing in the school's concert and state bands throughout his highschool life, garnening recognition from the 'Outstanding Musician Awards' he received each year. Nathanael ultimately yearns to "learn as if he were to live forever" and "live as if he were to die tomorrow." Our existence is formed through an assortment of memories contributing to the 'semiotic', as opposed to logic and 'symbolic' rationality. With an unprecedented creativity and potential for change, he is eager to experience everything in life and contribute to society without being a conformist.