Truman Cho

Maker · Gamer · Entrepreneur

Brooklyn Technical High School — Software Engineering Major
Cummulative GPA: 92 |  Practice SAT: 1490 (700 ela, 790 math)

CURRENT Junior unweighted GPA: 94.2


📍 Brooklyn, NY
itch.io  |  @thetrumanch0  |  @thetrumfamily  |  @RandomUser1081

Highlights

  • Independent game developer since 2022 and merch designer since 2022.

  • Creator of Be Tru; products sold via pop-ups, select stores and hotel gift shop.

  • Two-time Game Jam participant (2024, 2025).

  • Combines design, coding, and entrepreneurship to bring ideas to life.

  • Youth volunteer supporting elementary students in creative workshops.

Education

Brooklyn Technical High School — Software Engineering Major (2022–Present)

  • AP History 4; AP Computer Science 5.

  • Mandarin (since 6th grade).

  • Junior year classes: AP Computer Science A, AP Lang, AP Computer Science Principles, Pre-calc

Key Projects

🎮 Game Development (Self-Taught)

  • Designed and coded multiple retro-style games using GB Studio.

  • Hosted builds on itch.io.

  • Competed in Game Jam 2024 (Mount Rock) and 2025 (Archaea).

  • Roblox game dev with friends from Ciee Kyoto program

  • Devlog on Youtube

🧵 Merch Design & Entrepreneurship

  • Founded Be Tru (2022–Present); designed and produced apparel, stickers, and accessories.

  • Created exclusive merch line for Friday Harbor Suites (2023–Present).

  • Sold at FAD Market, Phiz Coffee, and Lululemon pop-ups.

  • Special project/ events: Commission design stickers for VOX Media holiday gifting, Gifting activation for Redeemer Church

📺 Creative Media & Content

  • Produced/edited videos for multiple YouTube channels (CapCut).

  • Developed short-form art/process content for Instagram and X.

Experience & Volunteer

Friday Harbor Suites — Family Hotel (Washington)   2020–Present

  • Kitchen prep, café service, and guest hospitality.

  • Designed, packaged, and managed in-lobby gift-shop merchandise.

  • Helped curate and update store layout.

Church Youth Ministry — Elementary Helper   Mar 2025–Present

  • Assistant to main youth leader, twice monthly; occasionally leads creative mini-workshops.

Skills

Creative
Procreate
Illustrator
CapCut
Cricut
Heat press

Technical
Python (Beginner)
GB Studio (self taught)
Unity (Beginner)
HTML/CSS (Basic)

Business / Other
Entrepreneurship
Branding & Packaging
Pop-up Planning
Collaboration & Customer Engagement

Competitions & Recognition

  • Game Design Project- 3rd place - Kyoto CIEE Program

  • Game Jam 2024 — Mount Rock

  • Game Jam 2025 — Archaea

  • Retail Pop-Ups: Phiz Coffee, Lululemon, FAD Market (2024–on going)

Timeline Highlights (2015–2025)

  • 2015–2019: Cardboard consoles, boardgames, comics, LEGO projects; early “Tru Show.”

  • 2016: Learned Coding with Scratch

  • 2020:

    • Start Summer work at family hotel in WA; assist in cleaning rooms, lawn work, and laundry.

    • Learned GB Studios

  • 2021:

    • Hotel Summer work

    • Learned pixel art

    • First Merch design

  • 2022 :

    • Hotel Summer work: clean up backyard grounds, build fireplace, assist in room cleaning and laundry

    • Launched Be Tru collection.

  • 2023:

    • Hotel Summer work: bussing tables, helping in the kitchen, serving guests

    • Friday Harbor Suites merch

    • First pop-up inside the Cafe at Friday Harbor Suites

  • 2024:

    • Spring break Hotel work: kitchen help, cleaning, help maintenance

    • Built First game on cartridge (Mount Rock) 2 cartridges- in black/white and then to color

    • 2 pop-ups: Philz Coffee Huntington, Ca. , Lululemon Brea, Ca.

  • 2025:

    • Spring break Hotel work: room upkeep, clean up, kitchen help and hotel maintenance

    • CIEE Japan game design program

    • Second Game Jam

    • 2nd Be Tru collection

    • 3 Pop-ups: Fad Market Brooklyn, Philz Coffee Huntington, Ca. , Corepower Yoga Huntington, Ca.

View Full Visual Timeline → (need to make)

Toolkit
GB Studio • Procreate • Python • Illustrator • Cricut • Entrepreneur