Sejal Mehra: #Concussion Can't Slow Me Down
“When I say that I code, most of my guy friends question me and wonder how a girl could speak the same language as them. Code isn’t exclusively a boy language, it’s a computer language.” - Sejal Mehra
Meet Sejal Mehra, a girl who’s not letting her gender stop her from enacting major change for herself and others. After a concussion, Sejal learned to code as a way to build up her confidence. When she’s not coding, Sejal is a foodie and loves to share her passion for food with those around her. Maybe she’ll create the next great #foodie app!
Q&A with Sejal Mehra:
What does being part of the Girls Who Code movement mean to you?
Girls Who Code was the start of a new beginning for me. I was hit by a volleyball in my gym class, which resulted in a concussion. That concussion resulted in me missing a month and a half of school and losing my self-confidence. I started getting really depressed from the pain medication I was on. My mom ended up finding Girls Who Code and suggested I apply as a way to motivate me for my recovery. Learning to code brought happiness and confidence back into my life.
What was your Summer Immersion Program experience like?
When I found out I would be in a classroom with 20 other girls, I got pretty intimidated. However, our mutual interest in technology brought us all together. There’s a group chat of all of our SIP classmates and we’re having a reunion soon!
What was your dream job growing up?
I wanted to be the President of the United States of America.
What about being President was exciting to you?
I wanted to be a leader and be able to enact major change.
Do you still want to be President?
Now, I would like to run a technology company. I like both hardware and software so we’ll see which direction I end up going in.
You mentioned you want to enact major change. How will you do that through technology?
I’d like to work on apps that help people with things they deal with every day - like transportation, food or health.
Did you always like computers?
No, I didn’t. When I was little, I thought computers were something for my brother to play with. I was always good with computers, though. In fact, my family would always ask me to help them with their technology.
Was it hard to learn to code?
The hardest part of learning to code is paying attention to small details. For example, it’s really easy to forget to add a semi-colon at the end of a line of code. Without that semi-colon, though, your program won’t run properly.
Do people stereotype you because you’re a girl who codes?
When I say that I code, most of my guy friends question me and wonder how a girl could speak the same language as them. Code isn’t exclusively a “boy” language, it’s a computer language.
How has coding helped you regain your confidence?
As I mentioned, I never thought that STEM was accessible for me; it was more accessible for my brother. On top of that, after my concussion I felt very isolated and limited. By learning how to code, my confidence grew with every line of code I created!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up and put your best foot forward. Give everything 110%!
What advice would you give to another girl to inspire her to code?
Coding can lead you to many different fields. You can make a website, an app or build whatever you want with code.
Does code tie to your other passions?
I LOVE food! My mom is a great chef and I like to eat everything she makes. Food is a work of art and can be presented in many different ways. It also brings people together. Code allows you to share the food you’re creating or eating with the rest of the world. Like food, code also connects people and is a work of art.
Follow Sejal:
Snapchat: SejalMehra
Interested in learning how to code like Sejal? Find a Girls Who Code club near you!
