At The Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria, Andrea Chaves and Brittany Greve are introducing girls to computer science through dance in their Digital Dance Project. The project incorporates multiple aspects of technology and dance to make a piece of art. Over the course of two weeks, students worked in groups to choreograph the dance, animate the set design and code Sphero robots to accompany dancers on stage. In doing this, Andrea and Brittany hope that students will experience technology in a new light and see the endless opportunities available in the computer science field. Check out the photos below to see how the project came to life!

Brainstorming.

Spheros in the dark!

Rehearsals!

“I don't think a lot of people realize how much power they have with the technology they have at home.” - Anusha Khan

Meet Anusha Khan, a writer, volunteer and a girl who codes. Growing up, Anusha wasn’t interested in computers and thought that computer science wasn’t for her. After learning to code, Anusha now plans to major in computer science and wants to teach other people to code so that they have the same “superpower” that she has. She’s even received a scholarship from Apple to attend their Worldwide Developers Conference and hopes her future career will combine code with journalism.

Learn more about Anusha, her passions, and the technology she can’t live without in our Q&A below.

Q&A with Anusha Khan:

What was your dream job growing up?

I wanted to be a journalist. 

What is your dream job now?

I want to find a way to combine journalism and code to do something awesome for the world. 

What does it mean to be part of the Girls Who Code movement?

Girls Who Code literally translates to "opportunity" in my mind. It's hard to forget the impact this organization has had on my life. Before Girls Who Code, I had no idea what I wanted to major in - computer science was the last thing I thought I was going to study in college. Yet, after the Summer Immersion Program, I realized that programming was something I actually enjoyed. I didn't have to be a genius, just being me was enough. 

Did you always like computers?

No, I didn’t. I always thought computers were for people who were really smart and really good at math. It wasn’t until I took a class about online networking that I realized how important computer science was. 

What piece of technology are you most reliant on?

My Mac Book. It’s something I rely on 24/7. I don't think a lot of people realize how much power they have with the technology they have at home.

What was the hardest part of learning to code?

My biggest problem was understanding that you don’t need to be great at math to learn to code. As long as you try it out, you’ll realize that there's a world of opportunities available to you. 

Have you ever encountered people who stereotype you because you’re a girl who codes?

I feel like a lot of people view woman who code as a prop in the computer science industry - they believe it is just a fad. I have overcome that by showing them that my ideas are here to stay and be implemented. 

How has coding made you more confident?

It’s like having a superpower.

Is coding creative? How?

Coding is just like writing a story. You have a beginning, middle and end. You are able to create an entire world with code.

How does code tie to your passions?

A big passion of mine is volunteering and there are so many organizations looking for women to help other women learn to code. I now teach other women to code. I also coded an app called “Remind Them,” which is an app for students who have to take medication and aren’t sure what the purpose is.

Similarly, girls I’ve met along the way are majoring in theater, medicine and political science. You can combine code with anything.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, stated in a New York Magazine interview," I had a colossal failure; I was humiliated but I’m still alive. Now, I feel like I can do anything." 

I remember thinking when I first read that statement that it was a crazy idea. I still think it’s crazy. However, this statement really motivates me to try because a lot of us are fearful of failure.

What would you say to a girl who thinks coding is not for her?

It is for you. You just have to try. You don't need to be super smart to code. All you need is a passion to do something for the world. 

“I find it really helpful to embrace a stereotype and then put my own spin on it. I'll admit I'm a huge "nerd", but I also don't view that as being a negative thing. I love coding and Star Wars, but I'm also a fashion blogger who loves to scrapbook and wants to learn how to surf.”  ~Kaylee Llewellyn

We’re ending Teacher Appreciation Week with Kaylee Llewellyn, a fashion blogger, avid scrapbooker, Star Wars buff and a teacher who codes. In our Q&A with Kaylee, we learned about how she deals with stereotypes and her outlook on failure. We’re definitely going to take a leaf out of her book next time we fail!

Q&A with Kaylee:

Which of your recently used emojis represents you perfectly?

💤😍 😋🙏🌊🌞

What's your favorite piece of technology?

My smartphone

What made you join the Girls Who Code movement?

I love being a programmer and my biggest regret was that I was not able to get involved in coding earlier in my academic career. I was really excited to have the opportunity to get to share my enthusiasm for programming with other girls and help de-stigmatize women in tech for girls who are curious about getting involved with coding.

What was the hardest part of learning to code?

At first, I found it challenging to be very creative and logical simultaneously when coding. Programming forces you to think outside the box about how you're going to solve a problem while also keeping you within the bounds of whichever programming language you are using. It took me a while to learn how to break down large problems into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Is coding creative?

I find coding extremely creative. Coding essentially sets up a task for what needs to be accomplished through a program and as the coder you're given endless possibilities of implementing a solution.

Did you ever encounter people who stereotyped you because you code? How did you overcome that?

YES. As a half-Korean female programmer, a lot of people would chalk up my being a programmer to me being Asian. I make sure to emphasize the reasons why I personally love being a programmer and also make my interests outside of computer science known. Personally, I find it really helpful to embrace a stereotype and then put my own spin on it. I'll admit I'm a huge "nerd", but I also don't view that as being a negative thing. I love coding and Star Wars, but I'm also a fashion blogger who loves to scrapbook and wants to learn how to surf. There's always more to someone than a stereotype and I think it's most helpful to flip those stereotypes on their heads to combat this negative attitude towards women programmers.

How has coding made you feel more confident?

I love knowing that I can solve just about any problem I want to. Coding teaches you great problem solving skills and that's a skill that most people lack. It is great knowing that if I put my mind to something, I can solve any problem I want.

Tell us about a time you overcame failure.

I still remember the first time I'd ever failed a test. It was in AP Chemistry, and on the first test I scored a whopping 38%. My stomach dropped when my teacher handed back my test and tears came to my eyes. I thought there was something wrong with me because I'd walked out thinking that I had done well. After talking to my teacher though, I quickly realized that I many simple errors combined with his strict no partial credit policy had led to my low grade. The most important thing that I learned was that failures are just a part of succeeding. On the next test I rebounded very well. Overcoming failures is difficult because once they are in the past they cannot be changed. It is good to think of them as learning experiences rather than indicators of talent or self-worth.

What do you say to the girl that thinks that coding is not for her?

I'd say don't give up! There are a wide variety of coding applications, maybe you just haven't found the one for you.

Who is your role model?

My mom.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received from your mom?

Be brave and don't be afraid of taking a leap of faith.

How does code tie to your other passions?

I'm a huge fashion blogger - which is a cool way to tie technology into my passion for fashion.

“My mother says, "Either you laugh or you cry." I like this. It helps me overcome failure. You can either accept failure and laugh about it, or you can cry and let it overtake you.” - Jennifer Gaspar-Santos

Meet Jennifer Gaspar-Santos, the Director of Educational Technology and Innovation at St.Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco, CA. She’s also a mother, a Filipina and a lover of curiosity. Jennifer could not say no when one of her students approached her to help start a Girls Who Code Club at school. She says, “It's that curiosity that pushes folks past the hard part of coding.”

While Jennifer never self-identified as a stereotypical “geeky” coder, she remembers always loving computers. In fact, she claims to have always loved computers more than ice cream. That’s really saying something!

Read more about Jennifer’s passion for code, her role models and how coding has helped her overcome her fear of failure in our Q&A below.

Q&A with Jennifer Gaspar-Santos:

Why did you join the Girls Who Code movement?

The movement speaks to me both as a female director in ed tech and as a female director who is also a person of color. It's not lost on me how much my role as a Director helps model for girls that anything is possible. We can leverage our identity to push the norms. I was also touched by an enthusiastic student who asked me if I would help start a Girls Who Code club on our campus. She attended the Summer Immersion Program and wanted that same experience to continue at the school. I literally didn't even have my boxes unpacked from summer break and she asked me to help get this club going. I can't say no to a student when they genuinely are curious about something.

Were you always interested in computers?

Yes, I remember when my parents bought me my first computer from sears and it broke. I cried and my mom was so sweet that she said she would buy me an ice cream to make me feel better. I like computers more than ice cream.

What’s the hardest part of learning to code?

Being graded on coding and ridiculed by others who know how to code is the hardest part. I'll be teaching an intro to design thinking and app development course next year and I'm committed to de-stigmatizing the idea that you have to be really smart to code. The biggest roadblock to innovation is fear and this same fear applies to coding. I think grades perpetuate the idea that you have to get an A in order to be a good coder. 

It's a horrible thought that coders were born with a coding gene. I prefer having the disposition to be curious. It's that curiosity that pushes folks past the hard part of coding.

Is coding creative?

It's an art, not a science. It's using text and logic and variables to create something that didn't exist previously. 

How has coding made you feel more confident?

Coding is like a super power. I know I can roll up my sleeves and learn to code - with or without formal training. The ability to create something that someone once told you only smart people can do is really satisfying.  

Has coding made you more comfortable with failure? Tell us about a time you failed and what you learned.

I don't think this form is long enough. #FailEarlyFailOften 

One instance I can think of was hosting my first hour of code. I had this grand idea of collaborating with our school library, our science department, multimedia lab and our social justice club as this inter-club block filled with hour of code activities. I had kids who didn't know where they were going, rooms were booked, kids eating cookies instead of coding, I had python going on my screen but some other kids on social media. One girl even got lost in the shuffle. It was disorganized. 

I even had one girl say, “This isn't for me,” which broke my heart. I was definitely biting off more than I could chew. 

I overcame it by naming it. I had to accept the failure. I had to embrace it and call everything I did wrong. I couldn't point fingers. I just accepted it. Once you accept the failure, you can put it in its place - behind you - and move on. 

Have you ever been stereotyped because you code?

I have had people stereotype me because I code. They think that I must also be good in school and be a complete geek. I actually didn't do very well in school. I thrived in learning situations that were experiential and, unfortunately, most of my schooling was so traditional that I didn't do well in those settings. I'm also not a complete geek, I'm a Filipino mother of two that happens to like to code. I like when coding brings together people of all backgrounds. It's not just for “geeks.” I think folks overcome stereotypes by debunking the idea that only some folks can code and by keeping curious, by embracing your interests and by letting your inner voice guide your curiosity. Forget all the other outside voices--it's just noise!

Who is your role model?

My mother and Lena Dunham are my role models. Both are feminists, both are amazing at their crafts, and both have made me feel so confident after listening to them talk. I don't know Lena Dunham personally, but I think if she did meet me, we'd be friends.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My mother says, "Either you laugh or you cry." I like this. It helps me overcome failure. You can either accept failure and laugh about it, or you can cry and let it overtake you. I think the second you laugh at something, you strip it of its power. This piece of advice has also gotten me through roadblocks in my life as both a mother and a female director in technology. I like how it presents choices. It allows the person to decide the road they want to take. It makes me feel like I'm in control of where I want to go.

What would you say to the girl who says coding isn’t for her?

I would sit her in front of my laptop. Give her some hot cocoa and hit play on Reshma Saujani's TED talk on bravery and ask her if she still felt the same way. If she's coming from a place of fear, I would tell her that she's awesome and that there are lots of girls out there that feel the same way. I would start with an unplugged coding activity first to debunk the myth in her head that coding is too hard. If she's coming from a place of disinterest, I would tell her all the amazing things people create with code. 

How can a girl who’s interested in computer science get started?

Get started with unplugged activities. Use legos, paper and non technical ways of learning code. The best way to get started is commit to 10 min every other day, then build to 10 min every day then build to 30 min per week. Approach it like a building a muscle. Every exercise gets you stronger and stronger. 

What piece of technology can you not live without?

I can’t live without paper. Yes, that’s my favorite piece of technology. 

Which of your recently used emojis describes you perfectly?

I like the smirking face emoji. I'm half smile, half silly. Folks take themselves too seriously with coding. It's fun if you let it be fun.

Follow Jennifer:

Twitter

Instagram

“I was a teacher before I learned how to code. I became interested because it looked like a skill that offered huge possibilities for being creative. I saw people making and programming robots and coding graphical animations and thought it looked like a superpower, a way to make magical things happen with machines.” - Erik Nauman

Meet Erik Nauman, an educational technologist - someone who works in educational technology - at The Hewitt School in New York City. He helped start a local Girls Who Code club to ensure that his students became part of the larger women in technology network. 

As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, we interviewed Erik and learned about some of his passions outside of technology along with his favorite parts of technology.

Q&A with Erik Naumann:

What was your dream job growing up?

I wanted to be an artist or a musician. 

What do you do now?

Now, I work at The Hewitt School in NYC in educational technology. 

Were you always interested in computers?

No, I really only became interested in computers in the past 10 years. Growing up, I was most interested in art, music, teaching, learning, and nature.

Why did you join the Girls Who Code movement?

I wanted to give my students the feeling of belonging to a greater community of girls in computer science.

Do you sense a fear or insecurity around learning to code from your students? How does being in an all female environment affect that?

In my experience teaching at an all girls school, I do see many girls feeling intimidated when they see code and are expected to work with it. However, there are many who also find it amazing and exciting to learn. I feel like those who get intimidated are seeing it through stereotypes that tell them girls are not able to code, are not good with computers, math, or science. When I teach, I expose my students to programming in interesting and fun ways so that over time they’ll see coding as a normal and thing to do, just like writing or reading.

Why did you learn to code?

I was a teacher before I learned how to code. I became interested because it looked like a skill that offered huge possibilities for being creative. I saw people making and programming robots and coding graphical animations and thought it looked like a superpower, a way to make magical things happen with machines.

What was the hardest part of learning to code?

Learning the basic, common concepts shared by many programming languages took a while for me. However, having an understanding of those concepts makes it easier to learn any new language I want to.

Did you ever encounter people who stereotyped you because you code?

People have made the assumption that I can make technology do anything because I can code. I have had to be patient in helping people understand what is reasonable and what is possible.

Has coding made you more confident?

It has opened up creative possibilities that I like to share with people, which has made me happier.

Has coding helped you accept failure?

I had a hard time learning to wire and program an LED matrix. It was really complicated for me and after a couple weeks I gave it up. But later I picked it up again and figured out how to make it work, and eventually it turned into a fun project that was very successful.

photo source

Is coding creative? How?

Absolutely! There are usually many ways to do something so just finding solutions to coding problems is a creative process.

Who is your role model?

Margaret Hamilton.

What’s your favorite piece of advice from your role model?

It’s not so much what she said, but that she considers the big picture in her approach to software development. She always thought about how it will be used and safeguarded to make it dependable under different conditions. That is how her software saved the Apollo 11 moon mission.

What’s your favorite piece of technology?

I love to work with Arduino micro controllers.

Follow Erik:

Twitter

“I wasn't fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn coding in high school, so I would love to give that chance to others, especially young, intelligent women who do not know what they are missing out on.” - Jessica Zalzman

Meet Jessica Zalzman, a sophomore at Georgia Tech who is a Summer Immersion Program teacher. Outside of coding, she’s an avid runner and music fan. Jessica joined our movement of Teachers Who Code to give teenage girls the opportunity to learn to code, something she wishes she had when she was in high school.

Read more about Jessica in our Q&A:

Why did you join the Girls Who Code movement as a Teacher Who Codes?

I wasn't fortunate enough to have the opportunity to learn coding in high school, so I would love to give that chance to others, especially young, intelligent women who do not know what they are missing out on.

Were you always interested in computers?

I was always technologically savvy and my dad would always teach me things here and there but I would mostly use the computer to either play computer games or to engage in creative projects.

What's your favorite piece of technology?

The laptop because it is so versatile. 

What’s the hardest part of learning to code?

The hardest part of learning to code was working through those moments when I would get stuck on one piece of code that just wouldn't work. However, overcoming this always made it worth it.

How has coding made you more confident?

Coding has made me feel more confident in the sense that I know it is going to be a very useful skill to have in the years to come because technology is our future and someone has to be able to program that technology and come up with new ideas. It is nice to know that I have a coveted skill.

Has coding helped you become comfortable with failure?

I vividly remember a cross country race I was in where I was in second place going into the final half mile or so. The girl in first place was too far for me to see, so I somehow ended up taking a wrong turn and adding an extra loop to the race. When I made it back to the main track, I saw dozens of girls running towards the finish line, but instead of just giving up, I kicked it into high gear and used all of the energy I had left in me to power past about 30 girls in order to end up in 11th place. It wasn't the placement that I had expected when I was comfortably in second place, but I was proud of my choosing to overcome instead of give in.

Is coding creative? How? 

Coding is definitely creative, not only because there are so many different types of things that can be made through programming, but also because there are so many different ways to solve certain problems. The creativity and originality lies in the specific way each coder chooses to solve the exact same problem.

How does code tie to your other passions?

I am hopelessly in love with music. The main source of new music nowadays is through streaming and other types of technology. 

What would you say to the girl who thinks coding isn’t for her?

I say that she shouldn't knock it until she tries it, just like anything else in life. I had no idea how much I would love it until after I started coding in college.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Always make some time for yourself.

Follow Jessica:

Instagram 

Twitter

Snapchat: jzalz16 

“I really liked video games growing up, especially dance and rhythm games. Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and Just Dance were my favorites. It doesn’t come as any huge surprise though, given that I was really big into musical theater and acting for the majority of my life. So really, rhythm and dance games just combined two of my biggest interests into one.” - Mei’lani Eyre

Meet Mei’lani Eyre, one of our Teachers Who Codes. Mei’lani joined the Girls Who Code movement a year ago as a student in the Summer Immersion Program. She’s paying it forward as a Teaching Assistant this summer. As a musical theater performer for most of her life, Mei’lani’s favorite technology are rhythmic games like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and Just Dance. Who doesn’t love those games?

Learn more about how code ties into Mei’lani’s passions and some of her other favorite rhythmic games in our Q&A below!

Q&A with Mei’lani:

What was your dream job growing up?

When I was 4 or 5, I always dreamt of being an actress. I carried on trying to support this dream until around the age of 11, when I found that I didn't quite have the passion or drive to become an actress. It was something that I found really didn't suit me as a person, and I started thinking about the things I really like and enjoy doing. 

What’s your dream job now?

Computers are something I really enjoy, and can totally see myself working with for a career.

Were you always interested in computers?

They were always a big part of my life growing up, and I started to grow more curious about how they work around the age of 10. I loved using the internet, different computer programs, and learning; so I started learning to program around the age of 11 or 12. Once 13 hit, I started seriously considering computer science as my career path. By the age of 14, I had applied for Girls Who Code. A year later, I'm a TA for them!

What were some of your other interests growing up?

I really liked video games growing up, especially dance and rhythm games. Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Just Dance are my favorites. It doesn't come as any huge surprise though, given that I was really into musical theater and acting for the majority of my life. So really, rhythm and dance games just combine two of my biggest interests into one.

What made you join the Girls Who Code movement?

After two years of learning with no general direction in the field, I finally found the motivation and confidence to start building my future. For me, the first step in this was joining Girls Who Code. My mom's co-worker had suggested it a while ago, and I dismissed it thinking that I didn't meet the criteria. But once applications for the Summer Immersion Program opened up, I looked over it again and realized that I was completely eligible to apply. So I did, and I have ZERO regrets about that decision. This summer, I’m going to be a Teaching assistant and help inspire more girls to code!

What's your favorite piece of technology?

I absolutely love arcade game machines. I think they're a great piece of technology that have continued to grow and adapt despite the competition of console and PC gaming and they still manage to maintain a relevant status in the gaming world.

Which of your recently used emojis represents you perfectly?

Open mouthed smiley faces! :D

Is coding creative? How?

It's totally creative! When you're coding, you're unlocking your inner MacGyver. You're solving problems in unconventional ways, with strange tools and a ton of knowledge.

For example: At Girls Who Code, my team and I for our final project during the Summer Immersion Program wanted to help people with anxiety through the power of digitally coded narwhals. Those may seem like two incredibly unrelated topics, but how else would we bring them all together in harmony without a little creativity?

What was the hardest part of learning to code?

Learning how to accept mistakes. I had this idea in my head that I was supposed to know the answer to everything and never make mistakes- because that's how programmers are, right? Not at all!

Coding is FULL of mistakes! No matter what amount of experience you have, you're bound to mess up here and there. And the magnitude of these mistakes vary every time. I made a lot of mistakes when I was first learning, and that really drove me away from wanting to continue on for the longest time. I didn't think I was cut out for programming because I wasn't smart enough. Because I couldn't figure out some of the simplest bugs on my own. I didn't understand that this was something that even the most seasoned programmers go through, it's just a part of the work.

Now that I understand this, I don't let myself get discouraged. In fact, I love the feeling you get when you finally fix a bug that's been frustrating you for longest time. It's not that I like having bugs in my code, it's that I love knowing I fixed them.

So, coding has made you more confident?

Coding has made me feel more confident through the fact that I'm actually making something. I can't draw or paint very well, and I'm not very good at writing stories or music. I've never thought I'm good at creating, well, anything. And I've never really liked anything that I've made.

However, coding has most definitely changed that. I like the programs I make. I'm building something from the bottom up, by myself. Through code, I've proven to myself that I'm capable of more than I thought.

Tell us about a time you overcame failure.

Sometime in fall of 2015 I was looking for research projects to be apart of. I know a lot of high school students go and do college research at different universities, so I tried contacting a professor at a local university about one of his projects that really interested me. Because of my few options, I really had my heart set on working with him.

After maybe 4 days of anxious waiting I finally got an email back from him. We went back and fourth exchanging more information each time. Eventually he decided I wasn't right for this project. However, he didn't leave me with just that. He told me I was ambitious, and that I should continue to create my own luck to find opportunities that were the right fits for me.

That little piece of advice has stayed with me, as I've applied this every time since then where I've received a rejection letter from something I had my hopes set on. It reminded me to keep trying and to continue to push through, a thought process which has helped me overcome the many failures and rejections that followed after that event, but led to more successes than before. 

How does code tie to your other passions?

I'm a brown belt in karate, and I've been an assistant instructor for a kids karate class for the past two years. Karate has been a huge part of my life for the past 4 years, and a lot of my motivation to be in the field of computer science comes from the adults that I've met there who are in the CS field.

I'm also an avid rhythm gamer. I may not be well vested in the field of gaming as a whole, but I do have quite a bit of knowledge and passion when it comes to rhythm games. I'm talking Dance Dance Revolution, and super obscure games that most people likely haven't heard of like Pump it Up, Stepmania, Osu!, and Pop'N. I love going to arcades and just seeing what they have in terms of rhythm games. I will spend a solid hour playing between two machines at an arcade if that's all they have.

Who is your role model?

My karate instructor.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received from your role model?

"Don't hold yourself back"

What do you say to the girl that thinks that coding is not for her?

Coding doesn't require you to be a genius the moment you start. It's a learning process, and you get better as you go. Besides that, it's not limited to just writing games and word processing software. You can combine code with just about anything that exists. Whatever interest you have in life, technology can come into play.

Where should girls who are interested in coding begin, what's the best way to get started and to stick with it?

Step 1: Find an online tutorial that teaches you the basics of code. Khan Academy and Codecademy are great places for beginners to start.

Step 2: Make friends with people who are in the field. Or even just college students who major in CS. After you've been coding a while, you will reach an intermediate level where you've done every tutorial possible to learn the basics. But if you're anything like me, you're going to need help applying this knowledge to different scenarios. That's when friends with more experience than you come in. They're not only great for introducing you to new things, but they're great resources for when you're stuck and you need help along the way.

Step 3: Profit

Though in all seriousness, learning the bare basics is super helpful and the most important step in beginning to code, but once you're beyond that point it's confusing to know where to go next.

Having friends in the field or with knowledge of where to go next is incredibly helpful with this problem! Or really, any group that's similar. Finding a group like Girls Who Code, ChickTech, or something related that aids you in expanding your horizons can definitely grow your knowledge and make you want to stick with coding.

Follow Mei’lani:

Twitter

“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.

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