Posts tagged with ‘profiles’
Cassie Mahakian: Winner of the Samsung App Challenge!
“Make it fun. Create something you enjoy with code!’ - Cassie Mahakian
Meet Cassie Mahakian, a thirteen year old coder, tennis player, musician, and self-described “girly girl.” Cassie recently won the and is looking forward to studying engineering at Erie High School in the fall. Want some words of wisdom from this awesome young #GirlBoss? Read the interview below!
Q&A with Cassie Mahakian
What was your dream job growing up?
I was very interested in music and wanted to do something around that.
Do you still want to work in music?
Yes! I’d like to combine engineering with music. Currently, I play the piano, guitar, and clarinet.
When did you start coding?
I started learning Scratch when I was about nine or ten. Now I’ve moved onto coding in Javascript and Python, playing with Arduinos, and making robots. This is the second year I’ve been a part of the at my school.
Why did you join Girls Who Code?
I had been doing Scratch for a while, but it was hard to find fun places to learn to code. interested me because it’s a whole class of girls supporting each other and cultivating knowledge. It’s a comfortable place to learn.
Through your Club, you won the Samsung App Challenge. Congratulations! How did that happen?
Last year, two girls I code with told me about a challenge where we could create an app wireframe and compete for a prize. We kept working on it and came up with an idea - MusikLearn. It enhances brain function for students through digital word games and music. The app targets students with dyslexia and autism but works for any student. Depending on the subject area and disability, the app helps students learn new concepts by connecting those ideas to sound and music.
What was the hardest part of learning to code?
It’s just getting started, especially when you’re learning a whole new language. It’s also hard just being in the minority - there just aren’t a lot of girls in most classes.
Is that why it’s important to teach girls to code?
I think it’s important to give everyone the opportunity to learn to code. Some girls might want to know how to code, but just think they can’t do it because of what other people say.
What advice would you give to girls who are interested in learning how to code or who are struggling to stick with it?
For girls just starting out, I’d say just go for it. No matter what happens, you’ll be learning something amazing. For girls who are struggling, try to find a way to make it fun. Just make something you enjoy with code. Starting out with a really hard program can be hard and not very fun.
Want to participate in a Girls Who Code Club like Cassie?
Sarah Sheldon: Quantum Physicist, Baker, Gardener & #GirlBoss
“Good work does speak for itself, and so does determination. Don’t give up and don’t be afraid to ask for help” ~Sarah Sheldon
Meet Sarah Sheldon a 29 year-old quantum physicist at IBM. Through her impressive work in , Sarah is doing groundbreaking research in a sector of tech that blends computer science and physics. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, gardening and reading as a means of experimenting and broadening her world view. This #GirlBoss is also a big advocate for female mentorship and encouragement within the workplace because you cannot be what you cannot see. Inspired yet? We are!
Q&A with Sarah Sheldon:
What is your job at IBM?
I’m an IBM Research staff member in the experimental quantum computing group. Our group is studying quantum computing using superconducting circuits. I work on improving the techniques we use for controlling the state of quantum bits on our devices.
Were you always interested in computers?
I was always interested in research, math, and physics especially. For me, computers and coding have been the essential tools for running experiments and learning about science and nature.
What were some of your other interests growing up?
I participated in a lot of activities growing up: playing piano, taking dance lessons, running track, and volunteering. Outside of school and organized activities, I was always an avid reader and loved to bake.
Do you think that those interests informed what you do now, and have helped you as a quantum physicist?
I just loved learning about the world and I explored that in many different ways. Reading, of course, fosters knowledge and can change your perspective on the world. My love of baking was not only the result of my sweet tooth, but also a way to experiment and see chemistry in action. Any activity that makes you think, helps you learn something new, or develops your world view will benefit you as a scientist, engineer, programmer, and problem-solver.
Is coding creative? How?
Coding is definitely creative. There is no single way to write any code, and everyone has their own style. Part of coding is design, thinking about how to approach the problem before you write a single line, and you can create clean or efficient or even elegant code.
What is the most exciting thing about your job? What is the thing that makes you lose track of time when you are working?
Sometimes I’m just amazed at what we can do in our lab - we make quantum devices, macroscopic quantum bits (qubits) that you can see with your eye, and we can manipulate their state to a high level of precision. Related to my own quantum work, one particular exciting thing I have been a part of recently is the launch of the IBM Quantum Experience, which is the world’s first quantum computing platform. IBM released it in May of this year. It’s delivered via the IBM Cloud and offers students, researchers, and general science enthusiasts’ hands-on access to an actual five-qubit device in our lab. Those users can run algorithms and experiments, work with qubits, and explore tutorials and simulations around what might be possible with quantum computing. It has been really fun to get feedback from the public and specifically to work with students who are interested in understanding quantum computing and what we can do with it.
What is the thing most people don’t realize about what you do?
I don’t think people realize when we talk about a quantum processor, we mean a quantum device that we can manipulate with classical computing control knobs. We program instruments with standard computing software and interact with the quantum bits through classical control fields. All the quantumness is on the chip that is surrounded by a huge amount of infrastructure necessary for cooling, controlling, and measuring the device.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
Experimental physics can be challenging and there are moments when it gets frustrating. Experiments often do not work the way you expect, and you struggle to figure out why. This kind of work often takes long periods of troubleshooting, debugging, problem-solving, and brief happy moments of success until you hit the next problem! The pressure of needing to get results is what makes my job hard. So, it’s important to not get frustrated, stick to the scientific method, and gather as much information as possible. Solving tough problems like this is also the fun part!
What would you love to see your work achieve?
My dream is that the work that I do and the work that my team does proves that fault tolerant quantum computing is achievable. It is a field where the ultimate goal of building a universal quantum computer is a long way off, and I would love to show that there is a quantum advantage for problems that are unsolvable today on classical computers. There are many potential applications, and I believe there is so much to explore in this new computing paradigm. I recently worked with students at the Institute for Quantum Computing’s Undergraduate School for Experimental Quantum Information Processing in Waterloo, who were testing out the algorithms they were learning in the classroom. They were able to run quantum codes such as Grover’s search algorithm and error correction protocols on our 5-qubit quantum processor. I am so excited to see the field grow and develop new tools for students and others to get hands-on experience with quantum computing.
What have been the biggest lessons learned in your career?
The most valuable lesson for me to learn was how to ask for help. It’s OK to not know something! Asking lots of questions and asking for help is the best way to learn and acquire new skills. I am very fortunate to work in a team where this approach goes without saying.
Did you ever encounter people who discouraged you from your path because you are female?
I have been very fortunate to have had many teachers and mentors - especially female mentors- in addition to my parents who always encouraged me to pursue my goals. The women I have worked with who were a generation or two older than I have stories of being pushed aside for men, and I am so thankful that they persevered. Many of the ways women are discouraged from participating in science and technology today is more subtle. It can be disheartening to be one of very few, and often times the only, woman in an advanced physics class or in a lab group, and as a result it can be harder to find mentors and peers who will support you as a woman.
How did you overcome feeling disheartened?
My advice to girls is to build up your own confidence. Good work does speak for itself, and so does determination. It’s really helpful to have support from people you can learn from and who can help you grow. Seek out mentors, especially female mentors who understand the unique challenges that women face.
What would you say to a girl who thinks coding is not for her?
There are so many ways you can use coding, you might be surprised by how much you can accomplish with a little knowledge of how to code. You can write code to design websites, control the light switch in your apartment, make games and movies, study science, and solve complex problems.
What are 5 pieces of technology you rely on each and every day?
- Desktop computer
- : A computing environment and programming language
- : A programming language
Want to get involved with a Girls Who Code club and learn how to code? Learn more .
Coding a Brighter Future out of a Homeless Shelter.
“I let my failures go and then I got a different perspective” ~Alexis Olaes
At sixteen years old, Alexis Olaes resides at , a shelter for homeless and at-risk women and children. She is one of twelve girls who participates in Brookview’s , where middle and high school girls learn to code while also increasing their confidence and preparing them for the future. The goal: to equip the Club’s students with skills that will allow them to lead choice-filled lives and prevent future homelessness.
The lessons are paying off. Alexis is already learning to make websites, video games and apps. Plus, her confidence is growing. She describes the impact that learning to code has had on her, “This program is great because girls get to connect with each other while they learn how to use technology. I let my failures go and then I got a different perspective of what is possible.”
When asked what advice she would give to a girl who is just starting to learn to code, she replied, “I would tell her to never give up. And that life is hard, but it can get better.”
if you would like to donate to or get involved with Brookview House and if you’d like to help bring a Girls Who Code Club to your community!
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Victoria Tran: From 0 to 100 in 7 Weeks.
“Coding begins with a blank canvas. Instead of choosing your colors you choose your languages. You envision the end goal and think about your approach to get there. From then on, the rest is up to you.” ~Victoria Tran
Growing up, Victoria Tran wanted to be an actress, singer, or musician. Now, she hopes to pursue a career in computer science and start her own company. You might think this is a huge shift in direction. However, the ability to change directions and be creative is a big part of coding. Victoria explains, “Coding begins with a blank canvas. Halfway through, your vision might even change and go a completely different route. [Code] doesn’t have to be only one thing, it’s anything you want it to be!” Read more about Victoria in our Q&A below.
Q&A with Victoria Tran:
What made you join the Girls Who Code movement?
I wanted to learn more about computer science because I knew nothing about it. My curiosity of the unknown pushed me to take a risk and allowed me to discover this amazing new world of code.
Were you always interested in computers?
No, I never thought I would be interested in computers until my sophomore year of high school when my friend mentioned the and it caught my interest. I would would wonder why my other boy cousins were so into them and finally I thought to myself why don’t I just find out for myself!
What was the hardest part of learning to code?
I was one of the few in my class who had never coded before so it was really intimidating starting out. When I would get stuck on parts for a really long time, I had to stay optimistic and know that there is a way to solve the problem. There was an answer and it was waiting for me to find it so I couldn’t give up. I think it’s a part of human nature to compare ourselves to others, but it’s important trust yourself and know that if this is your passion, there will be obstacles you have to overcome.
How has coding made you more confident?
It showed me that I am capable of anything if I set my mind to it. It doesn’t matter how much I know or where I am coming from. If I have the persistence and motivation to do something, I can do it. If I want something to happen, then I have to go out there and make it happen myself.
How does code tie to your passions?
I play the bassoon in band. Similar to how playing the bassoon requires practice, creativity, and interpretation, coding involves the same elements.
Is coding creative?
CODING == CREATIVE! There is a common stigma that computer science is just sitting in front of a computer screen all day and typing stuff. I think coding itself is a type of art form. Coding begins with a blank canvas. Instead of choosing your colors, you choose your languages. You envision the end goal and think about your approach to get there. From then on, the rest is up to you. Halfway through, your vision might even change and go a completely different route. That’s the great thing about coding. It doesn’t have to be only one thing, it’s anything you want it to be!
What advice would you give to a girl to inspire her to code?
Sometimes, taking a risk can be scary, but you just have to dive right into the water. A lot of people regret not doing or trying things rather than actually doing things.
Want to learn how to code like Victoria?
Maya Espinel & Lucy Hartigan: Proving Age is Just a Number
Meet Maya and Lucy, two middle school coders from New Jersey. These girls not only have big aspirations - a professional soccer player and a star on Broadway - but have also already started using their knowledge of technology to help change the world!
After hearing about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, Maya and Lucy wanted to help. They built a website, “,” to educate middle and high school students about lead poisoning and how to prevent it. They hope to take a trip to Flint to interview those affected by the water crisis and help bring awareness to the problem.
Read the Q&A below to learn how Maya and Lucy aren’t letting their gender or age stop them from building technology that can improve society.
Q&A with Maya & Lucy:
Tell us about yourselves.
Lucy: I am 11.5 and go to the Hoboken Charter School.
Maya: I am 12 years old and also go to the Hoboken Charter School.
What’s your dream job?
Lucy: I have 3 ideas. I want to be an engineer, a computer scientist or sing on Broadway.
Maya: I love to play soccer. I wanna be a soccer player or biochemist.
Why did you join Girls Who Code?
Lucy: Our math teacher convinced us to do it.
Maya: We though it was a cool to be able to make websites.
What have you learned?
Maya: We’ve learned to build a website with HTML.
Lucy: It was really interesting learning how to make a website from scratch. You have to be very precise.
You created a website to educate other students about the Flint water crisis and lead poisoning. Where did that inspiration come from?
Maya: We do community service every year and this year we learned how some people don’t have clean water to drink. When we heard about what was happening in Flint, we wanted to help because kids like us are being affected by it. Our website teaches people what lead poisoning is and how to prevent it.
Lucy: People can take a survey after to tell us what they learned and how we can make it even more helpful. It’s directed towards middle and high school students. There’s also an interactive map that shows areas in the US that have the highest risk of lead poisoning. There are different colors on a scale of 1-10.
What’s next?
Maya: We want to expand the website so there’s more content and maybe even go to Flint to interview kids there.
Want to join a Girls Who Code club like Maya and Lucy?
Simonne Jones: Musician & Engineer.
“The idea that you can create this invisible thing that didn’t exist before in the form of music really haunted me as a child. I thought of it as a powerful way to shape my universe.” - Simonne Jones
The poet Henry Longfellow described music as “the universal language of mankind.” Many studies have since been done to prove it. However, in today’s technology-filled world, code is quickly becoming the next universal language.
We had the opportunity to interview Simonne Jones, who combines both in her work as a singer/artist/engineer/physicist/composer. She began writing music when she was 10 and started college when she was 15. She’s gone on tour with Jared Leto and to Africa as an HIV research volunteer. She’s one of our favorite #girlbosses.
If you ever thought you weren’t analytical enough to code or weren’t creative enough to be an artist, Simonne is proof that STEM and music aren’t mutually exclusive. Not surprisingly, her new single, out today, is titled ““ and pairs techno beats with physics metaphors. Often tying arduinos into her work, we can’t wait to see what the live performance of “Gravity” looks like.
Get familiar with Simonne, learn how technology has helped her build and develop her career, and find out what technology she can’t live without in our Q&A below.
Q&A with Simonne Jones:
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am an artist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Los Angeles. Now I live in Berlin.
Were you always interested in music?
I started learning piano when I was 3 and composing music on the piano when I was 10. At the time, I was mainly interested in classical music and wanted to become a classical pianist. I always wanted to compose my own work and I loved to invent. The idea that you can create this invisible thing that didn’t exist before in the form of music really haunted me as a child. I thought of it as a powerful way to shape my universe. When everything in my world was falling apart, I always had this magical musical universe to play and exist in that was impenetrable. Music was the only thing in my life that I was unable to stop doing.
After I graduated from college, I moved to Berlin. My first music job was playing during the Diesel runway show at fashion week. Eventually, I started playing more local shows and got invited to different festivals in Europe. People starting writing about me organically and more people started coming to my shows. I started getting asked to collaborate with well known producers and musicians and began composing music for theater and orchestras.
When did you become interested in computer science?
My sister got me interested in computers and engineering. She used to build battle robots when she was a teenager and compete in robotic competitions. I was more interested in the bio medical side of science growing up and even shadowed surgeons at UCLA to feed my interest.
As a summer job in college, I taught STEM to inter-city troubled girls. I noticed how inspired they were by my excitement in physics and engineering because I made it accessible to them. I would give them basic physics lessons and we would build planes or take apart computers. Sometimes, we would build radios and I would also teach them basic HTML to help them build their own blogs.
How do your passions for computer science and music tie to each other?
After moving to Berlin and deciding to commit my life to music, I needed something to fill the scientific void. So, I started taking apart machines and building costumes and sculptures with LED’s. I also started building midi controllers and basic on off switch signal converters as drum triggers that I put in the surface of my guitar. I learned a lot from people that I met in Berlin who were interested in DIY engineering and eventually got an arduino as a birthday present. I decided to integrate arduinos into my work. Now, engineering is a way for me to relax.
How do you find engineering relaxing?
When I need a minute away from music, I get together with my friends and do simple and fun projects like building a hologram out of a CD case. Right now I am working on a midi-controlled Tesla coil. It is not for anything in particular, but it’s fun.
Has technology informed how you make music?
I use computers to program my music. Technology is essential to my creative process. I originally performed solo using loop devices before I had a band. That helped to open the doors to experimenting with my productions. Being a recording engineer has been really helpful in creating productions without being dependent on someone to help me record. Ironically, being able to produce my own music has made my collaborations even stronger because I know how to communicate what I am doing in technical terms and communicate the right engineering tasks needed in order to achieve a sound or effect I am trying to create.
What is the most exciting thing about what you do?
Watching something you create touch other people in ways that you didn’t expect is the most exciting thing about my job. Also, being in front of a large body of people singing your song, or swaying to something that you wrote is a really powerful feeling.
When I was on tour with Jared Leto from 30 Seconds to Mars, he would play for around 12,000 people a night and by the 3rd show - even as the opening act -people were singing the hooks of my songs. It was a wonderful feeling and definitely unexpected.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
It’s the feeling of being around a large amount of people constantly, yet feeling alone. It is paradoxical but if you meet hundreds of people at a venue on repeat every day, you lose of sense of intimate connectivity and you feel like you can’t relate to any one. I’ve had to sacrifice every bit or normalcy in my life in order to have a career in music, I don’t have a normal schedule and I don’t have normal relationships with people that I love.
What would you love to see your work achieve?
I would really love to do a philharmonic tour around the world.
What have been greatest lessons learned in your career?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is understanding the magnitude in which your thoughts are powerful. What you are thinking about and how you feel about that thought changes the way you perceive and interact with the world. Each of us has the power within us to create our own destiny.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Take light issues seriously and serious issues lightly.
Did you ever encounter people who discouraged you from your path because you are female? How did you over come that?
Gender aside, people will try and discourage others from doing things that go outside the norm because they are afraid of the unknown in the form of diversity and change. Whenever I was strongly discouraged from a path that made me excited about my existence, that was precisely the moment where I realized I am doing something important and right. Being an outlier is essential to innovation.
Do you think technology has harmed or helped the music industry?
Technology has helped my career because of what is possible as a producer on a computer in comparison to 10 years ago. A composer inexpensively has every instrument known to man on a computer and quick access to limitless library’s of sounds to construct songs.
Technology has demonetized the music industry in many ways like streaming and being able to generate high quality recordings without having to pay to rent an expensive studio. Even labels are feeling the demonetization by technology because artists no longer need them to provide a bridge to a listener. Consequently, many artist that would never see the light of day have been given a spotlight by the audience that organically demands them through technology.
Many producers that I know feel daunted by the enormous amount of creative possibilities that music technology provides and often try to limit their writing to simple instruments. I am somewhere in the middle.
What are the 5 pieces of technology you rely on every day?
- Personal computing: computers and cell phones.
- Satellite communications: the kind that orbit the earth and transmit data around the world.
- Solar cells: they power satellites
- Transistors: I’d have a hard time without them, they are in most modern electronic systems.
- The Internet: how I communicate with my loved ones when I travel.
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Myisha Kinberg: Creating a Community of Code
“Pick your favorite hobby and have that be your job.“ - Myisha Kinberg
Meet Myisha Kinberg, a graduating high school senior from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Myisha first fell in love with technology when she learned how to make movies using her computer. She hopes to use computer science to spread diversity and create community.
Read more about Myisha in our Q&A below.
Q&A with Myisha Kinberg:
What does being part of the Girls Who Code movement mean to you?
gave me the kind of education you can’t find in a classroom. Not only was I taught how to program using multiple languages, but I was given the opportunity to talk to women who have successful careers in the field. Girls Who Code made me understand that computer science isn’t just about 1’s and 0’s, it’s about combining your interests with technology to better the future.
Were you always interested in computers?
I was 12 or 13 when I was first allowed to use a computer. I loved using computers to make slideshows with movies. The first film I made was when I was 13 for my Bat Mitzvah, and it was about what it’s like to be black and Jewish.
What is it like?
I live in Ann Arbor, MI and the temples here are not very diverse; my sister and I were the only black girls in the temple. I became interested in learning more about Judaism when my sister and I went to a multi-racial network retreat. That lead me to go to Israel when I was in 9th grade.
It’s becoming more common to find black Jews. I’m currently a TA in the religious school at my temple and there are a few black students. I want people to find their community within Judaism because I would have liked to have more of a community growing up.
You’re planning to study computer science in college. What type of career do you want to have?
I want to be a web developer or work in some other aspect of computer science! I’d like to work with small companies that have large employee-bases of women, like and Black Girls Code.
What interests you about large female employee populations?
Women have fresh ideas and embrace diversity. It’s also more comfortable to be in an environment with a lot of female employees.
What’s the hardest part of being a girl who codes?
The hardest part is not being afraid to ask the guys in my class for help since I’m the only girl.
Why do you think it’s important to teach girls computer science?
It is so much fun! For example, if you have a talent or a craft, you can use code to create your own unique website to broadcast it! With the technology field growing so fast, there are a lot of opportunities for women to get into coding. Finally, women are just as smart as men and can excel at the same things they excel in.
Has coding made you feel more confident?
In my computer science class last semester, the final exam had no restrictions so I was able to work with my classmates - all men - on it. I was the only student in the class who figured out a question about HTML, and it felt great to have all of the students in the class asking me for help. They weren’t talking to me because I was a girl, they were talking to me because I was a computer scientist who figured out the answer to a problem they all had.
Is coding creative?
It’s really creative because there’s so much you can do with it! No one’s project is going to look the same.
What advice would you give a girl to inspire her to learn to code?
With computer science, there are so many things you can do! Pick your favorite hobby and have that be your job. You can be part of the future environment of technology.
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Interested in learning how to code like Myisha?
Olivia Shannon: Turning Wishes Into Reality.
“If you know how to code, you don’t have to say ‘I Wish.’” - Olivia Shannon
Meet Olivia Shannon, a New Yorker who loves gaming, Netflix, boxing, horror movies, writing, art and music. She learned to code and is planning to major in computer science to enhance all of her passions and ensure that she never has to say “I Wish” about any of the things she’d like to create. Through code, Olivia has learned to embrace her failures as a way to better herself.
Read more about Olivia, her mentors and how she’s combining her passions with code in our Q&A below.
Q&A with Olivia:
Tell us about your Girls Who Code experience.
It may sound cheesy, but changed my life. When I started the , I expected to spend 7 weeks competing with 40 other girls in a field that I wasn’t totally sure I would excel in. I was scared to fail, scared that I wouldn’t make any meaningful friendships, and scared that computer science just wouldn’t be for me.
And were your fears realized?
The friendships I made during those 7 weeks are ones I still happily maintain today, and each of them was built on helping to lift each other up instead of tearing each other down through petty competition. The program taught me not only to accept failure, but to embrace it and use it to better myself. It shifted my whole mindset from avoiding obstacles to facing them head on.
Do you think learning to code in a different environment would have changed your experience?
My high school is really competitive and failure isn’t accepted as okay. Girls Who Code taught me that it’s okay to fail. If your best is failure, that’s fine, too.
How has accepting failure helped you?
It’s clearly apparent in the way my grades have skyrocketed since attending the .
What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to be an artist growing up, I even dressed up as Georgia O'Keefe, my favorite artist, for career day!
What do you want to be now?
Now, I want to be the founder of a start-up and help make way for other women to join the ranks of this century’s computer science pioneers as well.
Do you think coding is artistic?
Yes, that’s why I am applying to major in computer science. I can use my passion for art and writing and have a dynamic and competitive career.
What was the hardest part of learning to code?
I was terrified that I’d have to compete with everyone else in the program, and that I wouldn’t be good enough. But everyone was happy to help when I asked questions, and it was okay to mess up. I learned that when you’re programing, you’re going to make a thousand mistakes before you get it right.
Why is it important to teach girls computer science?
As with anything, diversity breeds ingenuity. Having only one, small demographic in a field creates a smaller range of perspectives. But when people of different genders and cultures get involved, innovative solutions come up.
Has coding made you feel more confident?
Coding has given me so many opportunities that I feel like I can do anything! In the past two months, I’ve made websites, apps, and even helped design the at his fashion show. There are so many options out there for programmers because the skill is in demand. It gives you the freedom to explore what you want to do.
How does code tie to your other passions?
I love gaming, watching horror movies, watching Netflix, reading and writing. I also love music and have a pretty varied taste - I’ll listen to anything from classical to pop punk. Code has created - or enhanced - all of these things.
I also box to stay active and use Nike Running and Fitbit to track my workouts. Based on what my app is telling me my body is doing, I’ll change my workouts.
You’re heading to college in the fall. What are you most afraid of in Freshman year?
I am a pretty quirky person. I’m scared to meet new people but I also love putting myself out there.
What are you most excited for?
I can’t wait to live in a dorm and have a roommate and take whatever classes I want! If I want to take a philosophy class as a computer science major, I can do that. I can expand my own learning as I see fit.
Who are your role models?
, who was one of the first actresses and was a pioneer of wireless communications.
What advice would you give to a girl to inspire her to learn to code?
No matter what you’re interested in, knowing how to code will make it better for you and make it more fun. Code can enhance whatever your interests are. If you know how to code, you don’t have to say “I Wish.” You can create things without having to wait for anyone else.
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Anusha Khan: There is No “I” in “Code”
“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?
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 , 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 , 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.
Want to learn how to code like Anusha?
Anna Weddell: C U Spacecowgrrrl
“A game I’d like to create is one that helps girls with eating disorders because I’ve struggled with eating disorders my entire life. The game would simulate an eating disorder and might seem like it’s taking over or thinking for itself because that’s what an eating disorder is like. ” - Anna Weddell
Meet Anna “Spacecowgrrrl” Weddell, a college Freshman from the big apple. Self-described as a cool and nerdy girl who was raised in a household of technological exploration, Anna plans to study computer science in college in order to start her own gaming company.
One of the games she’s making sheds light on eating disorders, something Anna says she’s struggled with for her entire life. She’s not alone. reports that “approximately 1 out of every 200 girls between 15 to 24 years old suffers from anorexia nervosa, while about 1 in 50 is bulimic.” She hopes that the game, which will “simulate an eating disorder” will shed light on and generate an understanding of these stigmatized diseases. She continues, “the game might seem like it’s taking you over or thinking for itself, and that’s what an eating disorder is like.”
We are so inspired by Anna’s bravery and her desire to educate others on eating disorders because of her ability to code.
Read more about Anna in our Q&A below.
Q&A with Anna Weddell:
Tell us about yourself.
I have always been a bit strange, when considering societal standards for normalcy. Honestly, I think I can be pretty cool, though, if cool and nerdy are adjectives that can co-exist!
Were you always interested in computers?
I grew up surrounded by technology because my dad was a long-time computer programmer and made sure to bring his daughter into a world of science. With books scattered about the house in colorful arrays, each featuring an animal on the cover, it was not hard for my interest to be piqued in computer science and technology from a young age. It wasn’t long before I was opening hard drives - even beloved video game consoles - and fiddling with circuit boards and metal scraps with my dad to understand more about how they worked. During college vacations, I’m still working with my dad on building portable consoles and controllers out of recycled, “dead” generations of video games.
What are the best parts of being a college freshman?
The independence and free time to do what I want to do is a big change. It’s also been great to meet new friends that share my interests; I’ve ended up making friends at my school through the network.
What are you studying in college?
I started college as undeclared. I had been interested in computer science, but I doubted whether or not I could do it.
I ended up realizing that computer science was what I wanted to do and the more time I spent not being involved in it, the more i missed it and the more I wanted to be part of it. I’m taking my first college computer science class in the fall and am excited to learn more in a classroom setting.
What are the 5 pieces of technology you can’t live without in college?
- My phone
- My computer
- My TV (mainly because of PS3)
- My Nintendo 3DS
- My Wii
Clearly, I like to play games.
What’s the best piece of advice for a college freshman?
Put yourself as a priority always. I know people say that a lot, but I actually started listening to that this year and it’s helped me get through my freshman year.
What do you want to do with your computer science major?
I’ve always wanted to make video games. I hope to be able to become involved in a gaming company one day - or maybe even start my own!
What types of video games do you want to make?
I have a bunch of notes of random video game ideas. One of the games I want to make helps girls with eating disorders because I’ve struggled with eating disorders my entire life. The game would simulate an eating disorder and might seem like it’s taking you over or thinking for itself because that’s what an eating disorder is like.
Interested in learning how to code?
Robin Shum: Going for Gold - a Girl [Scout] Who Codes
“Just how becoming good at something takes work and time, the glass is only half empty if you let it appear that way.” - Robin Shum
Meet Robin Shum, a high school senior from New York. Aside from coding, Robin is a Girl Scout who enjoys baking, cosmetics, jewelry-making and is the Treasurer of her school’s Olympiad team. Robin loves to code because of the creativity is fosters. She hopes to use her knowledge of coding and technology to start her own cosmetics company that is eco-friendly and non-toxic.
Learn more about Robin in our Q&A below.
Q&A with Robin Shum:
What was your Girls Who Code experience like?
was the best summer experience I ever had; I think I felt genuinely happy every single day of those seven weeks because I was surrounded by new friends who encouraged and supported each other through our struggles of learning how to code. I never realized how creative the field of computer science could be!
So, coding is creative?
Creativity isn’t just in physical art. You can be creative with code. When you code, you solve problems. There are many ways to code a solution to something and you can personalize how you want to solve it.
What was your dream job growing up?
I wanted to be a fashion magazine editor-in-chief. Fashion is so creative and I wanted to control the direction of creativity in fashion by being an editor-in-chief.
What’s your dream job now?
I want to be a software engineer or CEO of my own company.
What type of company?
I’ve been interested in cosmetics and how most of them have toxins in them and fantasize about starting a cosmetics company that is eco-friendly and non-toxic. The summer before I attended , I interned at a Chemical Engineering lab where we worked on applying a non-toxic surfactant to oil and water with the potential for use in cosmetics. That sparked my interest.
Right now, I’m actually working on my girl scout project in cosmetic awareness. Part of the project is creating a database that holds information about non-toxic products. You can check out the project .
Were you always interested in computers?
I was always fascinated by computers. I discovered computer science in high school because my sister was majoring in electrical engineering. When we were younger she would teach me quick codes on the keyboard. My sister actually found the Girls Who Code opportunity and was too old to apply but thought I might like the opportunity.
What was the hardest part of learning to code?
It was difficult to grasp the very concept of coding at first: how can words typed into a little box tell the computer what to do? Once I understood the proper syntax and what each command did, though, coding became less intimidating.
Have people ever stereotyped you because you’re a girl who codes?
In my experience, the hardest part about being a woman in particular is that people don’t expect you to be interested in computer science, though that just may be because I don’t spew tech knowledge at school.
Why do you think it’s important to teach girls to code?
Generally speaking, girls in my generation and prior generations haven’t been introduced to computer science at an early age while many boys have. Our lack of exposure shows in the statistical demographics of tech companies. So, it’s important to teach girls computer science so we can reach gender parity and remove the “boy’s club” label on tech companies. No one should be afraid to go into an industry because there are no role models who look like them.
Has coding made you feel more confident?
Learning to code made me see that coding is not as intimidating as it seems. I’ve learned to just give things a try and even if I fail, it doesn’t mean that I’m not good enough to code. Becoming good at something takes work and time.
Has this mentality helped your perspective on failure?
Definitely. Failure is all subjective. I think I felt like the biggest failure when I was rejected from my “dream school” on March 31st. My initial thought was, “Oh my goodness, my life has amounted to nothing.” What had I done wrong? I indexed my extracurriculars, grades, essays. In retrospect, I realize how ridiculously dramatic I was being. A few days later, after I got that dramatic response out of my system, I realized a few things: although this one thing didn’t work out, I didn’t magically forget how to debug code, make jewelry, or research toxic cosmetics. It took lots of work and time to learn those things, and my one setback wasn’t going to make those achievements disappear. My life was still something, I was okay! So what if one thing didn’t go the way I planned? That’ll probably happen a lot more in my life. I could view my rejection as being labelled “Not Good Enough for Princeton,” but that self-pity won’t get me anywhere. College rejections–and failures in general–don’t determine anyone’s self-worth. Instead, I view the acceptance I did receive as a new, exciting opportunity and move on from there: I’m going to college, going to live in a new place and learn new things! The glass is only half empty if you let it appear that way.
Want to learn how to code like Robin?
Kaylee Llewellyn: 💤😍 😋🙏🌊🌞
“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.
Interested in being a teacher for Girls Who Code?
Adrienne Shulman: Teacher Who Codes
“I wouldn’t describe myself as someone interested in “computers.” I love solving problems, and that’s exactly what computer science and coding is all about.” - Adrienne Shulman
Meet Adrienne Shulman, a , mother of three and a woman who codes. In our Q&A with Adrienne, she dispels the myth that you have to be a genius to code and explains why you don’t even need to LOVE computers to love coding!
Q&A with Adrienne Shulman:
Why did you join the Girls Who Code movement?
As a women with a 16 year career in technology, I see the huge gender disparity first-hand every day. I read an article in the New York Times in April 2013 that mentioned Girls Who Code, and I immediately emailed to ask how I could !
What was your dream job growing up?
There is too much pressure to answer this question, and I never really knew WHAT I wanted to be. I certainly didn’t want to be a programmer, though. I hardly knew what programming was when I was growing up in the 80s/90s.
What was the hardest part of learning to code?
Nothing! It came very easily to me.
Have people every stereotyped you because you are a coder?
There have been several times when I’m in a work meeting and others in the room - men and women both - have assumed that I’m a project manager and not a coder.
How has coding helped you become comfortable with failure?
Balancing family and a career is always a challenge. I have 3 children (ages 5, 7 and 9) and a demanding full time job, but making it balance was never as hard as it was the first year after my first child was born. I switched to a part time job when my first child was 1 year old and was able to stay in the game to keep my skills current, keep earning a paycheck, and keep continuity on my resume until I was comfortable going back full time. What’s wonderful about coding is its flexibility; it’s a job that you can easily do part time, from home, or at odd-hours. It can be perfect for balancing your home life and your work.
Were you always interested in computers?
No, and I wouldn’t even describe myself today as someone interested in "computers.” I love solving problems, and that’s exactly what computer science and coding is all about!
What were your other passions growing up?
Horseback riding, gymnastics, cheerleading and tennis.
Do you think coding is creative?
Is this a trick question? Coding is used to create SO MUCH, from the obvious things like websites and apps to the physical world of robotics, medical devices, cars, film and media. Now, ! It’s hard to find an area in life or an industry that coding has not helped create.
Also, unlike math where there is often just one right answer to a problem, with coding there are many ways to solve a problem!
Who is your role model?
Sheryl Sandberg
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from your role model?
Everything written in her book Lean In.
What would you say to the girl who doesn’t think coding is for her?
I would ask her why and ask her what she thinks coding is. Non-techies seem to think coding is some secret club and that it’s very difficult to learn. I imagine some coders like to encourage this air of mystique but I like to dispel the myth. Coders aren’t coders because they are smarter than you; coders are smarter because they code. Anyone can learn to code.
I believe role models are important and if a girl has never met a female coder in person and doesn’t see women or girl coders in pop culture, it’s hard for her to understand that coding could be for her.
How can a girl who wants to learn to code get started?
The obvious answer is to start a ! There are plenty of free online resources to learn coding, and I certainly encourage that, but the encouragement you get by joining a group of other girls in a club is incredibly valuable.
What piece of technology do you rely on most?
My Tesla.
Follow Adrienne:
None! FOMO, take that!
Interested in being a teacher for Girls Who Code?
Jennifer Gaspar-Santos: Woman, Mother, Filipina & Teacher Who Codes
“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 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 on our campus. She attended the 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 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.
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Erik Nauman: Teacher Who Codes
“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 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.
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?
.
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 .
What’s your favorite piece of technology?
I love to work with Arduino micro controllers.
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Interested in being a teacher for Girls Who Code?