Kode with Klossy programs provide the opportunity for young women across the country, ages 13-18, to attend free two-week bootcamps that introduce them to key computer science concepts and skills. Kode with Klossy scholars collaborate with each other and explore the limitless potential of code and computer science.
We interviewed the three Kode with Klossy scholars responsible for some fire holiday picks, River Pease, Lizzie High, and Lydia Tan, for three special Kode with Klossy editions of “That’s 5.”
The following interview has been lightly edited.
What first sparked your interest in learning how to code?
One of my good friends was talking about her coding club at her school. It was fascinating to me, and I was enthralled by her experiences and the programming community she was a part of. I wanted to be able to understand the lines of code and to write them. I also liked the idea of one day being like those hackers in the movies: hoodie, darkroom, and rapid typing. This is a dreamy fantasy but not too far off from my reality of late nights spent coding, wrapped in a large blanket, ruining my eyes from being too absorbed to stand up to turn on the lights in my bedroom. Dreams do come true.
How did you get involved with KWK?
My involvement with KWK started when I became a Level One scholar in the summer of 2017. My father heard about the program at work, and I decided to take a leap and apply. I spent the next few days creating my application video: a whiteboard stop motion animation that took me around 24 hours total to put together. After the first camp, I applied and was accepted as a Level Two scholar in 2018, and returned for the summer of 2019 as an Instructor Assistant.
What is most exciting about being a KWK Scholar?
Being a part of the KWK community. As cheesy as it may be: failing, learning, and collaborating alongside other girls who share the same interest in technology has empowered me to continue pursuing my passion for programming. To me, being a scholar is the thrill of finally solving a challenging coding problem after debugging for hours, and it is my time in the community that has gifted me not only with endless inside jokes and the knowledge of code but also with a family. Or, simply put: “we programmin’.”
What’s a misconception about learning to code you’d like to change?
That it’s only for those interested in or good at math. Initially, I thought of programming as something I wasn’t capable of or something too difficult for me to learn. Through the program, I realized that anyone could code given time and some effort to learn. Programming is not necessarily synonymous with math and can allow for a lot more creative and artistic elements than most people realize.
What would be your dream project to work on?
I want to work on something dealing with cybersecurity and AI or machine learning. Recently, I have been fascinated with these topics and how it affects the world around us. I would love to work on projects like this in hopes of learning more about data and security as well as working on something that could hopefully further aid and advance society through technology. My greatest goal is to create something that leaves a positive impact on the world and to contribute to helping to solve some of the pressing global issues we face today. I’m especially passionate about mental health and raising awareness about mental illness, as well as making education more accessible.
