Angela is a freshman at Stanford who is just a year or two into learning to code herself. She is extremely passionate about providing the opportunity for younger kids to get started, which isn’t something she had access to. Angela teaches Java through the non-profit Girls Who Code and works with young Breakout Mentors kids learning Scratch. Let’s hear from her!
What do you find rewarding about teaching kids how to program?
I love it when kids come to me with a question, I prompt them with some hints, and they end up answering their own question and making their program work! It’s a great feeling for both of us because with just a bit of inspiration, they feel empowered to solve difficult problems.
What advice do you have for kids learning how to program?
Don’t get discouraged if your program doesn’t immediately do what you want it to! Remember that the computer is “dumb” — it only does exactly what you say and can’t infer what you mean like a person can. Don’t give up and keep trying!