In computer science, only 27% of the field consists of women. Girls Who Code (GWC) is a nonprofit organization introduced in 2014 to help bridge that gender gap. Whether you have little or no experience at all with coding, GWC is the perfect club to join with a community of girls who aim to support all girls with a love for coding. Even if you don’t find a liking for coding or computer science, this club is still one to join for learning valuable work skills, participating in fun events, getting exciting opportunities that will benefit your future, and making new friends!
Well, what does GWC have to offer for students? Current President and IB Sophomore, Avishka Tripathi, says, “in GWC, I’m planning on teaching Java and using Kahoot to practice some basic coding skills. Also, CodingBat will be used for people who have more coding experience.”It doesn’t matter whether you have no experience with coding, or a lot, this club serves to give opportunities and explore the field of computer science to everyone.” Avishka also adds, “people should join GWC as it will give a good foundation for computer science classes, look good on college applications, and help open future career opportunities!” Coding is also an essential skill for those planning to take AP Computer Science Principles which is the pre-requisite for AP Computer Science A. GWC is also a great addition to your college resume, as there are also opportunities to apply for officer positions!
This club also doesn’t require you to pay any dues, which is a great opportunity to take advantage of. All the coding will be taught by Avishka, and is taught at the beginners level which is perfect for everyone. This year, the code language being taught is Java, which is the most commonly used coding language. GWC not only teaches you how to code, but how to work as a team with others to solve complex problems.
Overall, the interest meeting proved to be a success. The club sponsor, Mr.Sushil, was very helpful in explaining about the Female Figure of the week in STEM, as well as the many decorations around his room that relate to some of the female figures. Details about all the next meetings can be found on the Instagram page: @shsgirlswhocode. The team hopes to see more members join the next meeting and find their passion for reading, so definitely join if you’re interested!