Looking around in my high school AP Computer Science class, I realized that in a class of over thirty students, I was one of only four girls. I recall going home and asking my mom if this was some fluke. Surely, the registrar had made a mistake; it was not possible for the gender ratio to be so skewed. My mom, smiling at my naivety, informed me of the realities as a woman in tech.
Only 18% of all computer science graduates are women. Back in 1984, that number was more than doubled. By 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing; however, women are projected to fill just 3% of them. These statistics may be the reality, but my mom reminded me that I am fully capable of challenging and changing the status quo.
As a teacher assistant for Girls Who Code, this same message is what I, along with the rest of our teaching team, hope to ingrain in our students. During this seven-week Summer Immersion Program, the twenty girls in our class will have learned Python, HTML/CSS, Javascript, Scratch, and robotics. The program culminates with the students designing and creating their own product.
Seeing the spark in my students’ eyes as they talk about coding reminds me why this program is so important. Girls Who Code shows the next generation of innovators the opportunities that await them in this ever-growing field and the value of their voices. Innovation requires differing backgrounds and fresh perspectives, and that is exactly what these girls offer.
From getting hands-on experience in Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Garage to hearing from leaders in the field, our twenty students have been able to thrive and gain the computing skills necessary to tackle a future in the technology space. There is undoubtedly still a lot of work to be done in closing the gender gap; however, with programs like Girls Who Code, companies like Microsoft, and students like ours, I am hopeful for the future of computing.
Joan Chen is a rising sophomore studying computer science at Stanford University. She is passionate about increasing STEM diversity and is excited to be able to do so this summer as a teacher assistant with the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program at Microsoft.
