Written by: Kariuki Gloria
With the rise of technology’s presence in our day to day interactions, as well as the increase
in demand for jobs in the tech industry, coding has become very popular. Coding is the use of computer programming languages to give computers and machines a set of instructions on what actions to perform. It is how humans communicate with machines and it allows us to create computer software that can be used to create and run websites, apps, etc.
Coding’s rise in demand has led to creation of numerous coding programs and camps for
youths, students – essentially anyone- who is interested in learning as well as improving their
coding skills. Introducing young people who are passionate about coding to these programs
helps them explore and advance in coding early. Which can give them an edge as they join
the industry.
For example, Mark Zuckerberg whose father, a dentist, and an everyday person, undertook
programming basics as a hobby. As a result, Mark was introduced to coding at a young age. He got his first computer at only 9 years old and took private coding lessons subsequently. With these tools he was able to create an instant messaging program at just 12 years old and a music player in high school. He also created an app called Course Match in his sophomore year of college at Harvard. It was an app that helped students make class selection decisions based on the choices of other students. It also helped them form study groups. Then, at 20 years old, together with his roommates, he created the all too famous Facebook.
Private tutoring however is not accessible to everyone and coding camps and programs can
also be very expensive. This is where 902 Youth comes in to help. The 902 Youth Cyber
program has been designed to offer access to well-trained instructors at a fraction of what
most of the available coding programs are charging. They aim to provide a fun and safe
learning environment, where young people can learn and interact with their peers who share
the same interests. As part of a non-profit organization, they are able to do this while helping
parents and guardians support their children’s passions without breaking the bank.
Most coding boot camps and online lessons require a certain level of programming knowledge that can be discouraging to new programmers. The 902 Youth Cyber program however starts at the very beginning. The people at 902 Youth Cyber know that with all the advancements that have been made in the programming atmosphere, it is easy to feel hopeless and lost in such a vast amount of information. This is why they start at an introductory level. It makes it friendly to people who have no experience in coding but are curious to learn. The instructors at 902 Youth Cyber are willing and ready to guide these inquisitive young minds through the vast world of information technology.
With all this said, you might find yourself asking, "is coding so important?"; Well, first,
whether or not these students choose to pursue a career in the tech industry, coding has
grown to impact a wide variety of industries and has quickly become one of the modern
employee’s most crucial skills. Therefore learning how to code will improve their career prospects. Secondly, it promotes perseverance and resilience. These are very essential skills
to have in life. Having to come up with different solutions when one doesn’t work, and having to do that over and over until the problem is solved, teaches the student to be adaptable.
Third, it promotes creativity and curiosity. Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, once
said that he viewed computer science as a “liberal art”. In coding, one experiments with
different patterns to see where they end up. This leads the student to ask themselves
questions like, “what happens when I do this?”. They become curious about what else they can do. Coding has so many languages that paired with a curious and creative mind can lead to new creations that are unique to its creator’s imagination. Last but not least, as put by the
current Executive Director of the 902 Youth: Cyber program Colby Cordoba, “Coding is
something that everyone should learn as it is not only beneficial in this age of technology, but it also teaches a systematic mindset that allows you to think about problems, and solve them in a conscious way.”
To check out more information about 902 Youth’s Cyber program go to:
https://902youthcybercamp.blogspot.com/
To learn more about 902 Youth visit https://www.902youth.com/
Written by: Kariuki Gloria (Assistant to the Executive Director of Communications and
Marketing at 902 Youth)
With Direct Quotation from Colby Cordoba, Executive Director of Cyber