Post date: Nov 11, 2014 9:31:22 PM
Alice Judd
Shadow Mountain High School, Class of 2013
Computer Science Major, Brigham Young University
The Hour of Code was my first exposure to any sort of programming. In exploring all of the things that the program had to offer, I couldn't help but feel that I had missed out on something amazing that is beginning in elementary schools across the country. Coding? In the classroom? I had felt that all of these opportunities were simply out of reach because I knew nobody to teach me these things and no resources to which to turn.
As I did the Hour of Code, I realized what a unique set of cognitive skills it takes to program, and how easy it is to develop them if given the time. These are skills that I immediately recognized as necessary to succeed in the fields that will appear as technology moves forward. The idea of studying Computer Science sat patiently in the back of my mind as I applied for colleges, scholarships, and programs during my senior year. I believe that one reason I received my scholarship to Brigham Young University was my excitement and interest in this new, powerful, developing field. I am currently taking Computer Science classes and am so grateful I was able to help with the Hour of Code. Teaching young students to develop algorithms and ideas for solving problems is a powerful idea that I believe in very strongly. The Hour of Code surely teaches these young people skills that they will use and develop as they further their education, and I am very happy to be a part of the process.
Alice continues to beam into PVUSD classrooms via TelePresence to mentor students on coding. She is a former member of the NHS FROST program.