Coding has become a valuable skill for those planning on going into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. However, in a field as dominated by men as STEM is, it can be hard for girls to learn coding and find a group of other girls like them.
All new this year is the Girls Who Code Club sponsored by Rebecca Radiel. The club provides girls with a space to learn code within a community of like minded girls. A few girls went to Radiel asking for the club.
“They wanted a place to be, a place to belong,” Radiel said.
The club’s activities include talking about women within the STEM field, sisterhood activities, and practicing their coding.
“The girls right now are getting ready to start working on a game together.It’s going to be great,” Radiel said.
Any girl can join the club, no matter their coding experience. The club is looking to expand their number for next year. The club is looking at giving coding opportunities to the girls in the community by next year.
“[By] the end of the year I want these girls to have a sisterhood, a place where they feel safe and heard,” Radiel said.
Sophomore Alise McVey started the club with Radiel after asking for the club last year. The club officially started over the summer recruiting many during this school year’s club fair.
“I joined it because I have an interest in the tech field and would like to jump start experience on that in high school,” McVey said.
McVey enjoys having a community for girls looking to go into the technology field; a field typically dominated by men.
“I think it’s good to have a community for young women and girls to be able to find people like them,” McVey said.
McVey eventually wants the club to go to the middle and elementary schools to teach girls coding. With technology being such an in demand field she wants girls to get interested in the field starting at a young age.
Even if coding isn’t someone’s goal in life, the Girls Who Code club can still impact one’s sense of thinking and problem solving.
“I think it’s a good experience even if you’re not primarily interested in coding,” McVey said. “It can help you understand a lot more about how computers work and how they can help solve problems that you might encounter even in your everyday life.”
The Girls who Code club meets on Tuesdays during seminar in room 302. The doors are always open to new members.
