In 2013, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and others produced a video encouraging students to study computer science. Its message is both simple and profound: coding is the closest thing we have to a superpower. Scripps students agree, and some are working to make the complex field more accessible to the community.
As demand skyrockets for coders, technical skills are no longer just for engineers. More and more jobs depend on technology, and candidates have a leg up if they have even a basic understanding of computer science. Coding not only increases a student’s chance of getting hired, but also can enhance creative thinking skills.
In light of these trends, four Scripps computer science majors created a space on campus to discuss and practice coding. The outcome is [CodeLiteracy]@Scripps, where Szyezin Lee ’15, Kate Finlay ’15, Shinjini Nunna ’16, and Sneha Deo ’17 host biweekly forums where students can learn basic web design skills, hear from guest speakers, collaborate on creating an app, or discuss their CS classes at The Claremont Colleges. Topics are determined based on the interests of participants and are intended to provide a safe and comfortable environment for those who want to learn.
“Code literacy is important for many reasons, especially at an all women’s college,” says Lee. “The gender-ratio in the tech industry is a well-known issue; currently, only 12% of computing jobs in the U.S. are held by women. One implication of that is increasing economic power imbalance among gender groups, which leads to many other issues.”
After being selected as one of Google’s Anita Borg Scholars for women in technology and attending a three-day retreat at the company’s Mountain View campus, Lee decided that she wanted to do her part to share her experiences with the Scripps community.
“Shinjini and I had the opportunity to attend a code camp last summer at Square, a mobile payments company in San Francisco,” she says. “We had so much fun and realized we wanted to bring the inspiration and support we received to Scripps. We hope to see even more Scrippsies at 5C coding events.”
Finlay, who intended to study art and psychology, once thought computer science was not for her. With some guidance, she eventually tried a course in the field and is now pursuing a career in software engineering.
“I think a lot of women don’t realize how powerful coding can be in all facets of today’s world,” Finlay says. “Or they think coding is just for hackers. I thought computer science was intimidating, but after my first CS class, I fell in love with it.
“The ultimate purpose of this club is to let Scripps students know coding is something they can do,” she adds. “Every time someone sees a flyer for one of our events, I want them to remember Scripps women are succeeding in all fields.”
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