Pati Wants to be a Computer Programmer
By: Pati | Age: 14 | On: 03-2-2009
This is one of many reader entries from the Share Your Story section, designed to encourage and inspire other women to rise to the challenge and follow their dreams.
Have you ever been told you can't
because you're a girl?
Since I was a little girl, I loved computers and numbers. Now I’m in 8th grade and I’m the best student in my class, I’m in the math club and I’m the only girl there and I have a clear view of my future – I want to be a computer programmer.
I’m pretty good with computers and tech. There are a couple of guys in my school that have the same plans and all of them have a crush on me and that’s why I think they go easy on me. I’m the only girl I know who knows what an keygen is or who can write in binary, therefore I have to do greeaaat efforts ’cause if I do something wrong everyone will think “Well, it’s true. Girls aren’t as capable as men in these jobs.” And as a feminist I can’t allow that. I really feel like a pioneer.
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gretchen | March 2nd, 2009 9:08 am
Pati – you are not alone! It’s great to see you so focused at a young age. One thing I have found as a web developer is to try to be as knowledgeable as possible in whatever programming style you are involved in. And on the flipside, don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know know the answer, but tell the client you will find out for them and be diligent in following up.
I take on a lot of web projects that require custom programming. If I can’t do it myself, I will research and learn or hire someone else to to do it and study their code to see how it works. You are right – it takes a great effort! b-)