Junior Sol Zavala of Wall Township had never before defined herself as someone who would pursue STEM as a career; that was until she took Laura Gesin’s sophomore Intro to Programming class. While initially swayed by the popular stereotype of computer programming being an untouchable field designated for those with beyond comprehensible intelligence, taking a beginner-level coding class changed her perspective of her own capabilities in a tech field.
“I always felt like coding was designated for those smarter than me by a mile,” Zavala said. “The way that Python was set up was so accessible, I loved how I could come into the class with no experience and leave it with something new.”
Finishing her first semester with a newfound passion for computer science, Zavala was left with a desire to develop her skills as far as she could. She applied to numerous summer coding programs, each offering her new techniques to advance her coding knowledge.
Zavala owes much of her developed skills to her involvement with the nationally renowned Kode with Klossy program, an esteemed organization dedicated to cultivating a more diverse future in computer programming. Through their website development camp, Zavala became proficient in three additional coding languages and developed a website that provided volunteer opportunities for high schoolers in New Jersey and New York.
In the future, Zavala hopes to use her passion for challenging programming concepts to involve herself in the future of artificial intelligence. Additionally, she hopes to develop technology that isn’t just convenient, but invokes radical change in the political atmosphere.
“I want to learn what I can do with AI. No one really knows what the future holds in that area, but I really believe it can be something great,” Zavala said. “In a lot of cases, I feel like there’s not a lot I can do [within social justice issues]. However, through my passion for website development and with proper marketing, I can make profits and aid organizations that stand for something great.”
Zavala’s current contribution to making radical change using computer science goes back to the very reason she was hesitant to begin her coding journey. Not having had access to many programming resources before her sophomore year, she maintained the belief that she was inherently incapable of a skill that seemed so complicated.
Zavala is combating this preconception by developing a coding curriculum for elementary and middle school students to learn the basics of website development. Starting with her own alma mater, Wall Intermediate School, Zavala is making strides in promoting the accessibility of coding.
“I created a full curriculum including exercises, warmups, and brain breaks, and compiled free resources to make this skill as accessible as it can be,” Zavala said. “I don’t see a final end to this pursuit, I just want to create a space where my students are able to show off their skills and create something great.”
