Plotting a course with Girls Who Code: Madison Saunders

Girls Who Code
Jul 24, 2017 · 4 min read

Hi! My name is Madison Saunders and I am 16 years old. I currently attend Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. This year, I was blessed with the opportunity to participate in the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program, hosted at State Farm in Atlanta, GA. Choosing to dedicate my summer to the experience was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

When I entered the program, I had a firm grasp around my desire to become an Aeronautical Engineer: a specialist who is concerned with the design, production and or development of aircraft and its systems. However, I never imagined how much of an interest I would have in Computer Science until being immersed into such a life changing experience.

Initially, I joined out of curiosity. I’m such an open minded person…everything I learn somehow intrigues and entices me to ask questions. I’m always trying to learn new ways to incorporate creative ideas in an effort to develop my plan towards future goals.

Immediately after day one of the program, my quest to find an answer began: How could I merge Computer Science within my preferred field? Is it possible to use the tools provided during the experience to generate ways to navigate an aircraft’s technology system? (OMG!!!! Watch out Jodi Foster in Flight Plan, no offense to the story plot but here comes Mj, I’VE ALWAYS ADMIRED YOUR JOB!)

Girls Who Code has given me insight. Engineers should have an understanding of Python. The mathematical scientific programming language is used to develop system software, create craft-to-craft communication and handle data. The introduction to the program was right under my fingertips. Thank you GWC for exposing me to the language. Now that I understand Python, perhaps one day I will be able to work behind the scenes for NASA and contribute to new plane systems and designs!

Additionally, in terms of the program, I was intrigued by the number of tasks which forced me to think outside of the box during group assignments. “We were basically solving problems by using a variety of trial and error methods.” However, over time I began to notice how each project became less about what I knew and more about: “Am I going to give up today?” For encouragement, I was inspired to start writing positive statements on the whiteboard of our class’ workspace.

Leaving inspirational messages on the whiteboard for the class gives me the power to uplift someone else. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes in a person’s life. Everyday matters, so I try to seize opportunities where I am able to positively impact the mindset of others. Believe it or not as I am writing the messages, the words encourage me too!

Here are a few things I put on the whiteboard. I usually try to change the last statement every other day.

As much as I loved all of the coding projects, nothing compared to the mentorship piece. For the duration of the program, girls have the opportunity to collaborate once a week with phenomenal female role models within the industry. My mentor, Becky Dail, a data designer at State Farm, was THE greatest. She is very creative, jubilant, and extremely smart. I liked how I could ask her a million questions and she would answer every single one without hesitation. She truly inspired me to broaden my horizons.

I got a chance to meet the State Farm NEIGH-Bear!

Following the completion of the program, I would like to start a Girls Who Code Club at my school. What a great way to bring girls together who wish to develop common interests! I believe I can bring a message to other girls inspiring each one to pursue what is outside of the stereotype. My engineering class at school was approximately fifteen percent girls. Starting a Club would allow me to teach girls who have yet to code the importance of seizing an opportunity to learn. I would stress the significance of coming out of your comfort zone…but my biggest piece of advice would be to never give up…do not let what you don’t know eat you up. Take a breather and trust me, you will find the answer. With so many other electives like liberal arts offered at my school chosen by girls, why not use the platform as a tool to bring us together while learning how to fuse computer science with our own personal interests. Hosting a Club would be an intentional way to demonstrate how we can integrate both. What a great future!

Hopefully, by next summer, I can obtain an internship at NASA and/or travel across the nation for different events related to my field of interests. Whatever my accomplishments entail within the next year, I WILL use what I’ve learned from the Girls Who Code program. I’ll never take an experience like this for granted.

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