5 Questions with DreamHustleCode: Not Your Average 13yr Old
This series provides a glimpse into the lives of other developers working in the industry. What do we have in common? What can we learn from the journey of others?
1. Almost 15,000 followers on Twitter know you as @DreamHustleCode. What is your name?
Ian Brock
2. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don’t know what kind of company I want to build yet, but because of the programming languages I am learning like JavaScript, HTML, Python, Ruby and others, I believe those skills will help me create a company in the tech space. Also, I want to continue to grow Beyond The Cookie and Dream Hustle Code so that they will not only create computer science opportunities for underserved communities in Chicago, but they will do so all over the United States and eventually worldwide. Last, I want to own a NBA team that will win a whole bunch of Championships.
3. How did you get the opportunity to speak at Startup Grind?
It all started back in September of 2016. Mr John Frye of Startup Grind, started following me on Twitter. I sent him a DM thanking him for the follow and I also talked about my book and the importance of computer science and tech. From that moment he said he would help in any way that he could (which he did, he got me an interview with Mr. Everett Taylor). In January of 2017 he asked if we wanted to attend Startup Grind Global in Silicon Valley. At first my parents and I weren’t sure what this event was about. We wanted to see if we could get a couple other things accomplished while we were out there considering we would be there for 3–4 days.
We were working on scheduling an interview with Mr. Ben Horowitz with the help of Mr. Shaka Senghor. Then it was announced that Mr. Horowitz was going to be the Keynote speaker at Startup Grind. When we found out my family and I decided that we have to attend the event. I wanted to meet Mr. Horowitz before our interview so I was invited into the Green Room by Mr. Senghor and he formally introduced me to Mr. Horowitz. After our conversation, I met Mr. Derek Andersen the CEO and founder of Startup Grind. During our encounter I talked about all of the work I was doing and he was extremely impressed. Half joking he said “You should speak at next year’s event”. That summer I ended up interviewing Mr Andersen for my book. Right after the interview, I guess I was able to impress him enough to give me five minutes in the main auditorium at this year’s conference. So that’s how it all came to be.
4. How did you first find JavaScript?
I was looking for websites to learn how to code and I then found that Khan Academy had a computer science course. I then went on and JavaScript was the first language they had.
5. What is your favorite thing about the tech industry?
My favorite thing is that everyone has access to the internet. Even if you don’t have access at home, you can go to the library to get access. With this access, everyone has the opportunity to learn anything they want such as coding. With this access the possibilities are endless with expanding our knowledge.
I was listening to a professor speak on a talk-show on NPR Radio. He saw an interesting comparison between Vibranium (from the blockbuster movie “Black Panther”) and the undiscovered possibilities that lay in the minds of people from underserved communities. He said that if resources were aggressively directed toward unlocking the possibilities that lay undiscovered in the minds of people from these communities…like most nations (more specifically the U.S.) would quickly re-direct resources toward mining a newly discovered, powerful natural resource…then we would potentially uncover possibilities far more valuable than “vibranium” or any other natural resource. Because… the most valuable natural resource on Earth exists in the minds of people. This is what I want to help uncover…I’m “checkin for the REAL vibranium” in all of us kids.
Ian Brock is Not Your Average 13yr Old | Rookie Coder (HTML/JavaScript) | Researcher, Writing A Book On Success For Kids
Eric Elliott is the author of “Programming JavaScript Applications” (O’Reilly), and cofounder of DevAnywhere.io. He has contributed to software experiences for Adobe Systems, Zumba Fitness, The Wall Street Journal, ESPN, BBC, and top recording artists including Usher, Frank Ocean, Metallica, and many more.
He works anywhere he wants with the most beautiful woman in the world.
