Not All Heroes Wear Capes
On the morning of November 25, 1982, we all piled in our car and made the 2-hour trip to my Aunt and Uncle’s house near Atlanta, GA. It’s Thanksgiving. As was tradition on my mother’s side of the family, we joined hands, gave thanks for our blessings, and enjoyed a meal together.
This particularly momentous Thanksgiving Day, I discovered the TRS-80.
I don’t remember if I spent the entire day at that keyboard. What I do know is, I must have made an impression on my Uncle.
An amazing act of kindness
Some time after that Thanksgiving, we made another trip to my Aunt and Uncle’s house. Waiting for me there was a big cardboard box. Inside was the TRS-80, a cassette drive, a floppy drive, a dot matrix printer, cables, and a book titled, “Getting Started With Color BASIC.”
This one very kind and generous act launched me on a journey of computers and programming. I am forever grateful, and in their debt, for helping me to discover something that has not only been my career, but a source of learning, passion, and delight.
You can make an impact!
You have an amazing opportunity to impact your own family and community in powerful, and far-reaching ways! Even one simple act of kindness, encouragement, or investment of your time could be the catalyst that launches a young person’s life-long journey of exploration and livelihood.
Here are just a few ways you can invest in someone:
- Take your family to an event like THAT Conference or CodeMash. Not only is there a water park, there is an entire schedule of science and technology sessions specifically for kids and young adults.
- Submit to give a Family session at THAT Conference!
- Encourage the young women in your family or community to connect to a local Girls Who Code group, and volunteer!
- Consider gifting a Kano Computer Kit, a Piper Computer Kit, an Ozobot, Lego Mindstorms, or countless other learning kits.
- Get involved in a local makerspace or maker meetup.
- Reach out to your local schools and ask how you can get involved.
Thank you
I can’t thank my Aunt and Uncle enough for the impact they have made in my life. I continue to be inspired by their example of investing not only in their family, but the lives of countless others.
Thank you, to all of you who are making an impact, and all of you who will make an impact, in your families and communities.
Go, and be awesome!
