Why Should You Learn To Code?

When I was in the sixth grade, I typed a simple command to make the computer display “Hello, World.” I felt fascinated about having the potential to build something that could be in the hands of millions of people. This simple text was the start of a long adventure that heavily influenced me to start computer programming.  

With the help of coding, I have created an array of projects, from websites to software being used in the workforce for my father, who works in electrical systems. Said systems need to calculate correctly or else the device cannot function.

Everything we use in a computer has been accomplished by people like myself who program and fine tune software. Coding technology has helped us advance anywhere from reaching outer space to describing a picture for the blind.

Coding can be simply defined as when a person types lines of text the computer can understand. Given its simple nature, everyone, no matter how old, should learn coding. It makes you a problem solver. With this in mind, logic is the foundation of the software being built.

Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, once said: “everybody in this country should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think.” Although Jobs did not code as much as other software engineers did, he was quite right. You don’t need to be a software engineer to code; all it takes is dedication.

Those interested in learning how to code can learn it in multiple ways. The more popular one is through online tutorials offered from various programmers on YouTube and Codecademy. Coding can also be learned in higher education.

The sensation to build whatever you want with your hands is just purely magical. Imagine your ideas becoming a reality. These ideas are what push our country forward.

Car manufactures are taking the simple idea of a self-driving car to the masses. For example, Tesla Motors plans to have this idea working in the next four years to help with disabilities, especially for the blind. Similarly, Facebook is using computer vision, where an automated process through various calculations determine an object based on a huge collection of data. This helps describe photos for the visually impaired who scroll through their News Feed on Facebook.

Many initiatives are taking action to make coding a requirement at high schools. Computer Science Education Week is usually the second week of December. Companies like Code.org encourage young children to participate in the Hour of Code, an event to write simple programs to make coding an enjoyable experience for everyone. Just two years ago, Barack Obama wrote some code during this week to show that everyone can code.

Numerous corporations are hiring software engineers outside of the United States since not many people have the experience to write code. Imagine the gap we can fill in the unemployment rate with more people learning this valuable skill. Together we can make this country more advanced with code.