Emma is a talented CodeWizardsHQ sixth grader whose passion for coding is matched only by her love for music, dance, and ice skating. With a natural curiosity and a drive to learn, Emma has embraced programming, crafting creative projects that reflect her diverse interests. Her journey with CodeWizardsHQ highlights how supportive parents and the right environment can ignite a child’s potential.
A Spark for Coding at a Young Age
Emma’s first exposure to coding came from watching her dad work from home when she was five or six years old. “I would look at his computer screen with all these colorful lines of code and start asking him questions,” Emma recalled.
Seeing Emma’s interest, her parents decided to enroll her in a Python class at just eight years old. “I was the youngest one, Emma explained, and the teacher didn’t really explain what each function did, so I got a little lost.” Her parents shifted gears and enrolled her in a Scratch class, which proved to be a better fit at the time. “Scratch became too easy,” Emma said.
Discovering CodeWizardsHQ
Emma’s mom, searching for more advanced programs, discovered CodeWizardsHQ. “I think you guys might have popped up on my Facebook while I was screening various programs,” she added. After reviewing different options, she found CodeWizardsHQ appealing because of its curriculum structure. Emma’s dad, a software engineer, appreciated how CodeWizards teaching tools allow students to jump right into real-world programming and added, “I thought the curriculum and how it moves through introducing Python with all the cool apps and libraries to get the kids started but still use Python right away is really nice. Then progressing from there to web pages and CSS and HTML seemed like a good route.”
Creative Coding Journey
Emma has flourished at CodeWizardsHQ, embracing each project with enthusiasm. “I made a Percy Jackson choose-your-own-adventure game with Python that follows the storyline of the first book.” Emma shared.
Another favorite project was a Taylor Swift-themed playlist built with HTML and CSS. Emma explained that the project originally involved making a song player, but she customized it by focusing on Taylor Swift songs. “I made it so it just plays Taylor Swift songs,” Emma said. She also enjoyed creating a fortune cookie game. “It was cool because you didn’t know what message you were going to get. I added some funny fortunes.”
Emma’s dad has been particularly pleased with the CodeWizardsHQ platform. “I’ve been really impressed when she’s shared projects with me…When she has a bug, it’s interesting to see how the platform helps her figure things out.“
Emma’s passion for learning keeps her curious and engaged across her coding activities. She is currently in her fifth class, a Wizard Level I Capstone course. Reflecting on her favorite coding languages, she said, “I really enjoyed learning CSS because you can learn how to decorate websites and make them look good.” She’s eager to expand her skills even further. “I’m really looking forward to learning JavaScript because I want to see how it’s different from HTML and Python.”
A Multifaceted Talent
Outside of coding, Emma excels in other areas. “My favorite subjects are math and orchestra,” she said. “I like math because it’s objective. There’s only one right answer. I like orchestra because music is what feelings sound like, and it’s sometimes easier to communicate with music rather than words.” Emma plays the harp and is one of four harpists at her school. “It’s really unique. Not many people play the harp, so it feels special.” In addition to the harp, Emma plays the piano and ukulele. She started playing piano at age four and ukulele two years ago. “I like playing instruments. It’s fun to learn new songs,” Emma said.
Emma is also active in dance, participating in ballet, modern, jazz, and hip-hop. “Modern is my favorite because there aren’t as many rules. You can just move to the music,” she said. Emma is also active in ice skating. She enjoys practicing and skating for fun in her free time. Girl Scout participation rounds out Emma’s busy schedule. In fact, she recently exceeded all expectations by selling over 1,000 boxes of cookies in their annual cookie sales drive.
Looking to the Future
When asked about her future, Emma is still exploring. “I’m not really sure what I want to do yet, but I do enjoy coding, and I want to keep learning,” she said. “It’s an option. It’s up there.”
Emma’s curiosity and excitement for learning drive her to take on new challenges in coding, music, and dance. She enjoys building creative projects, exploring different fields, and developing new skills along the way. Emma is building a strong foundation for future opportunities as she continues to grow and learn. Her passion for coding and eagerness to improve will help her succeed in whatever path she chooses.
Emma’s instructor, Josh, appreciates her dedication and enjoys how she consistently goes beyond expectations.
Emma consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and enthusiasm in class. She often arrives early, engaging in conversations that reflect her well-rounded interests. Her projects are a step above, especially her latest interactive game, which she’s been expanding across several courses.
Josh Ennis, CodeWizardsHQ Instructor
