 If you believe that the future is female, then Kode with Klossy is the girl-power camp to be at.
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to be a level one scholar at Kode with Klossy in New York City—my first time ever visiting NYC ever. I remember walking by the skyscrapers and thinking, this is it; this is my future home. I didn’t realize I’d gain more than a future dream within those two weeks.
When I stepped through the door, I immediately knew that I wouldn’t want to leave the room. Over the first week I learned more about coding than I ever had in my entire life. I learned about how Ruby code would create the backend of a web app, which meant how the program would run. I created a calculator from scratch with my team. I also gained the skills to use HTML, which was the front end of code that made our website absolutely beautiful. Once we put Ruby and HTML together, we created cohesive web apps in groups that would put other groups in awe.Â
It wasn’t just about the expansive knowledge I gained, though, it was the new community of brilliant women that I adopted into my life. Karlie Kloss, STEM femme and super model extraordinaire, was the brightest ray of sunshine I had ever met and still is. She truly cares about everyone in the Kode with Klossy family, and we all love her. But the best part isn’t meeting Kloss, it’s the community that follows her.
As I sat next to a new girl every day during class, I learned how incredible it was to work with other empowering women. When I didn’t understand how to work Ruby, then 13 year old Kamren Ohly would teach me what I would need to do step by step. She’s a genius. Other geniuses?: Tracy Ma, a then senior in high school, created a web app featuring gif backgrounds and a complicated API that incorporated another powerful web tool into her own web app. Freaking amazing.
I also gained one of my best friends in the entire world over those two weeks: Rachael Pope. If anything, she taught me the most important lesson of all. Be true to yourself and let powerful women come to you. The rest will follow. I love that woman with all of my heart.
So if you want to gain the most amazing support system of all time, learn Ruby and HTML, and discover the super power of code within yourself…