Stephanie Sze, a junior at Manhasset High School, recently launched a local chapter of Girls Who Code, offering free coding classes for 4th to 6th graders at the Manhasset Public Library. Driven by her passion for computer science, Stephanie has been actively involved in Hackathon teams since elementary school. She continues to pursue her interests in high school through AP Computer Science courses and the coding club.
Despite her love for coding, Stephanie noticed a persistent gender gap in her classes. “I often find myself as the only girl in the coding club, or one of the very few in my computer science classes,” said Stephanie. “What kept me going was my love for coding and the support of a female coding teacher I had in elementary school, who always encouraged me. That’s why I started the Girls Who Code initiative.”
According to research by Girls Who Code and Logitech, one of the key factors that encourages girls to pursue technology careers is early exposure to role models and supportive communities. Access to these resources helps girls feel empowered to explore and persist in computer science.
Stephanie designed and led the program herself, with the goal of sparking creativity through hands-on coding projects. The classes also aim to build a supportive community for girls who share similar interests. Each session begins with an engaging game to introduce coding concepts in a fun, accessible way. For example, playing “Simon Says” demonstrates the importance of precise instructions in coding, while the “If-Then Ball Toss” game teaches students about conditional statements.
While many top colleges are working to recruit more female computer science students, there is still a long way to go in breaking down gender barriers. Educators and parents play a vital role in nurturing girls’ confidence and curiosity in STEM subjects. Stephanie hopes that her program will contribute to this effort within the local community.
Girls Who Code, a nonprofit founded in 2012, is dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by building supportive environments for girls to learn and excel in computer science.
