The more society enters into a digital world, the more it needs classes that teach and jobs that produce coding, the digital DNA, for those programs.
For whatever reason, those classes, and the eventual careers that result, are dominated by males.
Companies like sports title video game producer Electronic Arts, are working to change that and open pathways for ladies who enjoy video games and one day hope to call developing and design them their work.
Among a group of 16 Central Florida high school digital arts and sciences students selected for EA’s Get in the Game STEAM Camp in July at its Orlando headquarters were four Osceola County students.
NeoCity Academy’s Ella Hansen, Victoria Wong and Samantha Valenzuela and Harmony High School’s Eliana Santiago were selected by EA for their outstanding coding skills and interest in a technology-related career path. Students were also required to provide a teacher’s letter of recommendation. The goal was to provide college-bound female students with mentorship and peer support, coding instruction and exposure to real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).
Illustrating the success of the program, EA says, since starting the summer learning camp in 2018, five past participants have secured internships at EA while in college, and two of those students have now secured full-time positions.
Santiago, who starts her junior year at Harmony this week, said art, writing programming—and yes, playing video games like EA Sims 4—are natural extensions of her personality, and that immersing herself in STEAM electives helps her seriously pursue her passions.
“My programming teacher Ms. (Kelsey) Lowe told me about the EA camp and how it was designed for females, and encouraged me to apply,” said Santiago, who was one of that class’ only females last school year. “I found out I got in the last day of school and was really excited.”
Not only did she get to work in all-girl groups tackling programming challenges at the camp, but she also said it opened her eyes to what’s possible in a digital workforce.
“These days people bounce from career to career, but the camp taught me the industry has a lot of jobs, like art, programming and security,” Santiago said. “At the camp, I got to work with other girls with similar interests, which was special, and we got to build a game (module) on a 2-D platform in groups, while being taught by a professor.”
Valenzuela, also a junior this week at NeoCity, said programming is a passion rather than a hobby. YouTubetaught, she’s been coding since age 12.
“Yes, I’m a gamer,” she said. “I’m already in a school that’s 70 percent male, so I’m already motivated to be my best as a female. The camp gave me the chance to meet other girls who show that same determination.”
Valenzuela said getting a computer science degree is in her plans, and now knows that coding knowledge will open many doors.
“That will help if I choose to go the game development route,” she said of her career plans. “And there’s always digital forensics.”
The moral of the story is that there is quickly becoming a place in this digital world for all coders, male or female.
