CodeHS Student Journey: From Coding in High School to UC Berkeley
By Aarushi Choudhary, Computer Science and Data Science Major at UC Berkeley
Hi! I am Aarushi Choudhary, currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley studying Computer Science and Data Science.
I first got into programming in elementary school using Scratch, but I didn’t really get into it until eighth grade. My sister and I took HTML, CSS and JavaScript classes where we built websites about our current interests. In ninth grade, I participated in a summer camp program called Kode With Klossy, a coding initiative to get more girls interested in CS, by supermodel Karlie Kloss. I learned so much through this inclusive environment and made lifelong friends. This really sparked my interest in pursuing a career in CS.
In highschool, I took the AP CSP — Javascript course with CodeHS which was really nice. I really liked how organized and structured it was. The videos were quite informative and the practice sets helped iterate what the video discussed. I also did a bit of the Python course. I really liked Tracy the Turtle!
In college so far I have taken Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs — Python, Data Structures — Java and Data, and the The Foundations of Data Science — Python/SQL. I hope to pursue a career in computer science after college. My long-term goal is to create something on my own and be a CEO.
Computer Science can seem really intimidating and scary. When I first started programming, I was extremely overwhelmed. I didn’t really ask many questions because I was embarrassed to not understand the material, but asking questions is so important. I also recommend talking with others about a concept/topic, it helps you think the problem out. If you ever feel out of place, I recommend joining clubs like Girls Who Code or Girls in Tek because it is a safe space to learn, make friends and become a better programmer.
