Question: What advice do u give to girls who wants to start studying computer science

Michael Kimwele answered on 11 Jul 2025:

1. Believe in Yourself
You absolutely belong in computer science. Don’t let stereotypes or the lack of female representation discourage you.
Your curiosity, logic, creativity, and determination are your greatest assets.

2. Start with the Basics
Focus on building a solid foundation in:
Problem-solving
Mathematics (especially logic and algebra)
Programming basics (Python is a great starting point)
Computational thinking

3. Learn by Doing
Theory is important, but you learn most by building:
Join coding platforms like Scratch, Code.org, Replit, or Khan Academy
Try small projects like building a calculator, a website, or a simple game
Participate in hackathons or coding competitions, even if you’re a beginner

4. Find Mentors and Role Models
Seek out:
Women in tech communities (e.g., Girls Who Code, Women Who Code)
Female lecturers, professionals, or alumni who can guide or inspire you
Friends or classmates to collaborate with — support matters!

5. Explore the Many Paths
Computer science is more than coding. You could explore:
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Cybersecurity
Software Engineering
Robotics
Data Science
UX/UI Design
Game Development

6. Use CS to Solve Real-World Problems
Think about how you can use tech to solve problems that matter to you, your community, or the world—health, education, environment, etc. That’s where passion meets purpose.

7. Don’t Fear Failure
You will struggle with bugs, errors, and confusing concepts. That’s part of learning. Every good programmer has failed thousands of times—what matters is persistence.

“You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be brave enough to start.”