The Girl Code: Building Futures One Line at a Time

A few days ago, my sister Genevieve Aronu and I were catching up about her journey in ALX’s Front-End Software Programming cohort. Between the excitement in her voice and the growing pride in my heart, she casually dropped this: “You know, there are less than 25 girls in my cohort.”

Now, let me paint the picture: this isn’t a small class. It’s a massive program with hundreds of aspiring developers. And yet, fewer than 25 of them are girls in the front-end programming cohort. Fewer than 25! I paused for a moment, trying to let that sink in. In 2024, we’re still here.

At first, I wanted to be frustrated, but then I looked at my sister. She wasn’t fazed—she was thriving. To her, it was just a detail in her journey. But to me, it was a symbol of resilience, and how much we still need to do to make tech education a truly inclusive space.

Breaking the Code (and the Stereotypes)

My sister is more than a student; she’s a trailblazer. She’s writing code and rewriting the narrative at the same time. It’s like a developer’s version of multitasking—except instead of fixing bugs in a program, she’s helping fix the bug in society that keeps women underrepresented in tech.

It’s like this joke: Why don’t programmers like nature? Because it’s full of bugs! (I promise that joke wasn’t from my sister).

But the truth is, being one of the few girls in her cohort means every step she takes is powerful. It’s a statement that says, “We belong here, too.”

Why Access to Education Matters

Her story reminds me why access to education is so crucial. It’s not just about learning to code—it’s about building confidence, discovering potential, and challenging the status quo. For every girl like my sister who steps into a tech classroom, she’s opening doors for so many others who will come after her.

Imagine a world where those fewer than 25 girls multiply into hundreds, then thousands. Imagine a tech industry shaped by diverse perspectives, voices, and experiences. That’s the power of education—it doesn’t just change individual lives; it reshapes industries, communities, and entire futures.

What We Can Do Together

We have a responsibility to make these opportunities more accessible. Whether it’s encouraging a young girl to pursue STEM, mentoring women entering tech, or simply creating safe spaces for learning, every step matters.

So here’s to my sister and every girl like her: the coders, the dreamers, and the changemakers. And to all of us who can help pave the way for them.

And hey, if you’ve got any more programming jokes, send them my way. My sister could use a laugh in between writing all that code, and I’m clearly running out of material!

Because in the end, it’s not just about coding programs—it’s about coding a better, brighter future.