Hello! My name is Riya Hegde and I am a freshman at Harvard University. My interest in programming began in elementary school, when I would browse the internet looking for free coding courses. Although I managed to learn a lot about coding on my own, I learned the most only after reaching high school when I took a Python class and College Level Computer Science.

Although there are many resources online, nothing compares to learning with an instructor. In an effort to support other young girls like me, I decided to start teaching free and accessible coding lessons.

From an early age, I have been disappointed to witness the lack of representation that girls encounter in the realm of computer science. It is disheartening to witness the subtle yet undeniable push that discourages girls from pursuing careers in this field, while their male counterparts are celebrated and encouraged. I hope to break this pattern by offering these free coding classes for young girls. Through education and support, I want to inspire girls to continue their journey with programming beyond my classes.

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, programming is an indispensable skill that is steadily becoming a necessity for success. Whether or not my students pursue careers in the tech industry, the ability to code empowers them to face the challenges of the digital era with confidence and adaptability.

When I am not teaching programming, I enjoy playing tennis. I have played the sport for over 10 years, and it is a big part of my life. I also enjoy spending time with my sister, who was my very first programming student.

My sister started off as my only programming student, but teaching her inspired me to go further. I am looking forward to teaching many more students and helping them unlock the incredible potential of programming.