How Computer Science and Coding Influenced Me Academically by Hallie

How Computer Science and Coding Influenced Me Academically by Hallie - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

The subject that sparked my passion for learning and curiosity was computer science, which led me to explore different programming languages. I first took an AP Computer Science class in the ninth grade and studied the basics of JavaScript, which I enjoyed learning about. Then, in the eleventh grade, I took another AP Computer Science class and studied Java. In my final year of high school, I have been teaching myself different coding languages, such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) using various resources.

When I first started learning to code JavaScript, it was slightly difficult at first for me. But the more I learned and practiced it, the easier it became, and I grew to enjoy studying the various concepts and creating different projects with code. In the tenth grade, I did not take a computer science class, but I still kept practicing coding in JavaScript. I took an entrepreneurship class instead, and worked on a project for two events for that class. My team and I created an invention of a medical product that had a mobile app to go along with it. My partners created the medical product and designed it, while I mainly focused on creating the app that goes along with it. This allowed me to practice my coding skills and deepen my learning of JavaScript.

Then, in eleventh grade, I took another computer science class and studied the basics of Java. In this class, I didn’t do so well, struggled to keep up with my projects and assignments, and it was difficult for me to understand the different concepts. I had a difficult time in this class, and I was constantly stressed and exhausted. But I did, however, end up passing the class.
Afterward, I took a short break from coding to regroup and to take time for myself. I did learn an important lesson and a new way of how I learn best during this break. Along with how to better manage stress and to take breaks and make time for myself. I also reflected on how my previous class was set up, how things were taught, how I handled the class and projects overall, what I could do to improve my coding skills, and a different way of learning to code that was best for me. In the end, I came up with a new plan to teach myself coding that was different from the way I was taught in my computer science class. I mainly use this method for learning new coding languages, but have also used parts of it in my other school subjects as well. While studying, I usually review the past lesson I learned, then go through my current lesson, take notes on it, and then go through the lesson again to make sure I understand everything. Later on, I work on various projects and use the new information I learned, and review my notes as well. I have also started to take the time to learn about each of the individual code elements and how they work, interact with the other elements, how they are set up, and how they affect the whole program overall. By learning the role and how each line of code works, I was better able to understand the impact it has on the whole program and how it interacts with other elements as well as its importance. I’ve also begun exploring any questions or anything I find interesting and usually pause what I’m doing and then take the time to learn about it. I used to not do this because I was more worried about completing my coding projects for my class and trying to keep up a decent grade. When teaching myself to code, I’ve been using a variety of resources to gain new knowledge from each individual site. Some of the resources I use for coding lessons are apps such as Mimo and Sololearn. As well as websites such as freeCodeCamp and Codecademy. I create different projects to practice my skills on a website named Code.org.

Learning different coding languages has shaped my academic goals by allowing me to choose my major for college. I plan to study Web Design and Development in college and expand my knowledge in those two areas. My short-term goals for the future are to continue studying and learn as much HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as possible before I go into college full-time. My long-term goals are to fully learn front-end coding languages and a few of the back-end programming languages, such as Java and Python.