Introducing young students to computer science is part of her purpose, says Kate Nichols, curriculum manager, Hello World. She wishes she had been given that experience when she was in K-12.

Hello World offers a “curriculum is aligned to numerous learning standards and frameworks, setting students up for success in computer science and across core content areas.”

WorkingNation sat down with Nichols at SXSW EDU in Austin.

Nichols, herself, is an alum of the Ada Developers Academy. And notes the lifechanging opportunity – which included a paid apprenticeship – helped her find her purpose in the workforce.

She explains that Ada is a yearlong program for women and gender-diverse individuals with no previous technical background – six months of full-time instruction and a six-month paid internship with a tech company.

Nichols says her experience with Ada changed the trajectory of her life and career. “The paid internship allowed me to really take time to absorb and fully soak in being on a software development team, full-time – without the added pressure of, ‘Do I need to work a side job or take out additional loans?’ That freed up a lot of stress and pressure. It just gave me such a strong insight into the field.”

Learn more about Hello World.
Learn more about Ada Developers Academy.