Janice Howard-Robinson Scholarship

At the age of nine, my journey into the world of computer science began at the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester in Boston, where I met my mentor, Ashley. Unlike most of my peers who preferred playing “cool math games,” I was captivated when Ashley introduced us to Scratch, a programming platform for game development. I spent hours creating new programs and projects, showcasing them to anyone who would watch. As time progressed, more kids engaged in the lesson plans, creating their own projects. As a result, Ashley organized trips to technological spaces like MIT and Harvard, heightening my fascination with computer science. As my passion for computer science grew, so did my technical skills. By seventeen, I had challenged myself to master various programming languages, including Python, Java, JavaScript, GLSL, and C. I spent countless hours working on numerous applications, constantly pushing myself to learn more. The best part was that I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it. People around me were often perplexed by my enthusiasm for coding, joking about my fixation on the topic, but I was never discouraged. I found solace in programming different projects and deepening my knowledge of computer science. When my pre-calculus teacher left for maternity leave in junior year, I would escape to the computer science class next door. Instantly I was accepted, and when given the opportunity, I eagerly assisted in helping multiple classmates with their code, providing guidance and advice on what they should implement in their program. Along this journey, I recognized the profound impact mentors like Ashley can have. Growing up in Dorchester, most of my peers came from broken homes and lacked role models to look up to and without guidance, many faced challenging paths. This realization inspired my mother and I to create BYTE Ventures, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide and bringing STEM education to underserved communities. After countless hours of planning, meetings, and building connections, our vision finally became a reality with our first pilot program this past April. In the heart of Roxbury, I had the privilege of teaching fifteen young minds the basics of Scratch and programming. Like my mentor, I designed various projects and lesson plans that fostered critical thinking among my students. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to provide breakfast and lunch, relieving parents of any cost associated with their child's education. At the end of our program, one of my students approached me and said, “You are my favorite teacher, Mr. Rocky. Are we doing this again in the summer?” A month after the program concluded, I learned that another student had started hosting their own Scratch lessons via Zoom to teach their classmates what they had learned. Hearing this filled me with a profound sense of accomplishment, knowing the positive and lasting impact I was having on these kids' lives. Coordinating BYTE Ventures reinforced my commitment to becoming a role model for young people, much like Ashley was for me. My ultimate goal in pursuing a computer science degree is to inspire more young minds to explore the world of technology. I envision myself developing connections to provide further support for BYTE. I intend to plant seeds of innovation, inspiration, and curiosity among those from disadvantaged backgrounds, demonstrating that they too, can succeed in this wonderful field. This summer, I will devise another proposition to inspire more kids to explore the path of computer science. After all, if a single line of code has the power to change the world, imagine what a community of young coders could do.