Every Hatch student has a different way that they were introduced to coding. Some were interested in learning more about computers, others wanted to learn how to make games. One of our students, Zev, was swept up in a game craze and discovered coding as a natural next step for enjoying a new aspect of gaming. We had the opportunity to chat with his mom and learn a little bit more about his journey into coding.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family! Have you always lived in Toronto? How many children do you have? What do you like to do when you're spending time together?
I am a mom to Zev and am a busy entrepreneur with two businesses. I work as a communications consultant and advisor and I have a natural wellness brand called Aromacentric. We have lived in Toronto for 15 years.

When did Zev get involved with Hatch? How old was he and what was his journey towards coding and programming?
Zev got very interested in computers and all things programming at the beginning of grade 8. If I remember correctly, it might have had something to do with the whole Minecraft phenomenon. Then as I remember it, he started developing simple lines of code for other things and joining forums to communicate with others with similar interests. He is now quite fluent in many of the programming languages and right at home online for information gathering, consumption of music and entertainment and communicating and socializing with his local friends and programmers from around the world.

Before Zev's interest, was this a field that you were familiar with? What was your reaction to his interest?
Because I work in communications and regularly work alongside digital teams that include developers, I was familiar with the field. These are very interesting people and I respect their ability to keep up with all the changes in their industry. His interest went from 0 to 100 but he was able to balance it with other things.

Why was Hatch the right fit for Zev above another coding school or program?
I thought it was important that Zev get some formal instruction in programming vs going the self -taught route and also wanted him to work alongside his peers. Hatch had amazing instructors that really mentored him. There were also other interesting programs offered in addition to the core program. I think it was at Hatch that he realized he had a lot of schooling ahead of him and self-learning was only going to take him so far.

Have you seen Zev taking skills (other than programming) away from his time at Hatch? If so, do you think these skills will impact his professional or personal future?
Zev had the opportunity during the summer to work at Hatch so in a way he experienced going from student to employee and saw first hand how learning begets responsibility and opportunity.

What would you tell parents who are considering sending their kids to Hatch?
Coding and programming is quickly becoming an essential skill in the job market. I certainly see it in my field. When you look at stats like “65% of kids now will be working in jobs that don’t exist today” and “there will be a 30% increase in software engineering jobs by 2020,” it’s probably a good idea to include programming and coding as part of a child’s education. It doesn’t mean they all have to be seriously into it like my boy, but I think a parent can look at it as one might look at the benefits of learning a second language. Even just understanding and keeping up with some basics is a good career future-proofing tactic.  

Many thanks to Carol-Ann for sharing Zev’s story! Does his interest in coding sound similar to your child’s? Want to share their experience with Hatch? Contact us and to share how much your child loves to code! Learn more about camps, weekly classes and after-school programs. Sign-up today!