Thanks to Lance for sharing his success story!
“IT WAS WHEN I RECEIVED A LET’S START CODING KIT FOR MY BIRTHDAY THAT EVERYTHING CHANGED. “
I'm Lance, a Computer Engineering student whose passion for code and electronics ignited during my childhood. When I was just 7 years old, my dad gave me a toy computer that introduced me to BASIC programming. He showed me a simple program that made a pixel move across the screen. That moment sparked my realization that I could move all the pixels, opening up a world of imagination through code.
As I grew older, I dabbled with Lego Mindstorms and created small games on Scratch. But it was when I received a Let's Start Coding kit for my birthday that everything changed. Writing code to turn on an LED was like that first pixel all over again. I discovered that code had the power to unlock not only computers but an entire realm of technology, where hardware and software could work together.
Project by project, I worked through the Let's Start Coding kit, often tweaking the code to add new features beyond the project's scope. To my surprise, some of my little edits even became part of future projects, inspiring me to keep experimenting and expanding my skills.
Even after completing all the projects, my thirst for discovery remained. I wondered if I could wire in components like motors, so I reached out to the Let's Start Coding staff for help. They guided me through the process, and in the end, I built my own makeshift robotic arm.
“TO ME, AN LED LIGHT ON A CIRCUIT BOARD REPRESENTS A WORLD OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.”
These early experiences fueled my desire to learn more, leading me through middle and high school to join Vex and FIRST Robotics teams, where I could apply my skills in a new and challenging setting. This journey also pushed me to seek advanced computer science courses, taking AP Computer Science as a freshman in high school and pursuing further studies at my local university during my junior and senior years.
All these experiences shaped my decision to pursue Engineering school after graduation. Now, I'm a sophomore at The Ohio State University, majoring in Computer Engineering. My goal is to leverage my skills to develop accessibility technology for the elderly and people living with disabilities.
To me, an LED [light] on a circuit board represents a world of endless possibilities. And now, I'm fortunate enough to be a part of that amazing world.
