This summer marks a meaningful milestone for CodeWizardsHQ as we celebrate 10 years of teaching kids and teens how to code. A full decade of lessons, breakthroughs, and bright young minds stepping into a world of possibility. But perhaps the most meaningful moment of this anniversary is what it represents: that we’ve been doing this long enough, and with enough heart, that one of our own students has come full circle.
Aliya Ahmad took her first CodeWizardsHQ class as a middle schooler. Today, she returns not as a student but as an instructor, ready to pass on the same spark that once lit her path. Her story is more than just inspiring. It’s a reflection of what long-term, intentional coding education can do: build a future where young learners grow into confident leaders.
From Student to Instructor
Aliya’s coding journey began in middle school when she signed up for a few introductory CodeWizardsHQ classes. “I think it was either 6th or 7th grade,” she recalls. “I remember taking Intro to Python and another one in HTML and CSS.” At the time, she wasn’t sure where it would lead. But those early classes made an impression. “I really liked the games we created in class. That was the first time I thought, ‘Oh, this is actually fun.’”
What began as a casual introduction quickly evolved. Over the years, Aliya explored robotics with a VEX team, took more advanced programming classes, and in high school, everything clicked. “When I took AP Computer Science in 11th grade, that’s when I really decided I wanted to study computer science in college.”
Rooted in Code, Supported by Family
Aliya’s passion for tech runs in the family. Her father is a software engineer, and her older brother is also studying computer science. “He leaned more into robotics,” she says, “but we’ve both always been interested in building things.” While her parents encouraged her, it was CodeWizardsHQ that gave her that early, confidence-building start. “Honestly, I wasn’t really coding much before that. But once I started the classes, I started to really enjoy it.”
She still remembers those early mornings, waking up early on the West Coast to attend live classes. “I’d go outside, sit on the patio, and log in,” she says. While the specifics of each lesson may have faded, the experience of learning something new and building projects from scratch stuck with her. Those early classes planted the seed that would later grow into a lasting interest in coding.
Back at CodeWizardsHQ — This Time, to Teach
Aliya is now a college student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, studying computer science and statistics with hopes of eventually working in AI research. This summer, she returned to CodeWizardsHQ, this time as part of the instructional team.
“It’s funny. I came across a teaching opportunity with another company, and it reminded me of CodeWizardsHQ,” she explains. “So I checked the website, saw they were hiring instructors, and thought, ‘Why not?’”
That decision made CodeWizardsHQ history. With 10 years of coding education behind us, it’s incredibly meaningful to see our mission come full circle, students growing into mentors and helping spark that same passion in others.
Middle School Magic and Teaching Style
Aliya jumped into teaching with enthusiasm, guiding students through accelerated summer classes and once-a-week Scratch sessions. She’s taught across all grade levels, but middle school students have become her favorite. “They’re really engaging,” she says. “They ask questions, they get excited. It’s a sweet spot where they’re still curious and motivated.”
Her favorite course to teach? Python. “I’ve been working in C++ a lot lately, so teaching Python has been a great refresher. Plus, it’s such a good first language for students to learn.”
Aliya brings patience and clarity to every class. One of the first lessons she learned as a teacher is that even the simplest concepts need thoughtful explanation. “When you’ve been coding for a while, some things feel obvious,” she says. “But for students who are just starting out, you really have to slow down and explain the ‘why’ behind everything.”
A Love for the Little Moments
Some of Aliya’s favorite moments in class happen before the lesson even begins. “That 5 minutes before class starts, when students are joining, and you get to chat with them. That’s one of the best parts,” she shares. “Once the lesson starts, it’s go-go-go, but those few minutes are when you get to really know them.”
She’s also discovered that teaching makes her a better coder. “Explaining things to others forces you to really understand what you’re doing. It’s helped me be more intentional about how I think through problems.”
Giving Back Through Tech
In addition to teaching, Aliya is also interning with a nonprofit called Inclusive World. There, she’s helping to create a web development curriculum for neurodivergent students. “We’re building a project ourselves first, and then breaking it down into steps so we can teach it,” she explains. “It’s curriculum development more than direct instruction, but it feels good to be part of something that’s making tech more accessible.”
Life Beyond the Screen
When she’s not coding or teaching, Aliya keeps busy with a mix of hobbies. She enjoys running, something she picked back up after running track in high school, along with table tennis, drawing, and just hanging out with friends. “I’m not super consistent with my hobbies,” she laughs. “But I like trying new things.”
This past year brought some big changes. Moving from the Bay Area to the cold winters of Illinois was an adjustment, but one she embraced. “When it snowed for the first time, a bunch of us from California were outside taking pictures. It was really fun.”
Advice for Parents and Students
For families thinking about enrolling their kids in CodeWizardsHQ, Aliya has simple advice: “The intro classes are a great way to get started, and they give you a solid foundation.” And that foundation, she says, can lead anywhere.
She’s living proof.
In our 10th year, seeing a student become an instructor is more than just a full-circle moment; it’s a testament to the power of early coding education. Aliya’s story reflects everything we hope for our students: curiosity sparked, skills developed, and a confidence that carries them forward.
As we celebrate a decade of coding education, we’re so proud to have Aliya on our team, helping us inspire the next generation of students, just like she once was.
