Kayla is an imaginative and determined CodeWizardsHQ student who loves turning ideas into interactive projects. Now an eighth grader, she has already built a variety of creative games and apps, each showing her curiosity and problem-solving skills. Beyond coding, she brings the same drive to music, sports, and even running a small business with her family.
Discovering Coding
Kayla’s first interest in coding started at home. Her aunt, a software engineer, often shared games and activities that made programming feel fun and approachable. “Throughout my childhood, she’s given me games and coding things that I’ve enjoyed,” Kayla recalled. One favorite was a set of blocks that could be arranged to control a little monster on the screen. “You’d put them in an order, press play, and the monster would go around and eat strawberries.”
School offered a brief introduction, too. In elementary school Kayla took part in a Scratch unit where she created simple games. That only fueled her curiosity. She wanted to move beyond block-based coding and learn real programming languages.
Her mom had also been thinking about how important it would be for her daughters to have coding skills. “I started looking online and tried sending them to different camps and classes, but none of them were quite the whole package,” she explained. “A lot only taught one language or were very adult-oriented. CodeWizardsHQ was exactly what I was looking for because it is kid-focused and also covers different languages and skills.”
She quickly noticed how well the program engaged both girls. “Their instructor was very dynamic and inspiring,” she said. “And the fun things like tokens and badges really motivate them. Beyond the fun, they leave each lesson feeling proud of what they’ve built.”
Diving Into Projects
Kayla is now in her third CodeWizardsHQ course, Webpages with HTML & CSS, and has already built an impressive range of projects. One favorite was a modified Rock-Paper-Scissors game in Python. While learning about functions and simplifying code, she added her own twist: five choices instead of the usual three. “I made it so there were five options, like bunny and carrot,” she explained. “And if you lost, you couldn’t pick that option again.”
She also took inspiration from one of her favorite real-life games, One Night Werewolf. “I really like playing One Night Werewolf, so I wanted to code it,” Kayla said. Turning a complex, role-based party game into an interactive digital experience was challenging but fun. “It was really fun to see a game I like playing come alive with my coding.”
Another standout was a role-playing adventure where a character explores a cave, collects resources, fights monsters, and searches for treasure. These kinds of projects have shown Kayla how rewarding it can be to go beyond the basics and create something original. “I love discovering new ways to surprise the user,” she said. “It’s exciting when the code changes based on their answers and they become part of it.”
Learning and Growing
Kayla says one of the best parts of her coding journey so far has been learning how to make programs interactive. She has discovered how to take an idea and shape it into something that responds to the user in unexpected ways.
Looking ahead, Kayla wants to keep expanding her abilities and eventually bring her own app ideas to life. “I’d like to maybe start a business with my sister where we make different apps, some just for fun and others that make a difference for people,” she said. She does not know yet if she will turn coding into a career, but she is glad to have the option. For now, she is focused on building a strong foundation and experimenting with creative ideas.
Her mom has noticed the confidence that comes from this kind of learning. Each time Kayla finishes a lesson or homework assignment, she is eager to show what she made. Her mom often sits down to play the games or try the apps herself. “She really enjoys it,” she said. “And she’s proud of what she’s creating.”
Life Beyond Coding
Kayla’s talents extend far beyond the computer screen. Music is a big part of her life, and she’s been playing the flute for three years. Band gives her a chance to work with friends and create something beautiful together. “I get to work with different people and my friends to create really beautiful music. I think the flute is one of the prettiest instruments in the band.”
She is also a dedicated tennis player who trains at an intensive academy and competes in regional tournaments. Tennis has been part of her life since she was about seven years old and continues to be a favorite way to stay active. Winning tournaments has been especially rewarding.
Language learning is another interest. Kayla studies Chinese through an online course, adding an international perspective to her already wide-ranging activities.
And then there’s her entrepreneurial side. Kayla, her mom, and her sister run a small crochet business. They design and sell handmade creatures paired with positive, encouraging sayings. One of Kayla’s favorites is a crocheted toucan with the phrase “Toucan Do It.” Many customers request custom designs, and the family enjoys turning those ideas into finished products. “It’s really fun and cool to see what people come up with and add it to what we can sell,” Kayla said.
When she’s not busy coding, practicing music, or training, Kayla loves reading mystery and fantasy novels and spending time with friends.
Looking Ahead
Kayla’s journey shows what can happen when curiosity and creativity meet opportunity. She’s exploring programming step by step, building projects that challenge her thinking, and finding new ways to apply what she learns. Along the way she’s also developing persistence, problem-solving skills, and confidence, qualities that carry into everything she does, from tennis and music to running a small business.
CodeWizardsHQ is proud to celebrate students like Kayla, who combine technical skill with imagination and a love of learning. She’s showing that coding can be both fun and powerful, opening doors to future possibilities.
It seems her instructor Josh agrees:
I had the pleasure of working with Kayla last summer in our Intro to Python and Beyond Basics. She consistently went above and beyond on every project. Kayla set the tone for the class and inspired other students to push themselves as well. By the end of Beyond Basics, many students were tackling programming concepts beyond the usual level we teach at CodeWizardsHQ, and Kayla was an integral part of making that happen.
Josh Ennis, CodeWizardsHQ Instructor
