From Novice to Google Engineer in One Year: Why It's Never Too Late to Learn to Code

When I first arrived at Stanford, coding wasn't even on my radar. It seemed like a foreign language, and I had no plans of delving into it. During orientation week, I stumbled upon an introductory coding class, and something about it piqued my curiosity. I decided to give it a shot, and little did I know, it would change my life forever.

The initial days were overwhelming, and I felt like I was in way over my head. But as I delved deeper, I discovered a hidden passion. Coding was like a thrilling puzzle, and I found myself falling in love with the challenge. With the support of my peers and mentors, I persisted. 

Surprising everyone, including myself, I decided to take my passion to the next level and applied for a master's in Computer Science. It was a big leap, but I was determined to explore this newfound passion further. I also started working on my own mobile game publishing studio, which I plan to launch next year. It's a thrilling project, and I can't wait to see it come to life!

Then came the big moment - landing an internship at Google! I still remember the mix of excitement and disbelief when I received the offer. Working at a company that creates products I've admired for years was an absolute dream come true. When my recruiter called me with the incredible news, I couldn't believe how far I had come. Only a year earlier, I was nervously writing those initial lines of code, worrying that I could never compete with my peers who had been coding since middle school. I wish someone had told me then that each one of us has our unique starting point, and what truly matters is the passion and dedication we bring to the table. 

Through Curious Cardinals, I hope to instill in my students the belief that their journey is their own, and there is no predefined timeline for success. By sharing my experiences and guiding them through challenges, I aim to empower them to embrace their interests wholeheartedly and realize that they, too, have the potential to excel. 

To any student considering learning to code: it's never too late to start, and you might uncover a passion you never knew existed. The barriers that hold us back are often in our minds, and with determination, we can overcome them. I hope my story inspires you to take that leap of faith and embark on your coding adventure!

About the author

Anya is a student at Stanford University studying Math and Computer Science. She is also a member of “Stanford Women in Computer Science,” where she works as an outreach volunteer and guest speaker to empower aspiring female coders, engineers, and scientists.

Through Curious Cardinals, Anya aims to inspire her mentees to embrace their unique identities, pursue their passions wholeheartedly, and overcome any self-doubt they might face. You can view Anya's mentor profile here.

We're proud to have passionate and curious mentors like Anya on our team. A Curious Cardinals mentor can cultivate your student's interests and translate them into real-world skills. With over 500 mentors from prestigious universities across the U.S., there's no shortage of inspiring people your learner can grow with. Get matched with the perfect mentor today😉🎓