Imij Creates Digital Images With Code

Ten-year-old Featured Maker Imij is very well-traveled – she moved from New York to San Antonio and now lives in Maine! She has been coding since the 2nd grade; now, going into 6th grade, Imij continues to refine her coding skills with Tynker. In her free time, Imij loves to swim and learn about science – especially by making slime or coding projects about slime!

Imij is a very fast learner, and technology and coding come easily to her. When she grows up, she plans to become a pediatrician – how cool! We sat down with Imij and her mom, Gretchen, to get an idea of what inspires Imij to create with code.

How did you get introduced to Tynker and how long have you been coding? At Apple Camp two years ago! I first started coding in the 2nd grade with Code.org.

How have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker? I’m better at it now.

“I think she’s better at it,” Imij’s mom, Gretchen, agreed. “She’s just always been able to do it, and I don’t quite understand it. She sits down and figures it out on her own!”

How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured? I didn’t know what it meant, but I was excited!

“My Project 10”

How do you get inspiration for your projects? I did one of them about one of my friends! It really was just two people – one of them looked like a cheerleader, the other one looked like a doctor – basically walking around this drawn room. I was the doctor! My friend liked it.

Why do you like to code? It’s just fun!

What do you do with a project when you’re done with it? I show my parents and then sometimes I publish it.

Gretchen added, “We usually ask her, ‘How did you do that!?’”

What is your favorite project you’ve made so far? I don’t remember what it was called, but there was an igloo, snowflake, and it was one of the easiest ones I made. It was another one with just a person walking around – you can make it look like they go into the igloo, but instead they go behind it!

“Winter Wonderland”

What are you planning to make next? I’m thinking about one thing – making one that’s like a board game! Not a real board game, but like about a room somewhere. They might not look like actual board game pieces; they might be people.

What’s your favorite thing you can do in Tynker? Modifying the people to make your own character for your game. Usually, I use the characters that are already made, because I’m not that good at drawing people – the ones that you can change the hair and face and stuff like that.

How do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future? Well if you ever have to make a robot, you’d know how to code it.

Do you think other kids should try coding? Yeah, because it’s fun!

What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker? Just keep trying!

Imij’s mom says that she absolutely loves that Imij is learning to code. In fact, Gretchen wishes that she knew more about it herself! “I was one of those girls that didn’t excel in math and science,” she said. “I love that she’s part of the new generation – she’s gonna change the world and do all these things that I wasn’t aware I could do as a kid.”

Gretchen is aware of the advantages that knowing how to work with technology grants Imij. When we asked if she thinks Imij is better prepared for the future now that she knows how to code, Gretchen replied, “Yes, definitely! When I was having trouble with the computer and trying to get on to do this interview, I could just hand it to her because she’s so accustomed to it – since she’s used to technology, it doesn’t faze her.”

Another thing that goes hand in hand with coding is patience, an attribute that allows kids to excel in coding and in life. Gretchen has noticed that coding helps Imij build patience! “She definitely is very patient when she’s coding,” Gretchen said. “She doesn’t get frustrated and give up. She just keeps trying, and if it doesn’t work the first time, she doesn’t get upset.”

Because they live in a rural area of Maine, Gretchen explained, there aren’t as many coding groups and opportunities as there were in Texas. “I think that one of the best parts of her being featured is that I looked into Tynker more,” Gretchen said, “and I’m going to have her do more with it. Not being a computer person myself, I didn’t know how much more there was to it – I just thought it was an app that she does. Now that I’ve seen all these features she can do, it’s going to be a lot more helpful for me to help her.”

Thank you so much, Gretchen and Imij, for taking the time to sit and chat with us! We hope that Imij can find a coding group in Maine and continue to create impressive projects. Happy coding!