Cadence: Future Vet!

This week’s Featured Maker, Cadence, comes from Oklahoma and is ten years old! She loves to code, read, and play with her dog, Daisy. She has loved softball since the age of three and even plays in a local league! Cadence aspires to be a veterinarian when she grows up, and her favorite school subjects are math and reading. Cadence told us about her love for coding and the impact it has had on her life–read on to learn more!

How did you get introduced to Tynker and how long have you been coding? Probably since the beginning of 4th grade. I did do a little at the end of 3rd grade, but not that much!

How did you learn how to use Tynker when you were first starting out? Actually, my library teacher always showed us new projects to do. She would let us bring our iPads into the library and she would show us a new app to download. And one of them was Tynker! She told us it was coding and we all just loved it!

How have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker? When I first started, I was bored just testing out and using all the tutorials, so I just decided to make my own game.

How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured? I was like, ‘What’s this little badge on it?’ And I click it and it says that I have been chosen!

What is your favorite project you’ve made so far? Well, I deleted my old ones, so it’s my Daisy dress up one! Because I wasn’t really good at coding, maybe because I was just starting, so I deleted them and then I browsed the community and said to myself that I wanted to dress up my dog.

‘Dress up Daisy the dog!’

Where did you get the idea for your favorite project? My dog, Daisy! We’re only allowed some time on our iPads for coding, so it probably took me about 3 months.

How do you get inspiration for your projects? Well, I just think what might be fun and make it! And it might inspire them like it did for me!

Why do you like to code? I like to code because I feel like I’m making my own game, like those on the app store, and I’ve always wanted to do that.

What is your favorite way to use code? I kind of like the sounds. I like those little chat boxes that pop up in the game.

What do you do with a project when you’re done with it? I review and publish it before I tell anybody. Then I ask if people want to play my game and actually, I’ve had people come up to me and say that it was the best game they’ve played!

What are you planning to make next? I’m not sure. There are so many possibilities!

What’s the best thing about Tynker? How kids can get creative with their projects! Like in those dress up games, you can be creative with that and just be yourself.

How do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future? Because learning to code can help you with a future job that you can make a lot of money for. You can create a really good video, or game that goes viral and you can make a lot of money off of it! Then, you can create a life for yourself.

Do you think other kids should try coding? They should! Because it can help you in the future and can get creative and just be yourself!

What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker? No matter what, even if you start off bad, it’s fine! You will get better at it like I did! Don’t beat yourself up about it, just do you.

Jillian, Cadence’s mom, sat down with us to share her experience with Cadence learning how to code. “I think it’s great because if you’re not learning you’re dying!” Jillian told us. “As far as it being coding, it doesn’t matter what she’s learning, I just think it’s awesome that she’s learning!”

Jillian is more than excited for Cadence’s future because she’s aware that learning how to code allows Cadence to practice critical thinking skills: “With her wanting to be a vet, she’s going to have to put pieces of a puzzle together to make a diagnosis. It’s all kind of like that in life anyway. Coding is thinking things through and not just acting on impulse.”

We want to thank Cadence and Jillian for taking the time to tell us about their experiences with Tynker and coding. We are looking forward to more projects from Cadence! Happy coding!