What advice do you have for a beginner woman starting to learn programming?

Don't sweat it! Just like with any new journey, start by finding a project that fascinates you. Dive into the online resources available for most languages—you'll be surprised at how welcoming the communities are. Remember, university is there to support your learning, so focus on soaking in the information when you get there!

What interests you about programming can really help narrow down what language to start with. Once you've figured that out, watch some tutorials online or grab a beginner book. For a structured path, check out roadmap.sh for ideas, and don't hesitate to use resources like the book "The Self-Taught Programmer".

One great tip is to set a goal project for yourself. When I was younger, I wanted to create a game, and that really drove my learning. As I tackled different challenges, I picked up a ton of programming knowledge along the way, which ultimately landed me in a Senior Software Engineer role. So, find something exciting to work on and let that lead your learning!

Take it at your own pace! I took seven years to finish my four-year degree, mainly because I struggled with motivation. The key is to be curious and not compare yourself to others. Find joy in the learning process, and it’ll all start to click.

Think about something you'd like to build and go for it! For instance, if you want to create a reminder app, try doing it in different formats like a mobile app, a website, or even with a cross-platform tool like Flutter. You'll learn so much just by getting your hands dirty with real coding!