The side project problem

I just got off the phone with a high school student who is interviewing software developers and computer engineers for her engineering class. The interview was pretty straightforward, but then she asked: “Do you like coding?”

I had to pause and reflect on this. I took AP CS in high school, I majored in computer science, and I now code on a daily basis as a software engineer. This should be an easy question, right? The obvious answer is yes.

The answer isn’t necessarily yes. I honestly feel neutral about the actual act of coding — it’s basically typing in another language. What I really like about coding is the stuff that comes before and after it: problem solving, designing elegant solutions to problems, making something using just my words, and debugging (sometimes). I don’t code in my spare time, and I don’t have any pet projects.

She was surprised to hear my response. She told me that she felt relieved since she wasn’t sure if computer science was something for her. This is not uncommon: in college, there was this unspoken notion that you had to have pet projects or code in your free time. Top companies wanted passionate people.

However, I AM passionate. I’m passionate about outreach and mentoring, giving back, trying new things, and learning. In my spare time I hang out with friends, play video games, shop, read, and watch TV. Just because I’m not passionate about the actual act of coding doesn’t mean I don’t belong at a top tech company.

If anything, we should start embracing people who are multi-faceted and have hobbies and talents outside of the tech field. Those people know how to bring tech into those other fields and make it better. Those people bring a unique skill and perspective to a field that is meant to be diverse.

So the next time you compare yourself to someone who is passionate about coding and seems to be way better than you, don’t think you aren’t meant to be in this field. We need people like you —and you are right where you belong.

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