On Monday, March 6, the middle school girls of St. John the Baptist School got the opportunity to participate in the Google-sponsored event, “Made with Code.” The day began with a trip to the local movie theater, where the girls got a private showing of Hidden Figures along with snacks and drinks courtesy of Google. Following the movie, the students had a debrief discussion with Google team member and St. John's alum, Maivien Pham (Class of 2002). During discussion, our students dove into topics of racism and sexism prevalent in 1950s American society, and how these topics still permeate society. Most importantly, the students talked about ways to combat implicit racism and sexism today, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Following lunch, the SJBS students partook in a coding activity led by Ms. Pham and Fahima Al-Uqdah (Google Account Strategist). Students used coding methods to create their own emojis, as well as basic musical beats. They were shown the various ways that coding can overlap with everyday activities and academic passions.
Kiara Francisco, an 8th grade student at SJBS, explained the importance of her day, saying, “The Google experience was educational yet empowering. I enjoyed the movie because it showcased the struggle of three African American women and how they overcame it. Breakthrough and perseverance were major themes in the movie. Hidden Figures further proved to me that women can do anything a man can do with determination and knowledge.” Maria Pham, a seventh grader, added, “The most important effects that this experience had on me was that the movie really inspired me in the field of science and mathematics, and that being a girl does not mean that I have limits.”
