It is a good idea to start early and get some hands-on experience programming a computer. You will also find countless books on programming in libraries and resources online; this is one field where the resources to teach yourself are highly accessible and available for all levels of competency. Joining a computer club and reading professional magazines are other ways to become more familiar with this career field. In addition, you should start exploring the Internet for information about computer-related careers. One excellent resource, Careers in Computer Science and Computer Engineering (https://www.computer.org/communities/student-activities/career), is available from the IEEE Computer Society. At this Web site, visitors can also sign up for the Career Accelerator Newsletter and receive How to Make the Most of Your Computer Science Degree, a 30-page career guide.
Advanced students can put their design ideas and programming knowledge to work by designing and programming their own applications, such as simple games and utility programs. Visit Codeacademy (https://www.codecademy.com), edX (https://www.edx.org), Coursera (https://www.coursera.org), and Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org), where you can learn how to code for free.
Attend computer science summer camps at colleges and universities to build your skills and meet people with the same interests.
Participate in competitions that are offered by professional associations, youth organizations, and other entities. For example, the Technology Student Association (https://tsaweb.org/competitions) offers 40 competitions for high school students, including one in Coding. SkillsUSA (https://www.skillsusa.org) offers competitions for high school and college students in Computer Programming, Information Technology, and other fields.
Finally, talk to a computer programmer about his or her career. Ask your school counselor or computer science teacher to help arrange an interview.
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