Not every classroom has desks and whiteboards. Some are filled with computers, code, and creativity.

Junior Nirlepa Acharya is stepping into these fun environments as both a mentor and problem-solver, helping children navigate the world of coding at Code Ninjas.

Acharya describes the environment as part of the reason for taking the job: a fast-paced but flexible workplace, giving both students and instructors room to grow. But that wasn’t the whole reason; her passion also contributed to the decision.

“A typical day at my job would be walking around the center helping kids out with their work- usually coding projects, sometimes LEGO Robotics,” Acharya said. “I was inspired to start working at Code Ninjas because I love coding and I wanted to share my knowledge with the youth.”

Through her work, Acharya has seen firsthand how patience and guidance can make a difference, while also developing important skills further.

“A memorable moment I had while teaching was when a kid who normally struggles with his projects understood his assignment with my help,” Acharya said. “I have gained communication skills by being able to communicate advanced coding concepts in an easy to understand way.”

Maintaining a work-life balance is hard and maintaining a work-school-life balance is even harder. Acharya has learned to manage this through good organization and communication and has advice for future part-time workers looking to go into the coding field.

“I manage my time by communicating with my boss about my schedule,” Acharya said. “I would advise students to manage their time wisely and only work if they could.”