The Opportunity She Almost Missed: AiC with Bea Lahammer

Bea Lahammer almost didn’t sign up. 

She first heard about Aspirations in Computing (AiC) through a school newsletter. The program sounded interesting, but Bea wasn’t sure she had enough experience to belong there. 

Then she saw one important detail: no experience needed.

So she decided to try it.

That decision has helped Bea build new skills, explore careers, and learn more about a world that she wasn’t originally sure she belonged in.

“I was worried I wouldn’t have the skills,” Bea said. But once she got involved, she found that the program was easy to step into. 

Aspirations in Computing gives students opportunities to explore computing careers, connect with professionals, and build practical skills they can use in school, college, and future careers. For Bea, it also helped answer a bigger question: where could her own interest in computing lead?

 

Rediscovering an Old Interest

Bea’s interest in computing began long before she started thinking about college.

When she was in fourth grade, her mom signed her up for beginner coding classes. Bea remembers programming a robot to move along a path and later working with LEGO projects.

She loved figuring out the steps required to make something happen. 

“I like seeing the behind-the-scenes of how things work. Even something that looks simple can take so much work to make it function,” said Bea.

Then COVID interrupted classes, and over time, Bea lost some of that connection to computing. 

It wasn’t until she began thinking more seriously about possible careers and college paths that the interest came back. She remembered how much she enjoyed creating something from a set of instructions and seeing how individual pieces worked together.
 

Now, as she considers studying biomedical engineering in college, Bea sees computing differently than she once did. Aspirations in Computing helped her realize that she doesn’t necessarily need to choose between computing and another field.

She can use data and computing skills in almost any field, including one that brings together technology, science, and health.
 

Redefining a Computing Career

One AiC experience helped make that idea especially clear.

During a job-shadowing experience, Bea spent time around software engineers. Beforehand, she pictured someone working alone at a computer, coding all day. That didn’t sound like the kind of career she wanted.

Instead, she saw people working together, talking through problems, and collaborating as a larger team. 

“The experience challenged some of my assumptions,” said Bea. “Programming and coding isn’t all computer science is. There’s so much more you can do with these skills.”

That experience helped broaden her understanding of the field—and of the different ways computing skills can fit into a future career. It is also part of what Flight Path 2030 hopes students will have more opportunities to do: explore before they have to decide.

By giving students chances to try computing, meet professionals, and connect what they are learning to possible careers, students can begin figuring out not only what they are good at, but what they actually enjoy.

Building Skills Beyond Computing

AiC has also helped Bea build skills she can use well beyond a computer science classroom.

Through program sessions, she learned how to build a resume, what employers look for in a cover letter, how to develop a personal brand, and how to use LinkedIn to connect with people and find opportunities.

One topic in particular stood out: networking.

Instead of simply telling students networking was important, the program helped explain what networking actually means. “They really went in depth on what networking is and how you actually do it,” Bea said.

For Bea, who is now preparing for college applications, these are skills she can use right away. They have also helped her become more confident reaching out to people, asking questions, and trying experiences that once might have felt intimidating.

The Best Opportunities Start with Trying

When Bea was deciding whether to participate in Aspirations in Computing, her mom offered simple advice: Just try it.

Bea is grateful she listened. The experience has helped her become more confident and better understand the possibilities available to her after high school. 

She has also noticed a pattern. Some of the experiences she has enjoyed most are the ones she almost talked herself out of trying.

“As cliché as it sounds, I recommend just trying new things,” Bea said. “Even if you’re nervous, even if you don’t think you have the skills. Even if you don’t think it’s exactly what you want to do, just try it. Some of my favorite experiences are things I almost didn’t do.”

This advice feels especially fitting as new Flight Path 2030 opportunities continue to grow in Red Wing Public Schools. Bea is excited for the students behind her who will have even more opportunities to learn about data, computing, and AI. 

“You don’t need to know how to code. You don’t need to pursue a technology career. You don’t need to have a plan yet,” said Bea.

Her advice? You just need a place to start, and Aspirations in Computing is an easy way to jump-start new opportunities. 

Learn More About Aspirations in Computing