digitalmaverick

Firstly I want to thank @suw for stimulating so many of us to write a blog post on this day in honour of Ada Lovelace, its been a privilege to take part in this momentous Ada Lovelace Day and to fulfill my pledge.

Interestingly, as I read some of the other posts that people have made earlier today, it’s apparent so many people express difficulty in chosing a lady technologist and for this I think the media have a lot to answer, by not promoting the work that ladies do in the field of ICT as much as the work done by men.

I decided I wanted to use my post to celebrate the wonderful ladies that I work with each and every day in the field of ICT and who inspire me by their wonderful approach to my subject.  In short I want to celebrate my students.

Dear Girls,

For each risk you took when trying a tool you’d never used before;

For heeding my advice without thinking I was trying to take over your work;

For each ‘thank you’ you say to me at the end of a lesson, and when I know you mean it sincerely;

For each little smile you make when something you’ve done works out for you;

For each piece of advice you pass on to help your peers  when they need you;

For time you blog without me having to remind you to do so;

For the Glogs you make, each more brilliant than the last;

For your adherence to Presentation Zen;

For the example you set to other girls elsewhere by being such good ambassadors;

For your inquisitiveness, creativity and inventiveness;

For flying with an idea when all I do is show you a fledgling example;

For encouraging your parents to see that your ICT skills can help them;

For asking for help when you know you need it, and accepting such with good grace;

For being so excited at understanding how to do a complex task that you literally ‘jump for joy’;

For using a tool in a totally unexpected way which makes me just have to show it off to others;

For all of these and more besides, I want to tell you that you make mine the greatest job in the world.