Everyone always asks me: "How did you start coding so young?" The answer might surprise you - it wasn't because I was some kind of genius or had special computer classes at school. It all started with curiosity, a broken computer, and a lot of determination.
How It All Began
Like most kids, I loved playing games on our family computer. But one day, our computer started acting up - games would crash, programs wouldn't work properly. My parents were frustrated, and we couldn't afford to call a technician every time something went wrong.
That's when I became curious: "How do these programs actually work? Why do they sometimes break? Could I fix them myself?"
I started observing everything - every click, every error message, every weird behavior. I didn't know it then, but I was developing what programmers call "debugging mindset."
Lesson for Young Coders:
Curiosity is your superpower! Don't just use technology - wonder how it works. Ask "why" and "how" about everything you see on a computer.
The Magic Moment
During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, I had a lot of time at home. I discovered something called "Scratch" - a visual programming language where you drag and drop colorful blocks to create programs.
My first project was incredibly simple - making a cat sprite move across the screen. But when I clicked the green flag and saw that cat walk for the first time, it felt like magic! I had just told a computer what to do, and it listened!
I spent the entire day creating different animations - making characters dance, creating simple games, adding sounds and colors. My parents were amazed when I showed them what I had built.
From Blocks to Real Code
After mastering Scratch, I wanted to learn "real" programming. I discovered Python - a programming language that was perfect for beginners but powerful enough for professionals.
I started with YouTube tutorials, but many were too advanced or boring. I spent hours watching videos, pausing, rewinding, and trying to understand concepts like variables, loops, and functions.
My learning schedule was simple:
- Morning (1 hour): Watch tutorials and take notes
- Afternoon (2 hours): Practice coding and build small projects
- Evening (30 minutes): Join online coding communities and ask questions
I built my first game - a simple number guessing game - and I was so proud that I showed it to everyone who would listen!
Lesson for Young Coders:
Consistency beats intensity! I learned more by coding 30 minutes every day than trying to code for 5 hours once a week. Make it a habit, not a marathon.
Sharing the Joy
Something amazing happened when I turned 9 - my younger cousins and friends started asking me to teach them coding! They saw the games and programs I was building and wanted to learn too.
I started teaching my 7-year-old cousin first. I quickly learned that teaching others is completely different from learning yourself. I had to:
- Break down complex concepts into simple steps
- Be patient when they didn't understand immediately
- Find fun examples and analogies
- Celebrate their small victories
Word spread in our neighborhood, and soon I had 5-6 kids coming to our house every weekend for "coding club." My parents were supportive but amazed that their 9-year-old was teaching other children!
🎉 First Teaching Milestone
Successfully taught 6 kids (ages 7-12) basic programming concepts. All of them built their first game within 4 weeks!
From Hobby to Business
By the time I turned 10, something incredible was happening. Parents from our neighborhood started offering to pay me for teaching their kids. More children wanted to join, and I realized I needed to get organized.
That's when ABCCoders was born! The name came from my belief that "AnyBody Can Code" - it doesn't matter your age, background, or previous experience.
Here's what I did to start ABCCoders:
- Created a curriculum: I organized everything I had learned into a structured course
- Set up a proper space: My parents helped me convert part of our home into a classroom
- Built our first website: I coded our website myself (with lots of help from online tutorials!)
- Started online classes: COVID-19 taught me that online learning could reach more kids
Students in first year
Student satisfaction rate
Programming languages taught
Passion for coding!
Growing Every Day
Today, ABCCoders has grown beyond my wildest dreams. We have:
- 500+ students from around the world
- Expert teachers who share our passion for kids' education
- Courses in 30+ programming topics from basic Scratch to advanced AI
- Students winning competitions and building amazing projects
- Recognition as one of India's youngest entrepreneurs
But more importantly, I'm still learning every day! I recently started exploring artificial intelligence, mobile app development, and quantum computing. The learning never stops!
🔥 The Challenges I Faced (And How I Overcame Them)
My journey wasn't always smooth. Here are the biggest challenges I faced and how I dealt with them:
Challenge: Age Bias
Problem: Many people didn't take me seriously because of my age. Some parents were skeptical about learning from a 9-year-old.
Solution: I let my work speak for itself. I created demo videos, shared student projects, and offered free trial classes. Results convinced them more than words ever could.
Challenge: Limited Resources
Problem: As a kid, I didn't have access to expensive courses or fancy equipment.
Solution: I became resourceful! I used free online tutorials, open-source software, and community forums. I learned that passion and determination matter more than expensive tools.
Challenge: Balancing School & Coding
Problem: Managing regular schoolwork while building ABCCoders was tough.
Solution: I created a strict schedule and learned time management. I also found ways to apply coding concepts to my school subjects, making both more interesting!
Challenge: Complex Concepts
Problem: Some programming concepts seemed too advanced for my age.
Solution: I broke everything into smaller pieces, used visual aids, and created analogies. If I couldn't explain it simply, I didn't understand it well enough myself!
🎓 What This Journey Taught Me
🌟 Life Lessons from Coding
- Patience is a superpower: Debugging code taught me that every problem has a solution - you just need to be patient and systematic
- Failure is feedback: Every error message was a learning opportunity, not a reason to give up
- Teaching makes you learn better: I understood concepts much deeper when I had to explain them to others
- Community matters: The programming community is incredibly supportive - people love helping young learners
- Age is just a number: Your ideas and passion matter more than how old you are
- Curiosity creates opportunities: Every "what if" question led to new discoveries
💡 My Advice for Young Coders
If you're a kid reading this and thinking about learning to code, here's what I want you to know:
🌟 You Can Do This Too!
I'm not special - I'm just a regular kid from Kochi who got curious about computers. If I can do it, so can you! The only difference between me and you is that I started. Your journey begins with your first "Hello, World!"
🚀 Getting Started - My Recommendations
📅 Start Small, Dream Big
- Begin with 15 minutes a day
- Start with Scratch or similar visual tools
- Build one tiny project at a time
- Celebrate every small victory!
🤝 Find Your Community
- Join online coding communities for kids
- Find a coding buddy or mentor
- Share your projects with family and friends
- Don't be afraid to ask questions!
🎯 Stay Consistent
- Code a little bit every day
- Don't worry about being perfect
- Learn from your mistakes
- Keep building and experimenting
🌟 Believe in Yourself
- Age doesn't limit your potential
- Every expert was once a beginner
- Your unique perspective is valuable
- You can create amazing things!
🔮 My Dreams for the Future
My journey is just beginning! Here's what I'm working towards:
- Global Impact: I want ABCCoders to reach kids in every country, making coding education accessible to everyone
- New Technologies: I'm excited to explore AI, virtual reality, and quantum computing
- Young Entrepreneur Network: Creating a platform where young entrepreneurs can support each other
- Coding for Social Good: Using technology to solve real-world problems like climate change and education
- Inspiring Others: Showing the world that kids can be innovators, creators, and leaders
Ready to Start Your Own Coding Adventure?
I started ABCCoders to share the joy of programming with kids like you. Our teachers (including me!) are here to guide you through every step of your coding journey.
Remember: Every expert was once a beginner. Your coding story starts today!
🎯 Final Thoughts
Looking back at my journey from an 8-year-old who broke his family computer to founding a coding school, I'm amazed at how far curiosity and persistence can take you.
But here's the most important thing I want you to remember: I'm still just a kid who loves to code. I make mistakes, I get confused by complex problems, and I sometimes feel overwhelmed. The difference is that I never give up, and I always keep learning.
Your age is not a limitation - it's your superpower. You see the world differently, you ask better questions, and you have the courage to try things that adults might think are impossible.
I can't wait to see what amazing things you'll build. The world needs your creativity, your ideas, and your unique perspective. Let's code the future together!
Happy coding!
Muhammed Ameen
Founder, ABCCoders
Age 11, but coding since 8! 🚀