Let me just say this upfront: I am a terrible math student.

Not in a cute, humble-brag kind of way. Like… horrifically, horribly bad and I had to take Calculus 3 three times in college. THREE. TIMES. And let me tell you, it was just as awful each and every time.

So, how did someone like me end up building websites, web applications, and writing code? Because programming isn’t just for hoodie-wearing math geniuses in dim basements. In fact, I’d argue that good programming has more in common with a well-written essay than a math exam.

The “Graphic Designer Who Wanted More” Era

Back when I started, I didn’t even know what jobs in “tech” were available. I just knew I really liked computers and didn’t want to be stuck in some boring office filing paper all day. So, like a lot of creatively-minded tech girls in the early 2000s, I got into graphic design.

And it was fine. Until it wasn’t.

I kept running into limitations. I’d be designing something awesome, but then have to wait for a developer to implement it. And waiting is not my strong suit. There was also the arrogant attitude that often went along with the waiting – so fun to deal with on a daily basis. So I thought, “You know what? I could learn this myself and be in control of my work.”

Spoiler: I could. And I did.

Computer Science Classes and Super Nerds

Here’s the thing: Once I got a taste of coding, I loved it, I could do it, and it wasn’t that hard. What started as a blur of text and special characters soon became sentences with details that actually made sense to me. So, knowing that I could do this, and at the time it was SUPER important to have a degree to be taken seriously, I went back to school to get a computer science degree. 

I walk into my first CS class and it’s like entering a different universe. I was almost always the only woman, and sometimes I was lucky enough to be in class with one other woman – so two women for those who do love ‘the math’. Everyone’s already talking about compilers and algorithms and solving math problems like they’re playing Sudoku for fun. Meanwhile, I’m over here nervously giggling and wondering if tuition was refundable.

So I did what any bubbly, sane-minded, overworked, waitress-until-I-get-my-real-job-which-by-the-way-waitressing-is-a-real-job, would do – I cried. A lot. At school. At home. In my car. Sometimes all three in a single day.

These were not people I could relate to. They weren’t bad people, but they were wired differently. They were math-brained, and I was… not. 

Programming is my Love Language

Here’s what saved me: I realized programming is just another language. And I’ve always been good at language. I got A’s in English. I loved writing. And coding? Coding is writing. It’s sentence structure and syntax. It’s organizing thoughts clearly and making sure every line has a purpose.

Front-end development? That’s my fave. You tweak your sentence (ahem, code) and voila —you see the change immediately. It’s bringing a user experience and solution to life. And here’s the thing—those math-brained engineering types? They’re usually not that great at front-end work. Why? Because front-end requires a little creativity. A little flair. A little understanding of how real people actually use a site.

User experience matters. Perspective matters. And solving problems in a way that feels human? That matters most.

Now, don’t get me wrong—we still need the data wizards working their back-end magic to serve up all the info. But front-end development is where the empathy lives. There’s plenty of room in tech for the math lovers and the English nerds.

I didn’t need to be a math genius. I needed to be clear, methodical, and creative. And I was already good at all those things.

This Whole “Math Barrier” Thing is a Problem

We do a HUGE disservice to people (especially women, let’s be real) who might want to explore tech but are scared off because of the math-heavy, engineering-focused messaging.

Guess what? Most of the programming jobs out there don’t require Calculus 3. Or 2. Or even Algebra, really. Unless you’re trying to build rockets for NASA, you don’t need to be a math wizard.

What you do need:

  • Patience
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication skills
  • Curiosity
  • Willingness to learn and Google things at 2am

Breaking the Stereotype

You don’t have to be a hoodie-wearing, Red Bull-chugging introvert who dreams in binary (okay, sometimes I drink Red Bull – don’t judge). Tech has room for project managers, QA testers, content strategists, front-end developers, marketers, UI designers, and more.

You can be bubbly and outgoing. You can wear purple. You can be terrible at math.

You can even cry through Calculus 3.

I made it through, messy hair and all. And now I run a digital agency that lets me choose who I work with, what I build, and how I show up in this industry. I help small businesses get seen online, but more importantly—I help them feel seen.

And yeah, I also make space for women to talk tech without eye rolls, buzzwords, or being asked if they’re the project manager just because they wore heels that day.

 

If you’ve ever thought tech wasn’t for you, I promise you’re wrong.

You’re not too late. You’re not too soft or dumb. You’re not too “non-technical.”

You’re right on time. If you would ever like advice or to chat about what it looks like to enter the tech field, message me at kara@womanintech.com!