FirstByte

FirstByte promotes diversity and equity within STEM, with a focus on computer science. To that end, the club partners with educational and youth organizations in Boston to provide technology kits and teach the curriculum that the club develops.

The club envisions a future in which students of all genders, races, and socioeconomic statuses are empowered to pursue careers in computer science and other STEM fields, and works to realize that goal by volunteering to teach relevant skills to middle and high school students. The club and its services are open to all students, but they emphasize supporting diversity within computer science due to the extra barriers minority students face, such as impostor syndrome.

FirstByte’s several dozen members can expect to build strong presentation and teaching skills through the club’s volunteer sessions. They can also gain professional experience by developing curricula, plus presentation experience hosting workshops for other Northeastern clubs.

Computer science is a hugely male-dominated and gatekept field, and many students are hindered from pursuing it by impostor syndrome and a lack of role models who resemble them. Our club works to fight these challenges by showing students that computer science and STEM can be fun and accessible fields

Andrew Ge, president