How I Started Coding at Age 8 and Built ABCCoders

At the age of eight, I discovered something that would change my life forever - the world of coding. What started as curiosity about how video games worked turned into a passion that led me to found ABCCoders at just 10 years old. Today, I want to share my journey with you.

🎮 The Beginning: A Curious 8-Year-Old

It all started when my father brought home a computer. While other kids my age were playing games, I was fascinated by something different - I wanted to know how those games were made. My parents noticed my interest and enrolled me in a basic programming course.

I still remember my first line of code - a simple "Hello, World!" program. When those words appeared on the screen, something magical happened. I realized I could make the computer do whatever I wanted. It was like having a superpower!

"The moment I saw my first program run successfully, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."

💻 Learning to Code: The Journey Begins

Learning to code at 8 wasn't easy. Most resources were designed for adults, and technical terms felt like a foreign language. But I was determined. I spent hours every day after school practicing, making mistakes, and learning from them.

Within my first year, I had already:

• Created simple games using block programming
• Learned the basics of Python
• Built my first website
• Started helping my classmates with their computer projects

When I turned 10, I joined Hash Future School, where my teachers were incredibly supportive. They saw my passion and gave me advanced projects to work on. This alternative education approach allowed me to learn at my own pace.

👨‍🏫 From Student to Teacher at Age 9

Something unexpected happened when I turned 9 - my friends started asking me to teach them coding. What began as helping a few classmates quickly grew into informal coding sessions during lunch breaks.

I discovered that I loved teaching almost as much as coding itself. Seeing the excitement in my friends' eyes when their code worked reminded me of my own journey. That's when the idea for ABCCoders was born.

🏢 Building ABCCoders at Age 10

With support from my parents, Shihabudheen and Rebina, I officially founded "AnyBody Can Code" (now ABCCoders) at age 10. The name reflected my belief that coding isn't just for adults or "tech people" - it's for everyone, especially kids.

Starting a company at 10 was an incredible journey. Initially, I conducted an event at Hash Future School, and while many people registered, nobody showed up - it was disappointing but taught me valuable lessons about event planning and marketing.

However, my first real success came at Laimer Suites Edapally, where I conducted a programming workshop for 10 students. It was a small event, but seeing those 10 eager faces learn their first lines of code was magical - that's when I knew ABCCoders was meant to be.

The journey wasn't as hard as you might think, mainly because my parents helped me tremendously. My mom Rebina was especially supportive, and I even used to take classes for straight 6 hours a day! This dedication and family support made all the difference.

🌍 Going Global: From Local Classes to 3000+ Students

When the pandemic hit, we had to pivot quickly. Our in-person workshops transformed into online classes, and suddenly, geography wasn't a barrier anymore. Students from across India and even Canada started joining our classes.

Today, ABCCoders serves over 3000 students with more than 30 different courses. We offer:

• 1:1 personalized sessions for students who need individual attention
• 1:3 group classes for collaborative learning
• Specialized courses in Python, JavaScript, AI, and more
• Coding competitions and hackathons

💡 What I've Learned Along the Way

This journey has taught me invaluable lessons that I want to share with every young person reading this:

1. Age is Just a Number

Don't let anyone tell you you're "too young" to pursue your dreams. If you're passionate about something, go for it!

2. Failure is Your Friend

I've made countless mistakes - code that didn't work, classes that flopped, ideas that failed. Each failure taught me something that made me better.

3. Teaching is the Best Way to Learn

When you teach someone else, you understand the concept at a deeper level. It's why I still personally train our teachers.

4. Dream Big, Start Small

ABCCoders started with me teaching five friends. Today we have 3000+ students. Every big achievement starts with a small step.

🚀 The Future of ABCCoders

My vision for ABCCoders is to become a 100-employee company that makes coding education accessible to every child in the world. We're working on:

• AI-powered personalized learning paths
• Virtual reality coding environments
• Partnerships with schools globally
• Scholarship programs for underprivileged students

📝 A Message to Young Coders

If you're a young person interested in coding, here's my advice:

"Start today. Not tomorrow, not next week - today. Open a computer, find a free coding tutorial, and write your first line of code. That single line could be the beginning of an incredible journey."

Remember, I was just 8 when I started. You don't need to be a genius or have expensive equipment. All you need is curiosity and determination.

🙏 Thank You

I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey - my parents who believed in me, my teachers who guided me, and most importantly, our students who trust us with their coding education.

To the parents reading this: if your child shows interest in technology, nurture it. You never know - they might be the next young entrepreneur changing the world.

And to my fellow young coders: the world is waiting for your ideas. Start coding, start creating, and most importantly, start believing in yourself.

Remember: Anybody Can Code - including you!