This word has appeared in 30 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
International Women’s Day
Women make the world go round. They are leaders. Be it in the home, communities, the sports arena, arts, and culture, or even leading Fortune 500 companies, there is no limit to what women can accomplish. For years and throughout history, women have been blazing trails and making incredible and life-changing contributions to their worlds. The impact of these reverberates across the world to this day. Many have come and gone, paving the way for today’s generation of women to carry the torch in their own fields. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate and recognise the amazing contributions of some of these women.
International Women’s Day
Every year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). This day is set aside annually to celebrate the social, cultural, economic, and political achievements of women across the globe. It’s also a significant day to highlight the advocacy for women’s rights globally.
It is through the collective efforts and actions of everyone globally that International Women’s Day can be impactful. This year, the focus is on #EmbracingEquity.
Equity means treating every person fairly and according to their respective needs. Where the needs may be different, the rights, benefits, and opportunities available should be equal.
Celebrating (some) inspirational women
‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.’ – Maya Angelou
We thought we should share some of the courageous acts by women throughout history. From the famed history-makers to lesser-known names, here are some wonder women who have done incredible things. Be inspired:
- Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Curie, a French and Polish chemist, and physicist is a two-time Noble laureate. The only woman to achieve this incredible feat. She moved to Paris, France to continue her education and pioneered work in radioactivity and cancer treatment protocols. She discovered radium and polonium, and through this discovery and developing radiology and other treatments was able to save countless lives of cancer patients. Marie is also lauded as being the creator of portable x-ray machines and which were used to save the lives of many soldiers on the front lines of World War I.
- Bessie Coleman (1892 – 1926)
Bessie, a black woman in the US, was prevented from acquiring her pilot’s license because she was black and a woman. This did not stop her dreams. Bessie moved to France and soon became the first African American woman of Native-American roots, to earn her aviation license.
- Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952)
Maria Montessori is the creator of the Montessori style of education. Here, she spearheaded the thought that children deserve not only the best education but a choice in their learning. Her education system, which has been adopted in many countries, focuses on the science of child development and sets this classroom apart from traditional teaching methods.
- Coretta Scott-King (1927 -2006)
Coretta Scott-King is the wife of the late American civil rights movement leader, Martin Luther King Jr. She held her own as a leader in the 50s and 60s as an author and fought for the rights and dignity of all victims who were discriminated against.
- Katharine Graham (1917-2001)
Katharine Graham, Pulitzer Prize winner for her autobiography, Personal History in 1998, sat as the editor and chairman of the Washington Post for 20 years (1963-1991). Under her leadership, the Post broke the infamous Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal, making it one of the most highly regarded publications in the world. She is also the first-ever female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. She broke the glass ceiling and let all women know that they can reach the pinnacle of their dream. Her life was inspirational and her story, played by Academy award-winner Meryl Streep, can be seen in the hit movie The Post.
- Wangari Mathaai (1940 – 2011)
Wangari Mathaai is a Kenyan-born social, environmental and political activist. Wangari was the first woman in Central and East Africa to obtain a PhD and in 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement. This NGO encouraged women to be part of the fight against deforestation and environmental degradation. Since its inception, the Green Belt Movement has planted over 50 million trees. Wangari shone the African flag high as the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the co-founder of the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. She was also appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. From her time on the bench, she advocated for women’s rights and supported various LGBT initiatives and movements against racial equality.
- Malala Yousafzai (1997 – )
Malala Yousafzai was just 15 years old when she was shot in the head by terrorists while on her way to school. As a young activist, she was vocal about the prohibition of the education of girls imposed by the Pakistani Taliban group. She survived the assassination attempt and two years later, at age 17, she was jointly awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for her sacrificial and continued efforts to fight for education and children’s rights. This award made her the youngest recipient of the award.
- Kalpana Chalwa (1962-2003)
Kalpana soared into the headlines in 1997 as the first Indian woman to be named a mission specialist by NASA and orbit into space on the Space Shuttle Columbia. This journey orbited the earth over 250 times over a two-week time span. Her second trip to space in 2003 completed over 80 experiments over 16 days. Unfortunately, she and her entire crew of astronauts did not make it back to earth when their spaceship disintegrated when it attempted to reenter earth’s atmosphere.
- Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)
Katherine Johnson is now globally recognised as the brains behind the calculations that propelled John Glenn (astronaut) into orbit in 1962. She also went on to do the computations that sent Apollo 11 to the moon. Her story was made into the 2015 box-office hit, Hidden Figures, and she went on to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former US president Barack Obama. After her death in 2021 at the age of 101, the Northrop Grumman group named a spaceship after her.
These women, across different generations and in different streams, did what the world told them they couldn’t. They defied the odds, overcame unique challenges, and cemented their place in history for women to follow. They and hundreds of other women whose names we don’t know are reminders of what is possible and to be celebrated for years to come.
How you can celebrate IWD
Women should be celebrated every day but for this marked occasion, you can get involved in several ways.
- Attend a virtual IWD talk/event.
- Donate and/or help raise funds for a charity.
- Go out for drinks or lunch with the women in your world and celebrate each other.
- Share an inspiring post on social media and hashtag #EmbraceEquity, in line with this year’s global campaign theme.
- Have hard but important conversations about the need for equal and enough opportunities.
- Show up for yourself and other women – we rise by lifting others.
- Buy an inspiring woman’s autobiography and read their story.
These activities are a great way to shine a light on IWD, but they are short-term. What the IWD movement needs are long-term initiatives that will keep the spotlight on the value of uplifting from every background and having worthwhile discussions that will lead to changed mindsets. Because, as G.D. Anderson rightly puts it, “Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength”.
Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. To everyone, everywhere, International Women’s Day belongs to you.
How I Went From Youth Support Worker to Web Designer in 8 Months
Learning to code so that you can land a job in tech can feel daunting. That’s why we’re sharing inspiring stories from Codecademy’s community — to show how people like you (yes, you!) can embark on a learning journey and end up with a totally new career. We hope these stories serve as a reminder that there’s no single path to a more fulfilling work life.
Today’s story is from Kailie Arbeau, a 25-year-old WordPress Developer at a digital marketing agency, living in New Brunswick, Canada. Read more stories from Codecademy learners here — and be sure to share your story here.
Why I chose to learn to code
“I went to a local college where I studied traditional art and design, and I was a youth support worker at a group home for a year and a half. I worked alongside social workers, and I was responsible for supporting the client. I got to teach a lot of my art there, because my client was very artistic.
I took a UX design course — but I actually didn’t finish it. When I got to the end of my first project, and was starting my second project, I was like, Okay, but I want to build it. I want to build what I’m making. I didn’t want to stop with just the design. That’s when I found Codecademy and I was like, How can I build a website right now?
So, on January 1, 2022, I signed up for Pro and just committed. I finished the HTML course that day, and I literally printed out the certificate of completion* and hung it up on the wall. Then I did Learn CSS and Learn JavaScript, and I followed the Front-End Engineer career path.”
* Here are some ways that you can use Codecademy certificates in your job search. We also just launched new Codecademy Professional Certificates that you can earn when you pass all the exams in select career paths.
How I made time to learn
“My schedule was weird because I worked from 4 p.m. to midnight. Basically, when I got up in the morning, that’s when I would learn. I’m not very disciplined, but I’m also a runner, and I’m always on a training program. When I have a program, I stick to it. So that’s really why I liked Codecademy’s career paths.”
Learn something new for free
How I saved up money to switch careers
“I had saved up before I left my job: I paid off all my credit cards, I paid my bills and everything. I have my husband, and thankfully he’s so supportive. I was like, I’m going to get a job, no question. I’m going to do it. I was not working for a few months, and I had money, but I was like, I need a job. I was so determined.”
How long it took me to land a job
“I started applying for jobs immediately. I was traveling to work at the group home every day, but I wanted to work from home and be on my laptop. There’s all these remote jobs in Canada or the U.S. that get, like, hundreds of applicants. I didn’t get any of those; I didn’t even interview at all in the first few months because I never got to that stage.
Then I joined a whole bunch of groups just like Facebook and the Codecademy group on Discord. I really enjoyed the Discord group, because the projects and stuff that people suggested were very specific.”
How I got in the door
“I reached out to local businesses, because I live in a really small town. I was done with HTML and CSS, and I was building through the Front-End Engineer path, and I was learning JavaScript. I emailed so many people in my city, but only one business got back to me and agreed to have a call.
On the call, they said, ‘You’ve never worked with WordPress — that’s what we use every day.’ This was on a Monday. They were starting to finish the phone call, saying, ‘I don’t know. Get back to us when you learn WordPress.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, I will have something for you by Friday. I will send you a link.’
That week, I jumped into WordPress. I was on all the tutorials, I bought a domain and did the hosting thing — and I had never done that before. I learned WordPress, made this little one-page website, and sent it to them. I went in on Friday to meet them and they were like, ‘You did this in 4 days?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve never used WordPress before. Is it okay?’ And they’re like, ‘Yes, it’s great.’”
How I nailed the interview
“I did another interview the following week, but it was more of a personality kind of thing. They asked me, ‘You really made that website in 4 days?’ I was like, ‘Yes, I did.’”
How I evaluated the offer
“It was hard leaving my job at the group home, because I got to teach my art to clients there — obviously it wasn’t the type of art that I was doing in college, but it was at least related. And it was especially hard because I got to work with one client for so long and get to know them. But with coding, I was like, This is what I really want to do for years, not just right now. So it was worth it.”
How day one and beyond went
“The first couple of days were fun. They gave me a lot of little tiny jobs, like, Can you change this button to be a different length? Then I would go back to my desk to figure it out on my own, because I get nervous when people are looking over my shoulder. I’d go back with the finished product, like, ‘Did I do this right?’ And they’d say, ‘Yes, you did perfectly.’
People offered to sit down and show me things, but I was like, ‘I learned this like it was a couple of weeks ago. Give me a chance to just screw it up.’”
What I wish I knew before I started learning
“Everyone always says they wish they had started earlier. But you never do, because it’s so daunting. There’s just so much cool stuff like that to learn, like, What’s a domain? How does the internet even work?
Honestly, I tell everyone about the first Codecademy little lesson you do where it’s like, What is the internet?* In the lesson, they talk about how there are pipes underground, and that sharks are an actual problem with the internet lines. I tell everyone about this, and I’ve sent it to so many family members, like, ‘This one tells you the internet lines under the ocean!’ It’s just a fun thing to know.
If you’re learning to code to get a job, start reaching out to people — because people love to talk about their journeys. Even in my small town, there’s so many groups that get together to have coding nights. Coding is such an individual thing, because you’re on your laptop alone. But it can also bring people together.”
* All of our web development paths start with a broad overview of the internet’s infrastructure and how it works. Kailie is right: You don’t have to be an engineer to benefit from understanding how the internet works!
Not sure where to start? Check out our personality quiz! We’ll help you find the best programming language to learn based on your strengths and interests.
Want to share your Codecademy learner story? Drop us a line here. And don’t forget to join the discussions in our community.
What Are Your Thoughts About a Year of War in Ukraine?
It has been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. How, if at all, has this crisis hit home for you?
The Best Newsletter Provider for Small Businesses and Blogs
When owning a blog or small business, you must take care of many different things. It may be overwhelming to research everything and pick the best option if you are starting. To help you out, let me share my experience and help you choose the best newsletter provider for small businesses.
What is Newsletter Provider?
Before we can pick the best option, let’s start with the basics and explain what it is and why you need it. Newsletter Provider, also called a Subscription or Mailing List Service Provider, is a website that helps you collect your website visitor’s e-mails and send them messages with news and updates.
It is a great tool for growing your business and converting visits into sales if you run a shop.
For more, read: 4 Reasons Why You Need a Mailing List
The Best Newsletter Provider
There are hundreds of companies to choose from. At first glance, they look really similar, so most people just go with the most popular one, which is usually Mailchimp, which is a huge mistake. We also fell into a Mailchimp trap years ago because it was one of the few companies that offer a free account if your number of subscribers is low. It is an awesome option if you are just starting; however, once your mailing list starts growing, the costs become really high. We have been using Mailchimp for about 8 years because I always thought that if it works and so many people use it, it must be good.
Finally, by a total accident, I found Flodesk, and I’m so happy I made the switch a few months ago. I saved a huge amount of money, and even though it has fewer options than other providers, I’m not missing anything.
Even though I will prise Flodesk to everyone who asks, I know that you may need more than words to encourage you to switch from your current subscription provider. Because of that, let’s make some comparisons and talk about real numbers.
The comparison
I’m comparing the two providers I personally used for at least a few months. I have worked with other providers like MadMimi, MailerLite etc, for our customers, but I have never found them much better than Mailchimp. They may have a bit better pricing, but the difference was not high enough to be worth switching.
The most popular one
Price:
Depends on the number of subscribers. From as low as $20/month for 500 subscribers to even $700/month with the standard plan
Relatively new but works great
Price:
35$/month, no matter how many subscribers you have! With this link, you get 50% off for the first year.
If you are starting a fresh mailing list, Mailchimp may be tempting with their free account for a low number of subscribers, but if you think seriously about growing your list, you will quickly realize that you are paying a huge amount of money for options you are now even using
Features you need
If you want to save your money, then Flodesk is the obvious choice. How about the features? Mailchimp is here for a long time, so it offers almost everything you can think of; however, do you really need that? I have been using it for a few years, and even thou I’m a technical person who likes new features and innovations, I was really using two or three options they were offering. When I was switching to Flodesk, I was terrified that I would not be able to do something important for my business but to be honest, I have everything I need.
After a few months of research, I know that on Flodesk, you can’t set up an automatic newsletter that would notify your subscribers automatically every time you post something on your blog. It was a popular feature in the past, and I was even encouraging people to use it on Mailchimp but nowadays, I think that sending e-mails manually and adding personalized messages to each of them is more effective for small business owners.
What should I choose?
For me, the choice is simple – Flodesk. It has great pricing because it is relatively new, its drag-and-drop e-mail creator is super easy to use, and have lots of templates you can use for professional-looking emails even if you are not a designer.
You can try it for free with all the possible features for a month. With our mailing list guide, you can learn how to create a Flodesk account and set up your opt-in forms.
Make sure to use our affiliate link to support us and get 50% off your first year with Flodesk.
I hope that you will love Flodesk as much as I do. If you need help with your mailing list or opt-in setup, let us know in the comments below or contact us via our contact form.
For more, read: How To Dramatically Increase Mailing List Subscribers
How Do You Like to Be Comforted When You Are Sad?
What can others do or say to make you feel better when you are down?
Learning With The Times’s ‘Anatomy of a Scene’
What does it take to make movie magic?
Coffee and Olive Oil
What unusual food combinations do you love?
Word of the Day: pecuniary
This word has appeared in six articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Trending online courses in business, computer science, tech, and more
With more world-class content launching every week, there are always new topics to explore, new skills to learn, and new ways to achieve your goals. These latest courses, Professional Certificates, and degrees cover everything from accounting and IT to data science and software engineering. What will you learn next?
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Earning your Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies represents an excellent opportunity to set yourself apart as an in-demand talent who can deliver value across fields as diverse as business, international relations, media and communications, and more. In this world-class program, you’ll develop and refine your critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills as you learn from a faculty of distinguished scholars and industry leaders who bring deep academic knowledge and professional expertise to the program. You’ll enhance your resume with a valuable degree from a globally-recognized institution and possess the ethical judgment, intercultural skills, and commitment to lifelong learning that are the hallmarks of today’s most successful employees.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Prepare for a rewarding career in tech with a Computer Science degree from one of the world’s leading engineering institutions. You’ll gain hands-on experience and develop in-demand technical skills like machine learning, data structures, algorithms, human computer interaction, and web/app development; as well as workplace skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and communication. In addition, you’ll benefit from an industry ready curriculum, and develop job-ready skills through working on multiple industry projects. Computer science programmes from BITS Pilani are highly regarded across the industry. Faculty at BITS Pilani consistently engages with multiple corporate partners to design an industry- ready curriculum, and as you advance through the programme, you’ll develop job-ready skills through working on multiple industry projects. You’ll have the opportunity to convert your earned credits into a credential at regular intervals. You will have an option to exit with a diploma at the end of Year Two, a bachelor’s degree at the end of Year Three or opt for an additional year to earn an honors degree at the end of Year Four.
CPA Pathways Graduate Certificate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
In this for-credit program, you’ll learn from the #1 accounting faculty in the US and expand your technical knowledge and skills in financial accounting, taxation, and accounting data analytics in the CPA Pathways Graduate Certificate program. In as little as eight months, you’ll not only build the expertise needed to excel as a Certified Public Accountant—you’ll get ready to sit for the Uniform CPA Exam.
Accounting Foundations Graduate Certificate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Prepare to become an accounting professional by learning how to record, report, and analyze the financial transactions of organizations. In this three-course program, you’ll develop practical knowledge of financial and managerial accounting while building in-demand skills like critical thinking, communication, leadership, and decision-making. Gain professional experience and build your confidence via projects, exercises, and case studies based on real-world problems. You’ll grow your skills by applying industry methods, practices, and tools.
Master of Science in Software Engineering from West Virginia University
As a student in the Master of Science in Software Engineering program offered by the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, you will develop the expertise to better understand the holistic design, development, and management processes of software applications and systems. You will learn how to identify and analyze user and client needs while gaining the skills necessary to implement and create software-based solutions. This program is an ideal way to prepare for career advancement in the field of software engineering—one of the most in-demand and fastest growing occupational fields in the country. Upon earning your degree, you’ll be ideally positioned to pursue careers in any number of industries, including technology, healthcare, automotive manufacturing, green energy, remote sensing, aeronautics, finance and more.
IBM Back-End Developer Professional Certificate from IBM
Prepare for a career in the high-growth field of software development. In this program, you’ll learn the latest tools and technologies used by professional back-end developers, including Linux scripting, Git and GitHub, Python, SQL, Databases, Django, Containers with Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift, Microservices, Serverless, Applications Security, and Monitoring. Develop the portfolio to have a competitive edge in the job market as an entry level back-end developer in as little as six months.
IBM Tech Support Career Guide and Interview Preparation from IBM
Prepare to enter the job market as a technical support specialist with guidance about the regular functions and tasks of support professionals and options for career development. This course explains practical techniques for creating essential job-seeking materials such as a resume and a portfolio, as well as auxiliary tools like a cover letter and an elevator pitch. You will learn how to find and assess prospective job positions, apply to them, and lay the groundwork for interviewing. You will also get inside tips and steps to help you perform professionally and effectively at interviews. Let seasoned professionals share their experiences to help you get ahead of the competition.
IBM Data Analyst Career Guide and Interview Preparation from IBM
This course will prepare you to enter the job market as a viable candidate for a data analyst position. It provides practical techniques for creating essential job-seeking materials such as a resume and a portfolio, as well as auxiliary tools like a cover letter and an elevator pitch. You will learn how to find and assess prospective job positions, apply to them, and lay the groundwork for interviewing.
IBM Software Developer Career Guide and Interview Preparation from IBM
Prepare you to enter the job market as a viable candidate for a high demand software engineering position. This course provides practical techniques for creating essential job-seeking materials such as a resume and a portfolio, as well as auxiliary tools like a cover letter and an elevator pitch. You will learn how to find and assess prospective job positions, apply to them, and lay the groundwork for interviewing.
Google IT Support Professional Certificate from Google
Prepare for a career in the high-growth field of IT, no experience or degree required. Get professional training designed by Google and get on the fast-track to a competitively paid job. There are 400,000 U.S. job openings in IT and a $52,000 median entry-level salary in IT support.¹
Over 5 courses, learn in-demand skills that prepare you for an entry-level job. Upon completion, you can directly apply for jobs with Google and over 150 U.S. employers, including Walmart, Best Buy, and Astreya.
