Mira Thope

Where do you attend school and what activities are you involved in?

I attend Carnegie Mellon University and am majoring in Information Systems. Here at CMU, I am a member of the Women in IS Program and will be a peer tutor for a Computer Science course next semester. In high school, I was heavily involved in the Computer Science Honor Society and the Peer Mentoring Program.

What have your teaching opportunities been outside of Fairfax Collegiate?

In high school, I participated in a peer mentoring program where I guided freshmen through academics and extracurriculars with their transition into high school. I also conducted tutoring sessions under the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) where I helped peers with assignments and strengthened their understanding in CS topics.

What sort of experience have you had in the subject you’ll be teaching this summer?

This summer, I will be teaching computer science courses in Python and Java. I took Java classes all through high-school, covering AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, Advanced Computer Science, and Computer Systems. I also took a Geospatial Analysis course in high school where I became familiar with GIS software such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. Here at CMU, I have taken Fundamentals of Programming & Computer Science which cover Python fundamentals, algorithms, and object oriented programming in Python. In this course, I designed and built a game that simulated the role of a barista in a coffee shop utilizing Python, graphics, animations, and PIL.

What excites you about teaching and working with students?

Teaching and working with young students has always been a role I’ve been involved with and naturally gravitated towards. Helping others solve problems and get over obstacles fills me with satisfaction and allows me to positively impact the lives of young students. Along with being able to witness students grow academically, working with students allows me to build meaningful relationships.

Outside of work, what are some hobbies you enjoy?

Outside of work, I love to dance. Growing up, I studied an Indian classical dance called Kathak for 10 years, and here at CMU, I am a member of the competitive Bhangra dance team. I also love to workout, bake, and whet my caffeine addiction exploring coffee shops around town!