From The Tennis Court to Roblox Studio

A group of girls began coding together at the start of the fall. Most of the girls met through tennis, two had been best friends from the start.  When the opportunity popped up to add coding to their routine at the Surf & Turf Tennis Center, it felt natural. Tennis, then coding. All in one place. 

But at first, they weren't sure. Coding was new, and maybe even intimidating. But one girl had loved it at camp, and her mom had an idea: what if they tried it together?

Week after week, they arrived as a group, straight from their tennis lesson. Snacks in hand, still laughing from the court, they moved easily from one activity to the next.

What started as "trying it out" became something they looked forward to each week.

Building Worlds

They learned the power of creation: sometimes alone, often for each other.

For a few weeks, they collaborated on a Halloween haunted house in Roblox Studio: four levels tall, with witch hats, secret doors, and rooms imagined together.

Other weeks, they followed their own ideas.

• A fuzzy Pomeranian.

• Birthday alfajores. A blueberry tower.

• A sushi platter, complete with chopsticks.

They built fast, locked into a deep focus every creator knows. Sometimes frustrated. Always encouraging.

Music, Play, Confidence

Music became part of the ritual. A playlist while building. Karaoke at the end, voices belting out “Golden” like nothing else mattered.

Coding became a place where trying felt powerful.

Their instructor, Lily, a fourth-year computer science student, thinks carefully about how to meet each girl where she is. After each session, on the drive back to UCSD, she talked through every project. What did each girl need? What would they build next week?

“I’m not ready for this to be over,” she says.

The Last Day

As the year came to a close, one of the girls prepared for an international adventure.

On her last day, she didn’t focus on saying goodbye. She focused on her project. A cat slide, adjusted again and again until the motion felt right.

One of the girls worked on something in secret: a Roblox world inspired by Italy and everything her friend loved. It was her way of saying goodbye.

The girls hugged, and when the session ended, sang together, jumping in a joyful blur.

We are so grateful to the families who trust us, encourage their girls, and show up to celebrate their work. To Lily who gives her full presence every week. And to the Surf & Turf Tennis Center for welcoming a space where tennis and coding could live side by side.