Charlotte Lin

Charlotte Lin sees the potential for creativity and self-expression in computing, and she wants to share it with the world. A recent graduate of New York University, Charlotte has forged a unique path and is on her way to more successes.

Charlotte’s introduction to coding came in high school, when she took a summer course on C++. She already had a passion for creating, but seeing how coding can produce tangible products and drive positive change was all the motivation she needed to dive in headfirst. For her, that meant voluntarily staying up late at night hammering out code, enjoying the learning process and pushing her own boundaries to discover new skills. Creating apps, digital art, games, and websites are just some of the ways she uses tech imaginatively. As she says, “To me, coding is the perfect combination of creativity and logic, and it’s my true passion!”

After discovering her love of code, Charlotte started off on her hacking journey. Inspired by her brother, she attended her first hackathon, HackBCA IV, in March of 2017. What stood out to her about hackathons was how much fun they were, and she realized that coding can be a joyful community experience. She recalls, “Hackathons are the perfect way for people to experience how fun coding can be, and to inspire young students to get into tech.” Since then, she has entered many hackathons, using them as arenas to demonstrate and develop her STEM, artistic, and analytical talents. She has been on a hacking spree, attending events like HackUC 2017, Ludum Dare 48 Game Jam, Acts 2 Campus Hack in Place 2.0, PearlHacks 2021, HackNYU 2022, HackNYU 2023, and Hack@CEWIT 2023.

Charlotte has been floored by the connections she has made over the years in the hacker community. Friendships with people in her city, in other states, and even in other countries have blossomed through her exploration of tech. Beyond that, she has learned more about herself. She says, “When I discovered coding, it was like a lightbulb went off. This was the way for me to use all my skills and talents.” Her background in art, web design, game design, and math combine to create innovative projects with real-world impacts.

Today, she strives to encourage others to follow their coding dreams. She mentors middle-school students and teenagers, with an emphasis on helping young women break barriers and explore the world of technology. Computer science can be portrayed as dry and boring, but Charlotte is out to change that image. She knows that the fun and excitement of coding, app development, and hackathons can be contagious.

When she was little, Charlotte wanted to be a painter. Her middle school dream was Broadway, and high school saw her marching with the band. “I also had an aptitude for math and a keen interest in technology,” she recalls, “which was something I figured I’d have to give up in order to pursue my creative passions.” Through the hacker community, she realized how creative computer science can be—and rather than giving up on her interests, she’s gained new ones. Her creative approach to coding and dedication to mentoring others will no doubt have a unique impact on the world of computer science.