Lightspeed: To LiftOff and Beyond

This past summer, several Cohort 2 students embarked on an accelerated journey through the Lightspeed program, a fast track to LiftOff—the final phase of Launchpad. To be considered for this selective program, students were required to hold a high school diploma, submit a thoughtful application and essay, and successfully navigate an interview. Over the course of the summer, they dove deep into Python programming, prepared rigorously for the Python Certified Entry-Level Programmer (PCEP) exam, and tackled a series of complex coding challenges. In addition to the technical demands, students participated in Ignite, a professional development initiative designed to strengthen both their technical and professional skills, ensuring they were well-rounded and prepared for the workforce.

We caught up with Pedro Santos Martinez, a graduate of Furness High School, who completed Lightspeed and is now advancing through LiftOff, where he’s honing his full-stack web development skills in preparation for a tech career.

Pedro, why did you sign up for the Lightspeed program?

I signed up for the Lightspeed program because I want to start a career in programming early. Lightspeed allowed me to do that as I fast-forwarded from 101 to LiftOff, which I’m currently in now.

What experience did you have with coding and Python before doing Lightspeed?

Before Lightspeed, I had around 5 minutes of Python programming experience, which is basically nothing. I did, however, have previous experience with HTML and CSS programming languages. The high school I attended offered a computer science class where we used Code.org to learn basic HTML and CSS programming.

What were some challenges you faced when moving through Lightspeed?

Some of the challenges I faced during Lightspeed included remembering the concepts and vocabulary for the PCEP exam, which was required at the end of the program. In addition to exam preparation, I encountered difficulties using Codecademy for coding practice, particularly with dictionaries and loops. When working on dictionary-related projects, I struggled with printing the correct data values, making it difficult to verify that the program was functioning as expected. Loops also posed a challenge, though not as significant as dictionaries, I occasionally created infinite loops by mistake, leading to slow load times and confusion about why my code wasn’t working properly.

What was your favorite aspect of learning Python?

My favorite aspect of learning Python was troubleshooting projects and assignments until they finally worked. The feeling of understanding and getting the code to work is amazing. One assignment that I struggled with was the Functions modules of Codecademy. I struggled with passing arguments between functions, especially when one function, like get_work, depended on another, get_force, to work. My code kept throwing errors, and I couldn’t figure out why, but by testing each function individually and adding print statements, I started to see the problem more clearly. Breaking the problem down into smaller parts helped me connect the functions correctly, and I was finally able to calculate the force, energy, and work. In addition, with the help of Adiba Qazi, our summer Instructional Assistant, this whole experience helps me feel more confident in Python.

Talk to us about your experience taking the PCEP? What did you do to help you pass it on the first try?

My experience taking the PCEP exam was great. I was nervous but hopeful because I knew I had put in all the effort. I did a lot of studying together with my classmates, and seeing everyone give their all motivated me to do the same, not just for myself but also for them. 

One thing that helped me pass the PCEP on the first try was going up to the board to solve and explain problems, regardless of whether I was right or wrong. At first, I was hesitant, fearing others might think differently of me, but I knew I needed to do this if I wanted to succeed on the exam. Even though I got things wrong a good portion of the time, my classmates corrected me and guided me through the questions without judging me. This process helped me immensely, and as I grew more comfortable, I went up more and more to attempt and explain problems. It really made a difference during the exam. I’m truly grateful to everyone for what they did for me and for each other, as we all helped and encouraged one another when we felt doubtful.

How has it felt starting LiftOff?

Starting LiftOff has felt amazing and nerve-wracking, and I still feel this way. Going from Foundations to LiftOff is a big leap. Now we’re learning HTML and CSS, which I have previous experience with; however, JavaScript is entirely new to me, and I’m not going to lie – it’s hard for me. But knowing how I felt about Python, I believe I’ll be able to understand JavaScript in time. I’m looking forward to everything I’m able to learn and hopefully creating some personal projects from what I learn in LiftOff. I know there will be more challenges ahead, and I will confront them head-on. I’m thankful to still have my friends with me through LiftOff, and I’m looking forward to getting to know my new classmates better. Overall, I’m grateful for the position I’m in.

Do you believe Launchpad should continue offering the Lightspeed program to 12th graders in Launchpad Foundations?

I believe Launchpad should continue to offer the Lightspeed program to 12th graders in Launchpad Foundations, as it provides an opportunity for future students who want the challenge of understanding Python in a month and passing the PCEP. Additionally, each time the program runs, students can provide feedback to help improve the experience for themselves, future participants, and Launchpad as a whole. This also aligns with Launchpad’s mission to build an accelerated pathway that connects high school students to high-paying tech careers.

I would like to give my deepest gratitude to the Launchpad staff, my Lightspeed groupmates, Adiba, and everyone who supported me to get here. I know that sometimes I can be a bit of a pain, but I truly appreciate everyone and will continue to, even after finishing Launchpad. I believe everyone will go on to do great things. Thank you very much.