Exploring Technology with FromedToTechJourney.xyz
How did I get to tech from being an educator?
Sometimes I ask myself how did I become a Software Developer after spending years on a career in education. Why did I leave something I was passionate about? The answer is that I wanted a peace of mind. I also wanted to bet on myself. My journey into tech began as my desire to give back to my Collegiate community. My father Chris, has always told me to never forget where you came from. My time at Temple University was my introduction into adulthood and sometimes failure. I wanted to pour back into a space and other women who had worked hard and may have needed support like I needed when I was in college.
My desire to give back to the University led me to connecting with a networking group for women alumna who were offering mentorship to graduates like myself and undergraduates. On particular occasion I decided to attend the group’s first brunch for the women alumna. The stars must have been aligned that day because the keynote speaker had shared how her life was transformed when she had brought a non-profit Tech organization to my city. The group was operating for over 3 or 4 years and the tech classes that the program offered were free or low cost. She shared about her travels and the sacrifices and struggles she had in her life as an immigrant. She shared how she decided to take a bet on herself and was starting a wearable device to prevent rape of women.
This women’s story inspired me so much. At the time I was enjoying myself by using declarative programming to build a website for a religious women’s conference. At the time, I felt like I was a professional Software Developer because I built the conference website. Hearing the woman share about the Tech group seemed like an outlet for me to explore the excitement I was feeling from the the website. It sounded like a reasonable idea because I was beginning to dread waking up everyday to go to teach. I hated the idea of wishing Friday would come because I felt like I was wishing my life away. I was also inspired by this woman for betting on herself and starting a business in wearable technology. She found passion and purpose by taking a leap of faith and pursing her dreams. Why couldn’t I do the same?
After that brunch I did hours of research learning about what a developer does, how much they got paid, and how long it takes to get into the field. I reached out to founders of companies and other developers to get a feel for what the everyday life of a developer would be like. It seemed like a no brainer to pursue this career. I drank from the water hose and believed the articles when they said I could get a job in 3 months if I took a bootcamp. I believed the articles when they said I could make 6 figures straight out of the bootcamp. During that season I found a sense of purpose because I was able to envision a life better than the one I was currently living. I was so pumped about my future possibilities that I was more dedicated doing the research than I was the Master’s program I had recently graduated. I wanted to become a developer so bad that I was dedicated to figuring out how I was going to make this vision a reality.
Please follow along to my next post as I continue to share my journey.
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