Coding has always brought me a sense of fulfillment. Ever since the very first time I wrote a line of code in third grade on a PET computer (circa 1984), I knew that I could spend the rest of my life programming a computer.
I often tell the story of sitting beside my mother who after working for the phone company for a number of years, decided to start a business creating and designing marketing materials for local small businesses and organizations right out of our basement. This business may not have led to much financial gain but it left a lasting impression on me.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school where I knew I’d graduate and go right into college as a computer programming major, only to find out that did not exist. After reading the course descriptions for the university I was planning to enter the only options were Computer Science and Computer Information Systems. The science and math courses that were required to major in Computer Science were quite intimidating – this led me to pursue CIS as it involved computers but not as much math and science. This major was not what I thought it would be… I was not challenged nor motivated to stay the course. After some major life changes I dropped out of college. However, I continued developing my technical skills by working with computers in a number of industries and professions. I have been fortunate enough to work with local small businesses and real estate companies in a number of capacities which always ended with me at the keyboard.
Some of the work I have done involved:
- Designing a logo for a small real estate brokerage
- Building websites (WordPress themed mostly)
- Troubleshooting hardware problems
- Removing viruses
- Learning various business software systems
- Graphic design, Marketing materials and more
Obtaining my bachelor of science degree in 2011 (Business Information Systems – Technical Management) was a goal I was very proud to accomplish. Wide-eyed and full of hope I was finally entering the technology field… or so I thought. However, there is a major gap between supporting technology and creating it. It has taken me only a few short years to realize that I need to return to my first love, programming which has now become developing. I am truly very excited and a bit anxious, if I were to be totally honest, about finally immersing myself in this experience with ACLTC. A bit more seasoned professionally, self taught on many languages (HTML, CSS, Javascript, Python – somewhat) – I am ready for this next step and appreciative that it has finally arrived.
