| | Joe D Pennock II | I have never had a background in tech. I worked construction, moved on to an aerospace machinist role, and most recently got my CDL and drove truck. I would always tell myself that I would get a "real" job when I figured out what I wanted to do. 14 years later, my wife finally convinced me to check out a Code 101 course at CodeFellows, a one day introductory class to software development. I didn't have a whole lot of confidence that I would be able to keep up because of my age (32), my background, and other personal reasons. Leaving that one day class I felt as if I could actually make a positive change in my life. The next day, I sat down with my wife and signed up for the next available Code 102 course offered at CodeFellows. Code 102 was optional since I could have opted to test directly in to Code 201, but I wanted to give myself all the help I could get.
Again, going in to that one week course I felt anxious, unprepared and assumed I wouldn't pass the final exam. The instructor, Brad, and our class TA, Vij, were so incredible the entire week. Brad presented the information in a way that anyone from any walk of life could grasp. He broke down the information in to easily digestible pieces so that we could actually begin to implement what we were learning right away. It wasn't all theory and lecture. He ensured that the class was an interactive learning environment, allowing everyone to take part in the learning, not simply observe. Both Brad and Vij worked patiently with each student to ensure that the information made sense and that no one fell behind. More than once during that week, they bother stayed late to answer questions and to work through problems we might have had. They would constantly offer encouragement when we were struggling and celebrated with us when we succeeded. It seemed obvious that they genuinely cared about our success, not simply our tuition money. I started this journey to create myself a new life full of anxiety and self doubt. After my experience in 102, I am so excited to tackle the challenges that are ahead. If I had tried to simply test in to 201, I might have been able to google my way to a passing grade, but what I received going through Code 102 was so much more than the knowledge to pass an entrance exam. It might seem like a small victory to some, but for me it was huge. It was the first time that I took a proactive step toward a better life instead of just assuming that it wasn't for me. So thankful for Brad and Vij helping me along on the beginning of my learning journey! If you're curious about a career in tech but you're not sure if you are capable then this course is a must. |
