Student Experience | Colin Walton, Web Development

BrainStation
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read

Meet Colin, a Web Development student who is joining us in Vancouver to learn how to build a website and integrate himself into the technical world. Get inspired by Colin’s story.

What is your education and career background? Your current role?

I came to Vancouver a little over five years ago to attend the University of British Columbia, intending to pursue a degree in Psychology. A couple weeks into my program, I decided that I wanted to bring the lens a bit more to the bigger picture, so I decided to switch over to Sociology, while also taking on a minor in what was UBC’s equivalent of Human Sexuality.

Employment wise, I have remained in roles that focus on customer service and experience. I am currently working at the cafe I worked at through my undergraduate degree, where I’ve risen up to Supervisor and Social Media Coordinator, while also working part time as a representative for Walt Disney Studios.

What course are you enrolled in for this cohort and what made you decide to take it?

I have enrolled for the Web Development course, taught by Rowan and Zach. As an Arts graduate, I rarely interacted with the world of computer science and coding, which in a time like this can be limiting. I decided to take on the Intro to Web Development to help myself learn the language of coding while also giving myself some skills that could help me in both my personal and professional lives.

How did you hear about the program?

I spent a good deal of time researching the various programs available in Vancouver and BrainStation was my lucky winner!

What are you most excited to learn?

I am stoked to begin creating a website! I cannot wait to be armed with the skills to create a website, and the confidence to tinker around with code in order to bring my ideas onto an available page.

If you had to pick a favourite tech company doing awesome things — who would it be and why?

I’ve recently become aware of “Chimp,” whose main mission is to make giving to charity easier than ever before. By offering their services to individuals, charities and businesses alike, Chimp hopes to simplify the process by which one can give, maximizing efficiency and opening the door to making charity a greater part of company culture. There are numerous barriers to impactful giving: financial health, accessibility/availability and proper resource allocation to name a few. Chimp hopes to circumvent these barriers by condensing the process into a single service and assisting in integrating charitable offering into the lives of businesses and individuals. With an aim like that, how could I not support it?

Favourite spot to spend an afternoon in the city?

Gargoyles Bar & Grill, for sure. It’s a lovely little pub nestled in Kitsilano amongst the countless other bars of West Broadway. What makes Gargoyles special, in my opinion, is that it’s almost never crowded and their deals are… actually deals. I usually head there alone (no shame) to read a book with one hand while expertly maneuvering a plate of hot wings with the other. They’ve got an adorable patio and the various streamers and ornaments from parties they’ve hosted appear to now be permanent fixtures. Amazing.

Otherwise, you can usually find me frying myself at Loccarno Beach.

How do you plan on applying your newfound skills, personally and/or professionally?

Staying true to the cliches of my generation, I have a blog. I hope to exit this course with a tool set that will allow me to interact with my space in a way that is more personal and inherently more satisfying.

Regarding my professional life, I would love to utilize the skills I’ll be learning in my course. While I may have a while yet before I find myself in a position where I will be creating websites for others, I will definitely have more confidence when speaking with others about the world of coding. Understanding the language and being able to hold conversations with individuals in the industry will be crucial for my career, as I intend to integrate myself more and more into the tech world as my path unfolds.

Inspired? Learn more about our upcoming Web Development course and request a Course Info Package.

This post originally appeared on the BrainStation Blog.

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