Thalia Elie — ITEM of the Month

The ITEM
The ITEM
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read

As part of our efforts to build a community around our membership we decided to highlight one of our members every so often. We have a standard set of questions and we see that they are eliciting some great response. Accordingly, they are shared for the most part, unedited. Meet Thalia Elie, an amazing representation of The ITEM’s potential:

Ms. Elie getting her mind right…

The ITEM: Tell us something about yourself.

Thalia Elie [TE]: I’m an artist exploring ways to integrate tech into art. I came [to The ITEM] to meet techies and get their input. I realized how open the [tech] scene is and began to look for ways to join this field as a techie who works remotely.

The ITEM: What was your experience in tech?

TE: I had no experience in tech. I hired a developer to create an intereactive app for my art installation after attending tech week and seeing the accessability of coders.

The ITEM: Have there ever been any obstacles in your tech career?

TE: Tons! I began learning languages HTML,PYTHON ,JAVA…all of them were too difficult and didn't really serve my purpose for tech integrated art. It took me 1 year to find out what Iwanted was possible through 3D visual projection. The info is available but it’s all in techie talk, which is totally foreign to a new person like me. So I still struggle with how to learn what Ireally want to implement. Most tutorials are a solo thing but I would LOVE to talk to people..who speak more than techie…to get guidance. That’s hard. It’s a challenge to push myself to learn it. I’m very visual and [you have to do all] this programming is all BEFORE you see results. I see the financial value. That is my motivating factor. Sometimes I take a break for a day but mostly I push through believing that one day it will all click. I am still challenging myself to try until Iunderstand. Now I’m taking AWS and Salesforce class and its much easier than coding languages and just as in demand.

The ITEM: What advise can you give to people who wants to land a job in tech industry?

TE: Make a plan including 2–3 years as a beginner..just try what fits. Join The ITEM and talk to lots of people in different fields of tech…Coding may not be for you, it wasn't for me and that's ok! Its difficult but that's not a reason to stop if it fits into a plan of yours [emphasis added]. Know when to learn solo and when you need a real teacher. Go further in your classes, teachers appreciate it and offer you real world tasks that will help in the future. Team up with new people and techies…it balances and encourages your study life. Take time to veg out…this stuff can melt your brain if you don't break out and have some fun!! Once you get something done…go to fiverr.com or freelancer and get some gigs. Ask your teacher for gigs. Get a small resume built up of projects. If your field offers a certificate…get it. Then Apply for stuff cause there are more jobs than people now and you’re so awesome for sticking it out. .you will get your reward!

The ITEM

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The ITEM

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