I taught teachers but got schooled by code.

It all started so innocently. I called Code Girl and asked her to help me build an app to accompany my method for teaching geography. The next thing I knew, I tripped and fell right into a big pile of code. Wait. Let me back up.

First I was born in an ambulance. Then I went to school. Wait. Too far.

I wanted to be a marine biologist, so I went to college. But organic chemistry was such a bully, so I went into English and became a teacher (not really, I was just terrified of it). Then I went back to school to become a better teacher. And once more with feeling!

With a Ph.D. in hand, I strolled into a college classroom, ready to teach teachers how to teach reading. Ivory tower tales in hand, I raised my fist and proclaimed: You shall be teachers, and I shall guide you to the promised land of pedagogy. Crickets.

Yeah, I proceeded to step down from the ivory tower rather quickly. A little embarrassed, I tucked my crown into my bag and set my torch on the desk. (Yes, of course I extinguished the flame first. Focus, reader; I’m building to something important here). I spent the next thirteen years listening, watching, and studying the world of teaching. I noticed how things fit together, and I built a set of beliefs that have brought me to this moment right HERE.

Code Girl sent me a secret message: “It’s time to meet.” You know, it felt like a huge moment, like the rising action to an epic movie. Maybe I was about to get my own relic? I mean, I could really go for a slick Cloak of Levitation — but that one has been taken. That would be so cool, though.

That was the moment, though. I thought to myself, why can’t I learn to code? Then I can fix my own webpage and maybe even build an app for ipad one day. Although I was riddled with doubt (math and logic are seriously my Achilles Heel), faith led me. No, literally. Get it? CodeGirl’s name is Faith? Nevermind. It just hit me. I was going to take on this challenge. I wasn’t afraid because I knew Faith would be there for me.

So anyway, we met. Whirlwind is a catastrophic understatement. By the time three days go by, I am signed on to FreeCodeCamp, I have a study group, I’m part of mentoring group on Slack, I have watched #DaysofCode, I have a new logo, and my entire world has this brand new sparkle to it. And most of all, I don’t feel alone in my academic world any longer. Now I am part of something sparkly and exciting. And each morning when I wake up, I remember that someone really special has my back. And when I drop the code and it shatters on the floor, she will help me pick up the pieces and put it back together again. And again. And once more with feeling!

Join me on Twitter if you have a great story to share. Or visit me online at www.drjulierubinacci.com.

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