No Limits
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” — Mae Jemison

It has taken me a long time to write this story. The reasons why are many and varied; I’m a bit rusty at the personal essay game ever since graduating college, I’ve been busy moving and looking for work, and of course I’ve procrastinated just a little bit. But some of it has been because I just haven’t known what to say in response to the question “Why do you want to be a software engineer?” I know all the reasons people have been telling me I should want to be a software engineer. It would be so easy to just write this story about all of those good, sensible reasons, but none of them really fit.
People say you should be a software engineer because of the fantastic pay. Now while I would love to be able buy a pony, the money is really just an enjoyable side benefit. I’ve come to find that the common thread that runs through all of my desires to pursue this career is that I just honestly like to help people. I’ve always wanted to help people. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be an engineer who designed prosthetics or clean energy equipment. When I ended up as a pre-veterinary major in college I quickly eliminated agriculture as a possible career path — I cared too much about the cows. Now I’m in IT and feel the need to pull out the polite “that’s not funny but social mores dictate I laugh anyway” chuckle every time my colleagues complain about having to help clients who are hopeless with their devices, because I absolutely love it.
Truth be told, there is some self-satisfaction in taking what I’ve learned and using it to help people. The more I do this, the more I realize that I’m not satisfied with only being able to help one person at a time anymore. If I can put in the work, then why not become someone who can do good on a larger scale? I feel that learning the skills to get out ahead and develop useful technologies is the best way to use the enthusiasm I have for helping people.
I have also been told that I should be an engineer for the prestige, but I have no desire to become the next Steve jobs. First of all I am not what most people would classify as “attention seeking”. That’s not to say that I can’t speak up in front of a crowd or that I’m always the one at the party hugging the wall — it’s just that I feel more comfortable doing what I need to do without necessarily needing everyone to see me do it. It would be really fulfilling to me to just be someone who can work hard and have some positive impact on the world, even if the average person doesn’t know about it or know why it’s important. Software engineering isn’t the only way to do that, but I feel that it is the best way forward for me to realize that ambition.
People might think that part of the allure for me is a chance to be the next startup sensation. That’s true, but not necessarily for the reasons one might assume. I want more than anything to be part of the growth of the community of women in tech, and a startup would be a great way to achieve that. Even in the year 2017, people are still amazed women are in STEM fields. I want to normalize minorities in tech fields and be someone my younger family members can find inspiration in.
Everything about Holberton appeals to the way I have come to realize I learn best: repeated, real world application of fundamental principles in a collaborative environment. I can learn using the traditional lecture-and-homework model, but my understanding is most clear when I can put new knowledge to work by building something or solving a problem with it. I could manage the basics, but I won’t pretend that I can teach myself to code most of the things that really interest me. Alone, I lack the time and money to dedicate to my goals in the face of surviving day-to-day life.
On the more cultural side of things, I also love the feeling I get from all of the promotional materials and testimony from alumni that Holberton is a welcoming place for people of all socioeconomic and technical backgrounds. I am a person that learns best in a community, with guidance and challenges set by someone other than myself. I have always been most motivated and done my best work in cooperative learning environments. From being on a robotics team in high school to partnered labs in college, the exact style of instruction Holberton provides is the style I have always had the most success with. For that community to be one I could feel secure in, knowing that I won’t be judged for not knowing something even though I have some technical background, is a huge plus.
All-in-all, applications are always a two way street. Coding boot camps are plentiful, and doubtless there are a few that would be easier to attend than the uprooting I would have to go through to attend classes in California. Ultimately, I chose Holberton because I think it has the winning strategy for me. On the other side of the selection, Holberton is looking for motivated students who are dedicated to their learning and looking for a lifelong career. I am that type of student and while I think Holberton is a great match for me, I believe I would be a great match for Holberton as well.
