It’s Almost Over?!
As my journey through General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive program comes to an end, I find myself in a state of excitement. Before starting this program, I was told that I would not have a life outside of coding for 12 weeks. That was a true statement. I’ve dedicated the past 10 weeks to coding and learning as much about computer programming as I possibly could. I’ve built full-stack applications using the latest languages and technologies, and have even made some great friends along the way! I never thought I would be happy about not having a life outside of coding, but I truly am. General Assembly’s SEI program has taught me more about myself than my 4 year bachelor’s degree did. I’ve learned about resilience, patience, and diligence. My key takeaway from this bootcamp is if you put in the work, you will see the results.
When I was assigned my first weekend homework assignment in this program, I cried on a Friday night. I could not, for the life of me, figure out why my code wasn’t working! As I sat there in tears, I truly considered the possibility of dropping out of the course. However, I reminded myself why I was in this position, and encouraged myself to keep going. Week 11 me would laugh in Week 1 me’s face. But, it is important to go through what I went through Week 1 to become a better developer. Now, when I am faced with problems I don’t immediately know how to solve, I view them as an opportunity to grow rather than an opportunity to cry and give up.
Through this program, I’ve been given various opportunities to help others with their coding, to grow as developers. This has been one of the most fulfilling opportunities I’ve had — both for me and others. I believe it has made me a better developer and team player, as its forced me to look at developing through a different lens. I’ve learned that it is crucial to understand how other people think to understand how they code. As this program comes to an end, I’m excited to get out there and work as a junior developer. I’m passionate about the interconnection of healthcare and technology, as well as the ways in which technology infiltrates the music industry. I’m excited for the opportunities that lie ahead! I’m beyond appreciative of this opportunity to be a part of GA’s Software Engineering Immersive program, and am ready to encourage whoever is considering a coding bootcamp! So, here are my 3 pieces of advice for those considering beginning a coding bootcamp:
- Don’t let reviews fool you! Before starting GA’s program, I looked at every possible review that was ever posted. I wanted to know EVERYTHING there was to know before entering what I thought was a grueling bootcamp. I read the reviews that said things like “worst 12 weeks of my life”, “I no longer have a life”, “I dream in code”, but I didn’t let that stop me. One of those turned out to be true — I do have dreams about my code. If I had let the reviews fool me, however, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, do your research, but everyone is different and coding is not for everyone.
- Find an interest in coding! This is probably the biggest one for me — if you are not interested in coding, you will be miserable during a coding bootcamp. It’s as simple as that. In order to be a good developer, you must spend hours learning different technologies and languages, and apply problem solving skills to solve complex programming problems. So, if you’re not interested in it, you will not want to spend hours doing it. Make sure that before going into an immersive program that you have a genuine interest in exploring computer science.
- Use your peers to collaborate and grow. When I started this program, I was a little nervous about the remote aspect of it. I have always been a pretty social person, and in my classes in college, I made friends to study with and bounce ideas off of. I simply didn’t think it would be possible to make friends through my computer! But, after spending every single day on Zoom, “face-to-face” with these people, I quickly learned that my assumptions were false. I made friends with different people in my class, and learned that it is critical to have encouraging people in your circle. It’s also a plus to find people who are just as interested in coding as you are! So, don’t hesitate to make friends. Use your peers to learn about yourself, learn about them, and learn how different people code. It will make your life during coding bootcamp a million times better.
So, that is my brief advice for those of you who are considering a coding bootcamp. Don’t be afraid and go for it.