WHAT WAS YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE ATTENDING TRADE SCHOOL?
I graduated from college with a major in Math, but I had difficulty finding a job that suited me. I took up jobs working as an intern and other odd jobs that worked with my schedule, allowing me to also be with my kids. I wasn’t really on track for any career or anything like that. I knew I wanted to develop my skills in the tech world, but I was stagnant and wasn’t really sure where to get started.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO CODING?
I got into coding in college. As I mentioned, I graduated with a degree in Math and a minor in Computer Science. My counselor saw I only had a couple of classes to complete to receive the minor degree and that I should take the opportunity. I’m fortunate to have listened to them because that was the start of my current career. Once I graduated and started in the field, I realized how much I missed it, so I went back to school.
HOW DID MIA SHARE HELP YOU ON YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY?
The admin at TrueCoders referred me to Mia Share because you guys offer to finance trade school tuition. I didn’t think I would qualify, but Mia Share enabled me to do something that I've always wanted to do. I wanted to go to a boot camp, and you all really made a dream possible. I was at a standstill in my life and my skills were not getting use, and because of Mia Share, I get to practice my dream job every day and develop the future I was looking for. So I'm just really grateful.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM YOUR TIME AT TRUECODERS?
I wasn't just learning to program in C sharp, which was also extremely valuable. But I was also taught how to find a job. They train you to do Google searches properly to find your perfect job and build a network that will work for you. That kind of education paired with a genuine interest in your success is probably my biggest takeaway.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WORKING IN TECH?
I love the challenge, every day I get to work on something different. I’m a software engineer working on web development, so every project brings me a new outlook. The pay raise was also a game-changer. The earning potential in the coding industry is, honestly, never-ending, especially in this day in age. I went from making barely enough money to support my kids and now I’m making over $80,000 a year from a quick 8-week course.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THOSE PURSUING A TRADE SCHOOL EDUCATION?
Don’t wait around any longer, it’s worth it. Just go for it and you will see the fruits of your labor very quickly. Trade industries are always in need of more workers and this kind of education can be a life-changer like it was for me.