I spent 12 years in logistics & distribution. But ...

I spent 12 years in logistics & distribution. But in the last few years, after attending a few workshops and conferences, an itch to pursue coding led me to study it in my spare time.

Self-discipline allowed me to develop the skills needed to get accepted into the full-time HackerYou bootcamp. In late 2017, I decided to leave my stable career to pursue this new and unknown path that I was so passionate about.

I was really nervous before starting this program, constantly wondering if I made the right choice. The timing in my personal life wasn t ideal and I knew that commuting from Hamilton every day for 9 weeks was going to be challenging. I was also worried that I was too old or that I wouldn t relate to others in the program. I was also concerned that I would never be able to find a job.

It was 9 weeks of 13-14 hour days, but in the end, the right choice. The days didn t feel long at all because I enjoyed what I was learning and doing. I can also say that I made a lot of solid friendships, and that all the folks in my cohort were wonderful to learn with and spend time with every day.

The learning environment at HackerYou is mega supportive. There is always someone willing to help you whether it s an instructor, administrator, peer or even alumni. And while I love all the instructors, Ryan Christiani is one of the best teachers I ve ever had. His ability to look at what you re doing (even if it isn t the way he would do it) and guide you through next steps makes him truly awesome at his job.

I don t regret leaving my job to attend HackerYou. The personal challenges and the doubts I had going into the program seem silly to me now. I ve been done the program for about a month, and start my first job as a Web Developer next week. Thanks HackerYou! :)