A year ago, I found myself at a pivotal moment in life, grappling with the realization that medical school wasn’t the path I wanted to take. After countless hours of self-reflection, career quizzes, and even conversations with career coaches, it became clear that my strengths lay in being both analytical and imaginative. I remembered how much I loved my application programming electives and biostatistics courses in college — there was something magical about seeing my ideas come to life on the screen. That’s when I knew it was time to take a leap of faith and dive into the world of coding. Still, this was daunting, I had worked in research, clinical healthcare, and even in medical office roles for over a decade. It was all I knew, yet I wanted to know more.
Entering the coding world was exhilarating, but also overwhelming. The sheer number of choices alone — computer science degree, 15478 different bootcamps, or going the self-taught route — felt like navigating uncharted territory. Having already earned a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry, another four-year degree wasn’t a valid option for me due to work commitments, finances, and simply not wanting to start over. I briefly considered a master’s in computer science, but I lacked the prerequisites for that path. So, I began with self-study through Udemy courses, revisited my undergraduate course notes, and explored every resource I could find. Eventually, I chose a flexible, affordable bootcamp that focused on Python, data structures, and algorithms — essentials for technical interviews. But I knew the bootcamp was just a tool; the real progress came from the work I put in outside of it. I tackled freelance passion projects, took on paid gigs for local businesses, and immersed myself in articles, networking events, videos, podcasts, and even programming books to keep building my knowledge. I spent countless hours on HackerRank and LeetCode, expanding my skills one problem at a time. From the moment I started, I was hooked. The challenge of coding problems, the thrill of projects, and the satisfaction of seeing my hard work come to life. It wasn’t just about writing code; it was about creating something meaningful, something that worked.
One of the most memorable experiences was working on my full-stack coffee app project for a local mobile coffee shop here in my state of residence. It was a true test of patience and problem-solving. The project was riddled with challenges like outdated packages, dependency issues, and installation problems that honestly made me want to pull my hair out. Through it all, I learned to embrace the process of troubleshooting, relying on forums, videos, and the problem-solving techniques emphasized in my bootcamp. It wasn’t just about finding the right answer; it was about developing the mindset to keep going, to dig deeper, and to trust that I could figure it out.
Being accepted into Develop Carolina and landing a paid Data Scientist Internship/Apprenticeship at Booz Allen Hamilton still feels so surreal to me. It’s a dream come true, and every day I’m filled with a sense of gratitude and pride. Of course, the workload is demanding, and there are moments of stress, but there’s also an incredible feeling of fulfillment. I’ve made a huge step toward a career transition in just one year, and I’m determined to make the most of this opportunity. Each day brings new challenges, but I face them with a positive mindset, knowing that I’ve built the skills and resilience to handle whatever comes my way. What’s truly transformative is how I’ve learned to approach setbacks. I no longer feel immediately discouraged when I encounter an error or a roadblock. Instead, I see it as a chance to grow, to learn something new, and to refine my problem-solving skills. I’ve realized that I’m not alone in this journey — reaching out to cohort members, leaning on my support network, and staying curious has made all the difference. As I look to the future, I’m excited about the milestones ahead. Whether it’s tackling my first tickets on the data team, making progress on my full-stack project, or deepening my understanding of machine learning, I’m absolutely ready for what’s next! This journey has taught me that with the right mindset and a commitment to continuous learning, there’s no limit to what I can achieve.
Top comments (1)
Glad you made it, mate!