05/08/2025
Q. Why did you want to become a developer and what do you enjoy about it now?
I had grown tired of my previous career and was looking for some new direction. Software development simply looked cool at first and it seemed to be a good career path to follow. But once I started learning I quickly fell in love with the process and nowadays working around a skillset that I keep honing over time feels like the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my professional life.
Q. Can you tell us about your experience with FAC?
I completed my bootcamp and then stuck around to facilitate a few others for the next year and a half or so and probably two aspects of it marked me the most. The first is that FAC is a space truly shaped by the alumni so every cohort produces a new version of what it feels like to be there. I think this was a massive influence in my early learning and in how I approach development still today. There was so much room for shaping your own learning and so much focus on sharing knowledge that it let us create the ideal learning environment, whatever that might look for each of us. It also prepared us to carry those practices forward into our careers. The second was how we actually worked on real-life projects very quickly. It didn’t feel like a sterile classroom (that probably would have dampened my desire to keep learning) because we were working through real problems together and creating something tangible, particularly when it came to the Tech For Better projects.
Q. Do you have any advice for someone who is thinking of becoming a developer?
Being a developer is a skill-based role and the great thing about that is that, no matter the state of the job market, anyone can do it. If you’re curious about becoming a developer then give it some hours and try your hand at it. And if you enjoy the process - if learning syntax and creating small web pages or apps is exciting and the frustration that comes with it feels worth the reward - then work with others. It’s honestly the best thing I could advise anyone to do, and it’s also something I’m super grateful to have done through FAC. Writing code is fun, sure, but if you want to really be a developer then get used to working on solutions with others. Learn how to share the things you know and ask for the help you need. There’s no level of coding skill (and there is certainly no AI tool) that can replace the ability to share and perfect your skill by working with other people on a common goal. Find a project you’re interested in (or create one) and collaborate on it. And if you think you’re not “good enough yet” then take this as your chance to get better!
