I am a big believer that nothing happens before it’s time, but when I first started class I found myself wishing I decided to enter the world of coding earlier in my life. The last four weeks have been a great challenge and opened my eyes to a world I knew nothing about. When I say nothing, I mean nothing: zilch, nada, big ol’ zero!

So, why would I do this now? My answer to that question lies in my experiences with Tech Talent South and every person I have had the pleasure of meeting and forming a bond with- sharing motivations, frustrations, life experiences, desires, future plans and many laughs during lunches.

Each day I am met with a new challenge to learn, grow, and apply my knowledge. I know I can make a difference in the life of my daughter with what I am learning. I am gaining a new “skill” I can teach her and that makes me so proud.

Tech Talent South does it right. They provide the help from all angles. My teachers Tim and Dan are rockstars in my eyes. I strive to be as knowledgeable as they are and pursue exactly what I want just as they have. They are there to help with any problems we come up against and explain the solution (and explain again, in my case). I always feel good about what I am learning and never afraid to say I don’t get it. That is a testament to both of them and I am very grateful.

Erin, our Community Organizer is on a level all her own. She is such a spark and really dedicated to helping all of us. She has made sure we have met so many of the companies within Raleigh through guest speakers and Meetups. She has single-handedly grown my tech circle. I wasn’t aware of the great work companies right here in my city were doing and how I fit within that.

I have really learned so much in the past 4 weeks, more than I could have ever imagined. Until this course I forgot how much I love to learn and how much fun it is.

The time is going so fast and I am actually a little sad about it because the course has been that much fun.

So I “turn the page” (Bob Seger anyone?) and get ready for the second half of class: more motivated, more excited, and knowing that my time wasn’t earlier in life, my time is right now.

Puts “See you in the command line”