My Journey as a Software Developer Apprentice: Embracing Opportunities and Growth
Tags: webdev, beginners, learning, code
Published: 2023-07-12 23:49:33

Hey everyone!

I'm Chelsea, and over the past year, I've started on an exciting journey to pursue a career in software development! As someone in their thirties, I made a pretty massive change in my career and life.  

Previously, I worked as an optical laboratory technician and I loved it! Sadly, the lack of stability and financial security convinced me to make a change. That's when I decided to work towards a career in software development. I enrolled in a coding boot camp called Carolina Code School and eventually I was accepted into an apprenticeship program hosted by Build Carolina.

Looking back, I can confidently say that this decision has been one of the best I've ever made. Coding used to intimidate me, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it, and I'm incredibly happy that I did. I started coding back in high school with a basics coding course, we learned HTML 4, CSS, and visual basic. I loved working with HTML and CSS, building web pages was a lot of fun! Visual basic on the other hand was extremely intimidating and challenging for me at the time. Struggling with visual basic caused me to think that programming was out of my skillset. But many years later, I decided to try again by going to a coding bootcamp!

After joining Carolina Code School, the knowledge I've gained so far is just the tip of the iceberg, and I'm constantly amazed by the endless learning opportunities in this field! And I am so thankful that I don't have to use visual basic... 

After graduating Carolina Code School, I decided to take a step further and apply for Build Carolina's apprenticeship course, and got in! Being accepted into the apprenticeship program has already been a highlight in my life. I'm excited about being an apprentice because I've experienced the positive impact of having mentors throughout my previous career. And I've been a mentor before myself. While I was working in the optical field, I worked with passionate mentors who fueled my own passion for the job. Now, in the software development field, I've had the privilege of meeting with software engineers who match the passion and enthusiasm for their work like my previous mentors. That speaks volumes, considering the high regard I have for my past mentors.

Yet, being an apprentice is an overwhelming experience. As a novice, you find yourself at the bottom of the totem pole, ready to absorb all the knowledge, but also nervous about making mistakes and meeting expectations. However, I constantly remind myself that masters take on apprentices to guide and shape us into becoming masters ourselves. This opportunity is a chance for me to grow and evolve into something even greater.

Now, as I start my apprenticeship journey, there are several key areas that I am eager to learn. First and foremost, my focus lies in acquiring a solid understanding of development, and that includes development methodologies like test-driven code. Also, I am enthusiastic about expanding my expertise in Angular, Spring Boot, and Java, because these technologies are used in my host company and they'd be great to add to my collection of skills. Additionally, I am excited to embrace the challenge of creating another full-stack application, because it will help me apply my newfound skills. By embracing these learning opportunities, I am confident that I will evolve into a well-rounded and skilled software developer.

In conclusion, my journey as an apprentice software developer has been exciting so far. The decision to transition careers and pursue coding has opened up a world of possibilities. I am deeply grateful for the invaluable guidance and support offered by my mentors and the nurturing environment provided by the apprenticeship program. While I am nervous about the challenges along the way, I am resolute in my commitment to face them head-on. I am constantly growing my skills and I am ready for the opportunities and challenges on the horizon.