From Children's Musician to iOS Dev - Late in Life Career Change?
Tags: beginners, career, mobile, ios
Published: 2023-05-21 13:48:43

Hello Dev,

I'm new here. This is my story...

I teach college algebra. It’s a gig I took as a stop-gap measure to get myself past a rough patch in my music career. Spoiler alert — that didn’t work out. I’m still teaching college algebra, nearly seven years on.

For most of my adult life I’ve made a living as a full-time children’s songwriter, performer, and teaching artist. I still perform at libraries during the summer, and I have several CDs out. They’re pretty good. I’m on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/artist/66z8hGVbduE6jpBAHY7Eql) if you want to look me up.

I’ve also always wanted to be an author, and teaching has given me time to complete three middle-grade novels. I’ve been hoping this would become my creative salvation. I could get published, be a full-time writer, quit teaching, and make music on the side.

But authorship is a long and arduous journey. And teaching as an adjunct instructor has become my dead-end, low-pay, no-benefits, no-job-security albatross — it’s not a career. With neither music nor writing poised to take over any time soon, a neutron-star-sized clump of dread formed in my stomach when it came time to sign up for yet one more semester of college algebra this coming Fall. I felt stuck and depressed and desperate for change.

Desperate enough to start poking around, even though I couldn’t imagine a better option that wouldn’t require expensive education or years of prior experience. _You_ can, though, right?

What I discovered seemed way too good to be true! First of all, you need to know that all my non-music, non-writing projects over the years — anything I’ve done for fun or contemplated turning into some kind of business — from my high school years through to the pandemic — all those projects involved some kind of coding. I just never realized I was developing job-worthy skills that could lead to a fun, creative, high-earning career! I might even be able to work from home. With a bit of training I could potentially start job hunting within a few months! 

_What?!? Is this for real? Pinch, pinch._

After a few days of giddy research, I jumped on board. I signed up for Udacity’s iOS Development course on April 22, 2023.

I’m writing this one month later from the eye of an information hurricane. I’ve been completely obsessed! All that I’ve encountered in the wonderland of tech, even including all the hurdles and frustrations (of which there are many), leaves me convinced I’ve dropped myself into the right place. 

Simultaneously, I’m terrified I’ve made a huge mistake. Maybe I’m too old for this. Maybe I don’t have what it takes. Maybe it is all too good to be true. Maybe I’m chasing an unattainable dream.

Doesn’t matter. 

If all I acquire is the ability to complete a few personal projects, it’ll be worth it. One thing on my to-make list is a calendar for my elderly mom. She has a brain disease that leaves her unable to comprehend time, which gives her constant anxiety. None of the dementia calendars out there have helped, and they all work on the same principal. My idea is different. Maybe it’ll work better for her. When I get discouraged, I picture my mom using an iPad, running my calendar app. For now, that project is my North Star. I have until mid August to get as far as I can before algebra instruction reclaims my time for another semester.

And I want that tech career, so I’m going all in. As I understand it, that means social media / blogging / learning in public. So here I am ready to give it my best!

What does it take for a fifty-something-year-old children’s musician to snag a new career in tech? Give me a follow. Let’s find out together!