The Beginning: Taking a Leap
Have you ever stood at the edge of a cliff, knowing you needed to jump but uncertain where you'd land? That was me in 2019.
Two years earlier, I had quit my salaried job as a GIS Analyst to travel. The freedom was exhilarating, but returning to "the real world" hit hard. The job market had shifted beneath my feet, and my skills needed serious refreshing. Worse yet, I couldn't muster any enthusiasm for returning to GIS. The lack of engaging opportunities, meager benefits, and limited salary potential all left me cold.
I'd always had a thing for making websites—a hobby I'd picked up back in middle school. But a career? That seemed far-fetched. Everyone in my circle worked in healthcare. Then I heard about friends attending something called a "coding bootcamp" in Utah. With zero job offers and an equally empty bank account, I decided to go all in. What did I have to lose?
I need to acknowledge something important here: this ability to pivot came from a place of privilege. Having a Master's degree, quitting a job to travel, then moving to another state for a bootcamp—these are options many people simply don't have.
The Bootcamp Experience: Challenges and Triumphs
The bootcamp wasn't exactly a guaranteed ticket to employment. It was a three-month gamble in a state I'd never wanted to visit, let alone live in.
Provo, Utah—home to BYU and predominantly white—felt worlds away from my diverse hometown of Oceanside, California. As a person of color, the cultural shift was jarring. Being separated from my tight-knit family added another layer of difficulty.
Then came the casual sexism. Not from the program itself, but from fellow students who'd helpfully inform me that I'd "for sure get an interview because I was a woman." (Gee, thanks.)
But something magical happened amid the challenges. I discovered what we coders call "the developer high"—that rush of endorphins when you finally squash a stubborn bug or help someone else solve their coding puzzle. That feeling hit me like a perfect wave, and I've been chasing it ever since.
Post-Bootcamp: The Real World of Tech
Since completing the bootcamp, I've navigated through three different software engineering roles. Each one brought its own unique landscape of challenges and learning curves.
I've come to see myself less as a "software engineer" and more as a professional puzzle-solver. Every role presents its own set of interlocking pieces that need to be arranged just right.
Take one particularly thorny challenge: We needed to 'undo' a data merge—something no one had thought to build functionality for, despite having merge capabilities for years. I dove into .NET (a framework I barely knew) and spent three weeks of trial and error before finally assembling all the puzzle pieces. The satisfaction was worth every frustrating moment.
Finding Purpose: Teaching and Mentoring
Want to know what lights me up more than solving technical problems? Helping others discover they can solve them too.
My work with Tech-Moms has become my proudest professional achievement. While we teach the basics of coding (HTML/CSS), what we're really offering is an introduction to the tech world—showing women the possibilities for well-paid, flexible careers they might never have considered.
As a technical trainer, I certainly teach code, but my real job is helping women discover their confidence and power. There's nothing quite like witnessing someone realize they deserve more and can achieve it.
The success stories fuel me. In my first cohort in fall 2023, several students continued on to complete cybersecurity courses, earn CompTIA+ certifications, and land internships at a prominent cybersecurity company. One reached out specifically to tell me she wouldn't have had the confidence to continue without my class. These moments—when women tell me they feel empowered to pursue more—these are my true successes.
Teaching has transformed my own growth as a developer too. It's a perpetual reminder that everyone starts somewhere. Students ask questions that never occurred to me, forcing me to deepen my understanding and approach problems from fresh angles. This mindset of continuous learning and teaching has improved how I collaborate with colleagues.
The Reality of Diversity in Tech
Let's talk about the diversity elephant in the room.
Yes, there are wonderful people in tech who genuinely work to improve diversity. But they're the minority. Most aren't actively opposed to diversity—they're just unaware of the problem or unsure how to address it.
During job interviews, I always ask, "How is your organization improving diversity in tech?" Too often, the response is some version of: "Well, we want a diverse team, but we don't really do anything specific about it."
As a brown, queer woman, I see tech's diversity gap every day. I've been fortunate to work with organizations that not only tolerate but celebrate my identity. Now that I have a seat at the table, I make it my mission to hold the door open for others from my community—actively referring them for both technical and non-technical positions.
When I first entered tech, I viewed it through rose-colored glasses—all innovation and opportunity. Six years later, I see the industry more clearly, with both its tremendous potential and significant shortcomings. This clarity helps me navigate its complexities with more confidence.
Continuous Learning: Staying Relevant
If only someone had told me about the relentless pace of learning this career demands! Actually, scratch that—I might have been scared off, and I'm glad I wasn't.
I love learning, but it took time to realize that continuous education isn't optional in tech—it's essential for survival. The skills I painfully acquired six years ago are largely obsolete today.
When I first started in tech, I was so focused on specific technologies I had to learn. What technologies did I need to know to be "successful"? But the more I've grown in this career, the more I've realized it's less about specific technologies and more about the openness and willingness to learn, and ultimately, accepting that continuous learning is part of the job.
My strategy for keeping up? Curiosity and humility. I work alongside brilliant people who each know something I don't. I ask questions constantly and note anything unfamiliar for later research. Teaching has also kept me sharp—to explain something effectively, you need to understand it thoroughly.
Creating an Inclusive Workplace
What makes an ideal tech workplace? For me, it boils down to empathy and intentional inclusion. People who genuinely see and understand others' experiences are naturally more supportive of diversity efforts.
In larger organizations with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), I make a point to actively participate. I seek out meetups and events centered around my communities. These connections provide both support and perspective.
Advice for Newcomers
To anyone considering a similar path, especially from an underrepresented background, here's my honest advice: Be scared! Changing careers is terrifying, and that's normal. Get comfortable with discomfort—it's where growth happens.
But be strategic too. Dropping $10,000 on a bootcamp with no job guarantee isn't just risky—it's impossible for many. Start with free resources, then gradually invest in affordable learning options as you confirm your interest.
Moving Forward
Six years into this journey, I'm still learning, still solving puzzles, and still helping others find their way. The challenges haven't disappeared, but neither have the opportunities to create meaningful change.
Every time I watch another woman discover her technical abilities, I'm reminded why I took that leap back in 2019. The "developer high" still hits, the puzzles still captivate me, and the chance to diversify our industry continues to drive me forward.
Here's to the next six years of growth, learning, and building a more inclusive tech world—one line of code and one empowered person at a time.
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What has your journey in tech been like? I'd love to hear your stories and experiences in the comments below!
by Sam Jeet
Sam Jeet is the creator of this site and is still mastering the art of third-person narrative. She enjoys content creation, though she acknowledges her consistency could benefit from improvement.