Game, set, match on learning to code

From Lab Technician to Jr Applications Developer, Wiley Edge

"I learned I have a lot of perseverance. I was able to switch from one entire career to another."

This is QuaNayzia Garden, a Nucamp Back End Bootcamp graduate and now a Jr Applications Developer at Wiley Edge.

In her spare time she likes to play guitar, hike, and play tennis.

As a Lab Technician, QuaNayzia felt she was always behind the play—she was overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated.

QuaNayzia was determined to up her game and give herself the life she deserved.

She had originally wanted to get into Bioinformatics (a mix of biology and technology) which requires programming to enter the field, so she considered if coding would be right for her.

If QuaNayzia ended up enjoying coding, her background in biology would make for a natural transition into bioinformatics.

QuaNayzia’s first move was taking a few community college courses on C++, SQL, and cloud computing.

Unfortunately, the courses were expensive and were not as in-depth as she would have liked.

While QuaNayzia was now able to code a few things, she still didn’t have the tools she needed to build applications.

QuaNayzia looked into alternative education paths and came across coding bootcamps.

She decided to enroll in Nucamp since it was the most affordable and taught Python.

QuaNayzia enrolled in the introductory Web Development Fundamentals Bootcamp and then the Back End with Python Bootcamp.

" was a positive experience, and I learned a lot. While trying to learn new material, I had a difficult time trying to connect my database to host my portfolio project on AWS. One of my instructors really came through and helped me out. They guided me on what to do to fix the problem and I was able to get my app on the server."

Describe your job search process.

About a month after graduating, QuaNayzia accepted her first job.

She focused on applying to junior developer and internship openings.

At first QuaNayzia had a difficult time with the technical assessments.

After going back to the drawing board to practice for a few weeks, she came back strong and aced the Wiley Edge technical assessment for her new role.

What advice do you have for people who are thinking about attending a bootcamp, but haven't yet registered?

"For bootcamps in general, if it’s anything over $8,000, then no. You can get a master’s sometimes for cheaper. Don’t do any expensive bootcamps. But if you can get one for under $5k, then definitely go for it. Be sure to have all supplemental materials, ask questions, and read the documentation."

What advice do you have for people who have already started the bootcamp and they are just about to finish Bootstrap?

"Take a day, take a nap, wake up, then see if you can think of a solution to that problem. If you still don’t, Google is always available. It might take a bit, but Google usually has the answer. If you still can’t find the answer, ask a mentor."