Mastering SQL With A Machine Learning Expert At Nucamp's Back End Bootcamp

This Instructor Found The Perfect Opportunity To Meld His Passion For Teaching With His SQL And Machine Learning Expertise.

“I’m a lifelong learner. You can only learn something once, so you feel that joy once. By teaching I continue to feel the enjoyment every single time.” - Eric Burt, Nucamp Back End Bootcamp Instructor

As our faces loaded on the chat window, Eric Burt and I exchanged hellos, and I thanked him for taking the time to meet with me.

Eric is an instructor for the Nucamp Back End, SQL, and DevOps with Python Bootcamp, and he graciously agreed to share his story with me, as well as with all of you aspiring developers.

First I asked Eric the basics: “Where do you live and what is your day job?"

He considered his answer for a brief moment but his hesitation made sense once he explained.

Eric grew up in Connecticut while dreaming of moving to California.

Today he splits his time 50/50 between both states.

The best of both worlds!

He is currently a remote Software Engineer specializing in machine learning for Breifpoint, a startup focused on automating legal response documents.

What project are you most proud of?

When I asked him what project he is most proud of, he mentioned his current work.

Eric started with Briefpoint right from its inception and has helped build it from the ground up.

He takes pride in his unique approach to a problem that many have attempted to solve before.

Given the vast differences among legal documents, using natural language processing was not accurate.

Through computer vision and object detection, he overcame the challenges posed by unique and unstructured documents.

“I was able to solve a real life problem that hadn't been solved before by thinking out of the box. It ended up turning out really well. It was cool to be able to play my part within a small team.”

How did you get into programming?

Next, I asked Eric my favorite question, “How did you get into programming?”

This always elicits my favorite stories from instructors and graduates alike.

It offers a glimpse into their past and showcases the diverse paths people take to enter the world of programming.

Eric’s high school strongly emphasized STEM careers, but he didn’t take his first app development course until his senior year.

He had shown little interest in technology or computers before that.

However, after a teacher encouraged him to consider a tech career, he pursued a computer science degree.

Why did you become a Nucamp Coding Bootcamp Instructor?

This leads us to Nucamp, so I asked what motivated him to become an instructor.

Eric explained he had been teaching since he was 14.

His love for figure skating led him to take a part-time job giving lessons.

Then at 17 Eric became a kayaking instructor and created his own white water kayaking course.

His love of teaching had him consider it as a full-time career, but when it came to decide his college major he wasn’t interested in all aspects of the job.

Fortunately, it came full circle, and Eric now enjoys sharing his love for coding with students on weekends as a Nucamp instructor, all while maintaining an active career as a software engineer.

He loves that being a Nucamp instructor lets him meet new people from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries.

“While instructing I get to learn just as much from my students along the way on how to connect the material to a broad range of disciplines. I love meeting new people from so many diverse backgrounds. I just really enjoy teaching. It’s real my passion.”

Eric could have chosen to be an instructor at any bootcamp.

Why did he want to specifically teach at Nucamp?

Eric knew from experience how challenging it is to find a high-quality SQL database course, especially one with practical applications.

It has been Eric’s weak point after graduating with his computer science degree.

Eric had many skill gaps and tried to fill them with Udemy courses and YouTube videos.

Then he discovered Nucamp’s back end bootcamp and loved it!

It was the course he wished he’d taken when trying to learn SQL.

“I continue to teach at Nucamp for many reasons. For one, the SQL course is great. I wish I had taken it back when starting. Nucamp is high quality while still being affordable. Also, I have a lot of independence when it comes to how I teach so I can play to my strengths while still getting plenty of guidance and support from other instructors and Nucamp staff. The community building aspect of Nucamp is great too. Nucamp fosters a strong community of developers, both students and teachers.”

What are your teaching philosophies?

As a musician himself, Eric incorporates the teachings of Shinichi Suzuki, a legendary music pedagogue, to his coding lessons.

Suzuki's methodical and immersive approach to teaching deeply resonates with Eric.

He believes in building a strong foundation, starting with a solid understanding of the basics.

For example, when it comes to teaching databases Eric doesn’t start with coding.

He starts with the basics by talking about how databases function.

It's a method that yields not just coders but engineers who can tackle any challenge.

Eric's commitment to his students extends beyond the classroom.

He thrives on the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that each student brings to the table.

It's a mutual exchange of knowledge, creating a true community of learners.

Eric's unique approach teaching by example and providing a wealth of resources empowers his students to not only learn but thrive in the world of databases and beyond.

What advice do you have for future or current coding bootcamp students?

“Learn how to problem solve. Don’t just memorize things. If you run into troubles, try to solve them on your own before reaching out for help.”

Eric knows that students come from diverse backgrounds and have lives outside of their coursework.

He creates a warm, welcoming, and stress-free learning environment.

His ultimate goal?

To teach his students how to think like engineers, how to independently solve problems, and how to develop the mental muscles needed to excel in the world of coding.

If you’re interested in joining a coding bootcamp with amazing instructors like Eric, click the link to register to Nucamp today: www.nucamp.co/community/near/you