Janet Woods graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 30.

My interest in software development stemmed from a need to improve efficiency and have information at my fingertips. I learned to merge data from different sources and extract it back in meaningful ways when needed using MS Access. It proved to be a great time-saver. It helped me to prioritize tasks, identify issues, and avoid the dreaded ‘critical and urgent’ scenario without cramping my brain.

I took this skill with me and used it effectively, at each new position.

Each new position came with the challenge of:

- ‘how do I manage the priorities of this position?’,

- ‘what metrics are used to define success?’, and:

- ‘how can I automate some of this?’

I looked forward to finding the answers to those questions and soon discovered that I liked automating processes and reports more than other aspects of my job.

Eventually I was compelled to pursue an IT degree, so I might be able to do that sort of thing for a living in my next life, that is: my life after the AGR (Active Guard Reserve) program. The work of pursuing the B.S. degree validated my direction and introduced me to other tools of the trade. I found out that I could enjoy that type of development process with other, more widely used, tools also. Now, while attending Nashville Software School, immersed as a software developer, I am gaining confidence with those tools and more.