Stories from the Hackery

Heidi Smith graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 35.

My husband shared with me about NSS and how he thought it would be a good fit. He loved the program and it changed his life. I really enjoyed the coding challenges that were presented in the required pre-work and decided to apply to NSS. I love learning new concepts, and ways to incorporate those concepts, and being challenged. Through web development I hope to combine my passion for helping people with my love for learning.

Nick Wessel graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 35.

What makes me enjoy software development is seeing the finished product of what you built after. Being able to build and see these amazing things we can build drives me to be the best dev I can be. I was raised to be a hard worker and have always strive to do my best. Working for Wolverine Worldwide really helped teach me leadership skills as well as the ability to make the right decisions when needed. I'm a quick learner and I don't give up. I find a way to get it done.

Leigh Rogers graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 35.

After over 10 years of managing websites, it became clear to me that to advance to the next level, I needed the hard skills that go along with web development. When I moved to Nashville from New York in 2019, I jumped at the chance to attend Nashville Software School. As I hone these skills, I enjoy applying these new languages to the planning and implementation process of building websites that I’ve known for over a decade.

Chandler Turner graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 35.

I’m Chandler, a UX Designer based in Nashville. A 20-something forever learner and empath. I'm an enneagram 6 with an eye for design and an emphasis on the human experience.

Jacquelyn McCray graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 34.

Spending nearly five years in civil engineering and construction management taught me a lot about creative problem solving, analytical thinking, and working with a wide variety of teams. I experienced the way software boosted efficiency and collaboration among my team, and I found that I enjoyed learning everything I could about technology. Taking the plunge to alter my career path was the logical next step, and I continue to love learning new skills, languages, and technologies. I've contributed to the Music City skyline, and now I can't wait to contribute to Nashville's thriving tech community.

Brantley Jones graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 34.

Before software development I was a fisheries biologist managing small impoundments and recreational fish populations. My interest in being a developer started when I took an online course learning HTML and CSS. My favorite aspects about software development are the continuous learning, being able to build something from scratch, and tinker with something that already exists.

Haroon Iqbal graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 34.

I am an attorney by training and have spent the last five years working for state government. In my position, I worked both with IT professionals and on my own to create solutions for managing data more effectively. My work on these projects prompted an interest in software development, which led me to Nashville Software School. I am interested in using code to make web applications that can increase the ease and efficiency of completing complex tasks while improving the overall user experience.

Bennett Foster graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 34.

I come to software development from a background in philosophy and education. Teaching at both the middle school and university levels afforded me great experience in leadership, collaboration and team building. Ultimately, I've decided to pursue software development to leverage my practical, creative and intellectual skills and interests. My love of learning and problem solving, along with my fascination with language and logic, have prepared me well for a career in a field that is always changing and expanding in new, exciting ways.

Sarah Fleming graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 34.

A volunteer opportunity at a crisis center exposed me to 2-1-1, a helpline that connects people to local health and human service providers, which is where I worked on my first web application. Staff were using an outdated tool to prescreen clients for SNAP/Food Stamps because there was no one to update the code. I spent the next few weeks reviewing the code and learning enough PHP and JavaScript to understand and modify it. That project sparked my interest in software development. At NSS I discovered that using my technical skills to make life just a little bit better for people is my true passion.

Curtis Crutchfield graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 34.

I am currently pursing my life-long dream of becoming a computer programmer by furthering my education at Nashville Software School (NSS). At the age of 16, I attempted to build my first game with a book called Visual Basics Studios for Teenagers, and my passion evolved from there. NSS is providing me with the opportunity to achieve my goal of becoming a computer programmer.