Stories from the Hackery

Michael Clark graduated with Part-time Web Development Cohort Evening 7.

As a maker at heart, I am most happy when I am creating things. You can usually find me woodworking, crafting, or hiking in the backcountry. Software development was a natural fit for a creative outlet, and provides a constant challenge. Studying art and graphic design, I was always exposed to web development and it slowly peaked my interest. After trying to teach myself how to program, I realized development was the perfect career path for me and decided to take the deep dive. I owe everything I know to the awesome people at Nashville Software School, you guys are awesome!

John Achor graduated with Part-time Web Development Cohort Evening 7.

I've always been a tinkerer, from the Christmas morning where I taught myself to hook up the Nintendo because I didn't want to wait on my parents, to building out my own silly adventure games using batch files in DOS, to building the computers themselves, and now to building the software that runs on them. I love being able to take control and make the things happen that I want to see, and I live for the "eureka!" moments, the sense of pride and accomplishment when your creation takes shape and comes to life. I took a big risk and moved here to Nashville four years ago to get my foot in the door of the IT world and finance my continuing education. Now, thanks to Nashville Software School and a renewed sense of exhilaration, I'm ready to start my journey as a professional software developer.

Mark Hale graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

After going to the University of Tennessee for several years as a Chemistry major looking to go to medical school, I decided to pursue my real passion of software development and haven't looked back since. Attending NSS has truly been a life changing experience for me and through all the times both good and bad, I can honestly say I do not regret any of the choices that I have made.

Dejan Stjepanović graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

Born in Yugoslavia, raised in Germany, and longtime Nashville resident, my own background sparked an interest in studying peoples and cultures around the world culminating in a B.A. in History from Middle Tennessee State University. Following graduation, I threw my energy and ingenuity behind one of my passions - environmental sustainability - building out one of the most comprehensive, high-performing recycling programs in the country at Vanderbilt University. After more than doubling Vanderbilt's recycling tonnage during my 6 year tenure, I left to pursue my dreams of cycling across Europe - through the lands which I once called home. 15 countries, 8 months, and one well-worn bicycle later, I had determined, via much self-reflection, that my more salient skills, including problem-solving, language-learning, visual planning, and stamina, could all be put to best use in the field of software development.

Matthew Hall graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I love to figure out how things work, break them apart, scoop out the yolk, and try to make them function the same or better than before - especially things that go 'beep' and 'boop'. Learning is a passion of mine and programming is just the start of my next set of adventures. Passion and inspiration comes from all types of endeavors however I (more often than not) find the best momentum comes from engaging with my fellow earthlings and learning from experiences.

Taylor Gulley graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I studied Kinesiology at the University of Tennessee for my undergraduate education in order to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Tennessee State University. I have always been fascinated by both Science and Mathematics. Learning about the human body and the physics behind it for the purposes of solving physical problems was very rewarding. However during a guest lecture about medical software systems I developed an interest in software development. This lead to me leaving the Doctorate program to later attend Nashville Software School in the pursuit of solving problems from a technology perspective.

Gretchen Ward graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I have always enjoyed learning. Coding has been the biggest challenge I've taken on so far. It is rewarding to work with others and create projects that we can all be proud of.

Madison Peper graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I'm a problem solving nerd on a mission to learn as much as I can in my lifetime. I've always expressed my creativity through art across various different mediums, and I've found that I can express my creativity through code as well. While working in the customer service industry, I encountered a world of problems that needed solving. Seeing the results of my work in my customer's happy faces and positive feedback, I realized that I not only enjoyed problem solving, but I had a knack for it. That's when I looked to software development.

Daniel Figueroa graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

Since 2005, I've been involved in the graphic design field. I've utilized the skills acquired during my education to produce a variety of products for both print and web. In 2010, I transitioned into an opportunity to be involved in the emerging 3D imaging and 3D printing industry, allowing me to learn new skills and having more input on company-wide decisions. I continued to maintain my graphic design skills but decided to make the transition into software development having discovered my passion for it. Having completed my time at Nashville Software School, I feel prepared and excited about this next stage in my career.

Helen Chalmers graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I am a creator and an analytical thinker by nature which is why the web development field is so attractive to me. I love the process of writing code to create something new, solve a problem, or build a new platform. As a natural "helper", having the know-how to create something that will bring ease into someone's life or fundamentally change how they do things is truly rewarding.