Stories from the Hackery

Kayla Reid graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

Throughout my career, I've always been driven by hard work and gaining new skills. I love positions that challenge my ability and allow me to grow and expand my skillset in new and exciting ways! I find myself enthralled with the complexities of coding, and driven by my own creativity to build anything I can imagine. I've always felt a strong pull towards organization and I'm thrilled that code allows me to test these principles in new and unique ways. I love thinking up and creating ways for clients to interact with technology, so front-end development checks a lot of boxes for me. Back-end development affords me the challenge of organizing data and critically thinking my way through all sorts of interesting problems. In all, development offers me so much that I never believed I'd find in an industry and job, and I'm so excited at the opportunity to work with it!

Jonathan Edwards graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

As a digital marketer turned software developer, I've always had a strong interest in technology. I originally got into web development as a way to improve my marketing skillset, but after learning some basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I quickly realized that the world of programming was where I belonged. The ability to build things that solve problems is what I enjoy most about being a developer.

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

Effecting change to create a better world is my highest calling. To better the world, I seek to better myself through my desire to learn and my passion for creativity. I've wanted something more from work than a paycheck since my first part-time job slinging pizzas. I spent years jumping from job to job, never finding satisfaction in work - until I discovered software development. Combining my creative disposition with my drive for continuous learning, software development provides the tools to make a clear difference in my community and the world at large. With the satisfaction this path brings me, I look forward to a long career of learning through creating and working with others to build a better the future.

Ricky Bruner graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I'm a former retail manager, car builder, apprentice electrician, and customer service wizard who acknowledged a love for creating and learning and realized that Software Development was the home long sought after. Development gave me the opportunity to pour my creative energy into something tangible, and the countless options for anything provides me with the constant learning environment that I crave (and that fueled my varied job experiences!). Throughout my career, I've taken every challenge as potential to improve myself because I believe that it takes a wealth of varying experiences and great open-mindedness to grow internally. Learning, leading, and being involved in any aspect of development brings me the joy and fulfillment that I've always sought after in a career!

Kelly Cook graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I am a father, husband, musician, and Maryland native who moved to the Nashville area in 2016 to create a better life for my family. Before making a transition into software development, I worked in the customer service industry for several years. While at Nashville Software School I discovered that I approached creating an app the same way I approached writing a song. While doing both I would always find myself putting great consideration into what the purpose and function of a feature was and how it ultimately served the final product. Those parallels made for some great and very rewarding challenges.

Mike Parrish graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

I'm a huge nerd with a passion for development! I enjoy reading comics and playing games just as much as I enjoy backpacking and working on my rail buggy. I'm currently attending Nashville Software School to hone my development skills and set to graduate in January 2019. Development gives me a technical way to bring my creativity to light. I love working with ReactJS, but I'm also proficient in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, ReactJS, C#, SQL, Linq, and Dapper while at NSS. I'm fortunate to be making a living in a career I truly enjoy.

Jeremiah Pritchard graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

With four years of the Navy behind me, I decided to expand my tool set. Working as an IT in the Navy, I am used to large teams and being well rounded in all aspects of my job. After getting out there was a side of Tech that I was really interested in. The experience has been great so far, and I have met some great people along the way.

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

I'm a web developer with a strong interest in projects that require both conceptual and analytical thinking. I'm fully committed to designing and developing innovative web-based materials that users will love. I'm always eager to learn more tricks from anyone regardless of the industry they're working in. I became interested in technology at a young age and my grandfather introduced me to video games and the hardware side of things. As I got older my mind continued to grow along with my passion and curiosity for learning all that I could about the world of technology and the business side of technology in companies. This curiosity lead me to NSS so I could begin to fully understand and learn what really goes in to making the technology I grew to love actually work.

Priyanka Garg graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

My love for programming began when I was introduced to C and C++ languages while pursuing my college degree. Since then, I have wanted to become a software developer. I am passionate about delivering quality software that is both useful and user friendly. I have found development to be fulfilling intellectually and creatively. In my free time, I like to learn new tricks (food, game) that keep my brain and body healthy and active. With the completion of my 6-months at the Nashville Software School, I am excited to share my projects and passion for software development.

Aaron Keen graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 27.

Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there, I'll tell you how I became a coder in a town called Nashville. In West Tennessee born and raised, on the football field is where I spent most of my days. Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool and all, hanging out with my friends all summer long. When a couple of parents who were up to no good, started making trouble in my neighborhood. I didn't put up a fight I just gave them a grin, and said "I'm moving with my brother for college in Martin". I was going to be a teacher but when it came near, the classroom seemed bleak and there were monsters in there. I spent all that money man is that really fair, but I thought "Nah, forget it, I'm off to software!". I pulled up to NSS around 7 or 8, where I learned javascript, react, and .net. It came time for demo day I finally got up the hill, to sit on my throne as a coder in Nashville!