Stories from the Hackery

Shawn Conerton graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

I did not think I would be going into coding, but I am happy I did. Moving to Nashville from rural Illinois has been a interesting journey. Over the last 7 years of working odd jobs from Event Lighting, service industry work and being a professional songwriter has given me a Swiss army knife book of skills that helps me with my new path, coding. Now starting on my new career of software development through the teaching of Nashville Software School has pushed me to new feats of what I feel like I am able to accomplish. From organization and communication skills- to problem solving like I have never done before. As of now, with the mind of a student, not accepting defeat from pesky bugs and errors has been a new challenge. I am motivated and determined to success and write the best code I possibly can.

Erica Phillips graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

Throughout my life I've always loved problem solving, and being able to solve problems daily and implement solutions sounds like a very desirable career path. I love anything data-based and science-driven, so all aspects of programming excite me. Every day there are small challenges to be solved that give me that same feeling of being accomplished, and again, cool, and I'm very excited to embark on a career change that allows me to solve problems and make positive changes.

Patrick Stewart graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

Before embarking on my journey as a software developer I was a copywriter for 10 years, where I worked both in and out of tech. While I love writing, I didn't find myself being challenged enough in my career. I knew from working with engineers that software development would provide that challenge, so I made the switch!

Alan Andrusky graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

Ex-SaaS Account Executive turned full stack software engineer. I spent 6 years immersed in technology; started selling directly to consumers, and then ultimately to public sector organizations and private enterprise customers. After learning the landscape, I found myself wanting to dive deeper into the product, and so began my career change journey into software development.

Heath Lester graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

I am a determined junior software engineer with a passion for technology, teamwork and problem solving. I love the endless possibilities facilitated by technology and the potential for solving many of life's ever-evolving problems. My experience as a classical musician and as a former member of the military has molded my temperament into a team player who does not give up.

Suganya Prakash graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

I started my coding journey in August 2020. Through software development I have been able to incorporate my creative problem solving skills into my daily work. I love dreaming up ideas and realizing them in the front-end, but also the mental challenge of creating a strong back-end to support the whole dream. I genuinely enjoy all sides of coding, from the immense feelings of accomplishment to the crushing failures that we learn so much from, that all go hand in hand with development. With a drive to continually learn and an eagerness to collaborate with others, I am excited to continue the adventure into my career in software development.

Benjamin Schweizer graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

Adventurous polyglot coffee professional turned programmer. Pursuing a career in Full-Stack Software Development to take part in the global culture of computer science and technology shaping the way we all live. I enjoy the ingenuity, diligence, and critical-thinking required to solve problems in code.

Silas Lowe graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

Prior to following my passion for programming, I was a teacher at the early childhood level. I found shaping the social/emotional and academic development of young learners a constantly evolving puzzle that allowed me apply cutting edge educational theory in real time. In addition it afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with peers and meet the needs of a diverse array of stakeholders including students, parents, community members, administrators and government regulators. The development field will allow me to leverage both the problem solving and soft skills I honed while teaching in an environment with more professional flexibility and mobility.

Dillon Draper graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

Before beginning my journey into software development, I taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to teens and adults in Lexington and then Bowling Green, KY. Software development, while at first glance seeming completely unrelated, shares quite a bit with Jiu-Jitsu in that offers opportunities for real world, dynamic problem solving. In Jiu-Jitsu there is a saying that the mat does not lie; if your technique is poor, you lose. Coding is the same way; if your code is not correct, it does not run, and the nature of that challenge continues to propel me forward in my quest to become a software developer.

Jayna Leitze graduated with Full-time Web Development Cohort 44.

My software development career began when I started using Geocities to build websites for myself and my brother's rock band, so you could say I've been a developer for over 20 years...Let's be real though, I've been out of practice for a little while. I mean we're on HTML5 now?!?! Who knew? A former office maven, stage manager, event planner, and administrative guru, I am excited to be back in the development world, expanding myself well beyond my geocities skills at Nashville Software School. I love the challenge, puzzles, and creativity that comes along with software development, but I am most looking forward to a career where I get to keep learning.