Episode 48 – What’s more exciting – Working on aircraft or software?

Amanda began her journey as a college student, but like most students, you need outside funding to complete your education. Amanda met this challenge by joining the military, specifically, the U.S. Air Force where she spends her time working on aircraft. In her free time, Amanda is pursuing her education in software development through an online coding school and facing the many challenges that all new and aspiring software developers face head-on. Listen in while Arsalan Ahmed and Amanda Daley discuss the trials and tribulations of the journey into tech and how to overcome them.

Amanda Daley’s Bio:

Amanda Daley is currently active duty in the U.S. Air Force and working on aircraft while pursuing the tech skills needed to one day become a software programmer. Amanda came from a military family and it was during college that she chose to enlist and serve our country while also furthering her education in the tech industry.

Episode Highlights and Show Notes:

Arsalan: Hi everyone. Today my guest is Amanda Daley.  Amanda is not your everyday developer or new developer. She’s doing something pretty cool. I think its way cooler than writing programs or making websites. She’s fixing really complicated air crafts for the Air Force. Amanda, how are you?

Amanda: Hi. I’m doing well.

Arsalan: It’s so amazing to have someone on whose doing active duty and wanting to be a developer. You came across this podcast somehow and you were inspired to get in touch with me. How did that come about?

Amanda: I got onto your podcast by searching through software developer podcasts and it popped up. At the end of your show, you always say “I want to talk to you even if you’re a little bit nervous” and I said, “hey, he’s talking directly to me.”

Arsalan: That’s exactly right. I am talking to you. I’m talking to people like you because I have been there. I have experienced it. When you’re starting out, you’re not sure. Even if you are someone like me who has been in this field and doing this for many years, I still get nervous because there are lots of things I don’t know. I know some of the things that I’m not very good at. So, I’m self-conscious. It happens and it’s going to happen to you. But, you found some courage and you did get in touch with me and now you’re on the show. I think that’s great.

Arsalan: So, if you’re listening to this show right now. Go ahead and let me know if you want to be on this show and talk about your experiences, or if you have any comments about Amanda’s.

Arsalan: Amanda, the thing that struck me was that what you’re doing right now is not something that is undesirable. A lot of people would want to be in the Air Force and fix air craft or fly them. That sounds pretty exciting. So, how did you get into the military?

Amanda: I was going to college and I started to run low on money. My dad was in the Army. So, I figured that I could go the military route to get some money for college. I picked the Air Force.

Arsalan: Is it hard work?

Amanda: It is.

Arsalan: Do they make you run laps? What do they make you do?

Amanda: There is a pt. They do test you for physical fitness all the time, but I find it more difficult to just work on the air craft when you’re outside and it’s hot, you have to climb up the stairs and worry about your safety equipment and all the noise that goes on out there. I think that’s the biggest thing.

Arsalan: Do you feel pressure from the idea that if you make a mistake someone could die and you really need to be very careful. Do you think that is a weight of expectation on you all the time?

Amanda: I do, but I think you get used to it because everyone feels that way out there and if you have leadership who believes in you and treats you like people then it gets better. I’m not so worried about getting it wrong because you have the books to fall back on and other people to ask for advice.