Jerry J.

I was a self-taught software developer for over two decades; I began my career under the watchful gaze of bank upon bank of spinning tape reels. Over the years many languages and frameworks came into being but if they weren't useful at my current job I didn't bother learning them.

During the pandemic, I was job searching when I saw TripleTen's ad for an online boot camp. Although I was skeptical, I realized I lacked some critical skills, specifically JavaScript and its frameworks. While I could edit JavaScript, I couldn't write original code due to my poor understanding. However, I didn't yet think TripleTen was the answer for me.

Weeks later I once again came across TripleTen and this time I delved quite a bit deeper into the program. After talking to one of the career counselors I studied what other students who had gone through the program had to say about their time here. One by one my misgivings were satisfied by what I learned. Finally, I took out a loan and started the Full-Stack Software Engineer boot camp. I was still very skeptical, but promised myself to keep at it.

Initially, I found the course easy, but I truly struggled when we started the JavaScript lessons. My prior experience with other languages was, in fact, a hindrance and I found myself confused and frustrated. My Success & Community Manager and the tutors were incredibly supportive and patient, which helped me to eventually grasp the basics. Now, we have moved on to APIs and frameworks, and while there are still challenging concepts, the course is much easier than before. I have just begun Sprint 11 which involves some more advanced React routing and have had my very own epiphany; a task I had struggled with on my own website for 15 years became crystal clear. I was able to create the necessary components to get this working in just 4 hours of inspiration-fueled coding.

The interactive platform is pleasant for learning the theory behind each Sprint. It's easy to refer back to lessons and the visual cues for deadlines are helpful. The team adds new features to help students retain knowledge. The lessons start with the basics and build in stages. Sprint project submissions are reviewed by an engineer who points out errors and ways to improve. Getting a project accepted is a source of pride and reflects the real-world environment. Tripleten's design team has recently added an AI-powered hint dialog to the platform that tends to overperform in the same manner I tend to. It is properly limited in what information it will give you but tends to go past the scope of the task you have been given; I am sure that by the end of my journey with Tripleten, this will have been addressed.

The Discord community where we pose questions to our tutors and get help when we need it builds useful communication skills with a team that will be priceless to both the student and the company that hires them. This also allows other students to help with questions or issues; sometimes even before a tutor can answer. The camaraderie this builds makes for better developers in my view.

Attending this boot camp while being unemployed, I can dedicate 25-30 hours every week to go through the material and the projects that follow each Sprint. This level of scheduling flexibility is very helpful for me to manage my time and plan my day. The tutors are available almost round the clock, and regular office hours are scheduled throughout the day and night. At the beginning of each Sprint project, I will usually spend the first few hours mapping out the various required tasks using the Pomodoro technique. This helps me to have a rough idea of the remaining work and which tasks have dependencies upon others. I have realized that proper time management is crucial for becoming a better programmer, and the Pomodoro technique has been very useful in enhancing my time management skills. Learning about this time management tool was a game-changer as far as study difficulty goes.

Having career support as a feature of the boot camp is one of my favorite things about TripleTen. Writing resumes, cover letters, and doing interviews aren't as fun as coding, so those were always secondary in my mind. Having the help to make my skillset shine through to employers is a pretty awesome feeling for me. Networking is important in our field, but the introvert in a lot of us makes this one of the least desirable things on an individual level. TripleTen helped me ease past this and this alone will improve my odds of gainful employment doing something I love doing; I owe them my thanks for that.

The Software Engineer program at TripleTen helped me become a much better Engineer than I was before my time here. I no longer dread many of the things I had incorrectly deemed unimportant or less than desirable. I'm still not a people person, but I am improving those skills and the mindset I need to continue my journey as an Engineer and prosper.

At this point, I have been asked to become a Senior Student and provide assistance to the other students farther back in the course. This gives me more practice time with the lesson material and the much-needed repetition that cements any new learning in the mind. I am thankful for the opportunity to help others and draw myself further out of my shell.

My advice for new students at the beginning of their own Tripleten journey can be summed up as follows._Relax a bit and keep working at it. Even if you don't understand it; keep going, and ask questions when you need to ask. For every one of us, there will always be this sudden 'Eureka!' moment where it all begins to make sense. Work for that day instead of for total understanding._ Myself, and the other Senior Students, are here to help you understand the principles so that your own 'Eureka' moment comes to you as soon as possible.

With only five Sprints remaining, I feel like I have grown as an Engineer and as a person. Thank you, TripleTen!