The End is the Beginning

I have just passed my final assessment as a software engineering student of Flatiron School. It has been a journey like none other that I have ever experienced.

There are two documents that I kept posted in my office. One was my purpose — why I decided to make a career change and all of the benefits it would offer. The other was a screenshot of something that was introduced during the First Mile, The Emotional Journey of Creating Anything Great (credit: John Saddington):

This visual representation has resonated with me at every single level and stage of school and has ebbed and flowed. In order to be successful in school, I had to let the lows happen and celebrate the highs when they were presented.

If I had to go back to the First Mile and tell myself anything, it would be that you are not in this alone. I was fortunate enough to be a part of a very involved cohort with constant communication and we were all in different stages of creating something great. This allowed me to lean on my classmates for a boost when I was struggling, but to also return the favor if the opposite was true. Being successful at the end was truly a reflection of an immense team effort and will set the stage for the importance of teamwork in jobs to come.

The end of bootcamp is the beginning of a career journey that will sustain a life I have chosen and have made happen. I am ready!