I attended a coding bootcamp during the coronavirus pandemic. This is my story.
As I mentioned in my first ever blog post, I graduated from Actualize Coding Bootcamp back in May of 2020. This is one of Chicago’s longest-running web development bootcamps. I first learned about this bootcamp thanks to Course Report.
Like anyone with a skeptic mind, I was hesitant at first to give them a shot. By the time I came across Actualize, I had already narrowed down my search to two options: Fullstack Academy and Flatiron School. Little did I know that choosing Actualize would quickly become the best decision I made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Actualize is founded, designed, and taught by expert educators. Every lead instructor has years of experience in both tech and education. This became apparent to me when I was invited to observe one of their lectures. There, I was greeted by the Dean of Instruction, Peter Jang, who would later become my Lead Instructor. He was exuberant, knowledgeable, and the students were engaged throughout the lecture because of this supportive environment they had built together around this teaching philosophy: that anyone can learn to code.
I did my due diligence and messaged Actualize grads on LinkedIn to get a comprehensive look at what this program offers. What I gathered was that this was a coding bootcamp with a highly supportive staff that teaches you the fundamentals of software engineering and works with you beyond the bootcamp through career support to land a job in the tech industry.
They did not offer a deferred tuition program, but they did offer scholarships. They also offered a daytime course as well as a nights-and-weekends course so you’re not pressured to quit your day job in order to attend. In addition to that, you could choose between a fully remote or in-person option. I went with the nights-and-weekends in-person course because that worked best with my schedule and learning style.
Things were looking up, and I enjoyed the first several weeks of my cohort. Then, the coronavirus pandemic emerged…
I was so afraid at first. But everyone at Actualize remained resilient. Peter worked quickly to ensure that every student in my cohort had access to all the equipment necessary to transition to a fully remote format. Lisa Tucker, Career and Mental Health Counselor at Actualize at the time, made herself available to any students in need of counseling. I never felt so supported in my entire life like I did back then. Their tenacity and compassion led me to believe that I could thrive even in this environment and I did.
Everything happens for a reason. This was only the beginning of my journey towards a career in tech, but I was assigned this first mountain to show others it can be moved. I went on to design and build projects on my own and with tech mentors. In less than 6 months after completing the coding bootcamp, I was hired! I carry the skills and growth mindset I picked up at Actualize to this day. I am beyond excited to continue honing and advancing my skills.
Ernesto Codes 