Careers in Code: Student Testimonials

Hack Upstate
4 min readSep 10, 2019

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It’s hard to believe that our first cohort of Careers in Code is over! Thinking back to the application process for the Alliance for Economic Inclusion grant that we were ultimately awarded for the coding bootcamp in 2018, it feels like so long ago when it all began, yet the 24 weeks of the program truly flew by.

We honored our students at graduation in August, and will be hosting another celebratory Happy Hour at Maxwell’s on September 19th (RSVP here). You can hear about their experiences then, or see what a few of them had to say below:

“Applying for Careers in Code was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my entire life! Over the course of six months, I went from a little knowledge of HTML and CSS to a full-stack JavaScript web developer. The instructors and TAs were always willing to go out of their way to help with anything we needed throughout the duration of class. I’m thrilled I got the opportunity to train in a field that I’m passionate about and I look forward to contributing to the Syracuse tech community!”
— Kelly Corey, Graduate

“I started the program knowing nothing about code, not even most of the terminology. After completing the 24 weeks, I can talk comfortably with seasoned developers because now I am a full-stack developer!” — Karin Thorne, Graduate

“The program was amazing! I learned so much about coding and a lot about myself. I went from having zero experience in web development to having so much knowledge about the field and the expectations required to thrive in the industry. I was so insecure going in the program, but over time I learned to take risks and allow myself to explore different areas and different ways of doing things. The people, the teachers, TAs, and fellow students made the experience even better.” — Anna Aombe, Graduate

“Because of Careers In Code, I have a more realistic view of what it takes to become a coder/programmer. The skills that I have now were not given to me when I was studying in college and I feel like I’m so much further ahead in my journey to becoming employed in the tech field. My dedication to my studies is much more consistent and thorough. I know that my destiny as a mover and shaker in the tech world is at my doorstep. Thank you so much CIC.” — Dana McMullen, Graduate

“Careers in Code has been a game changer for my career, and has opened up so many amazing opportunities. I feel prepared and ready to grow my presence and career in the tech community in Syracuse.” — Kaitlyn Warboy, Graduate

“I had taken some computer science classes in college but none of them prepared me for the industry. I spent eight months looking for a job and finally got one through networking, but still, I was ill-prepared at my position as a software engineer. I can honestly say if it were not for this bootcamp I would not have a job, and I would not be as advanced as I am. What we learned in Careers in Code directly applied to my day-to-day work. I learned so much about web development that my employer split my time with the web-development team. If you have a love for coding or never wrote a line of code and are just interested, you have to give Careers in Code a try.” — Dakir Thompson, Graduate

“I think that the Careers in Code bootcamp was an amazing experience. Not only did I learn a lot about writing code, I met a lot of great people with even greater stories about how they got to where they are now in their careers. Applying was one of the best decisions I made and I’m excited to see where it takes me in life.” — Timothy Liles, Graduate

Interested in being in the next cohort of Careers in Code? Join our waitlist here to be notified when applications are open.

Interested in receiving monthly updates about Hack Upstate, Careers in Code, events in the community, and job opportunities? Sign up here!

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