A Student Perspective on Coding Boot Camp
Name: Katherine Shiro, Coding Boot Camp Grad 2016
Tell us a little about yourself
I majored in architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but soon realized that, while I loved the math/engineering courses, I wasn't so in love with my studio classes, and knew I needed to find a different career option. After graduating, I served as a Teach for America corps member in Indianapolis, teaching high school math. Once I finished my two-year corps commitment, I wanted to move closer to home (Rockford, IL), and so I taught high school math for another year in the Noble Network on the West Side of Chicago.
Currently, I am working at McMaster-Carr in web publishing. I've definitely bounced around in my career thus far, but have been looking for something that allows me to engage in solving exciting problems for a meaningful cause. Out of all of my past endeavors, I enjoyed teaching the most, and wish it had been a more sustainable lifestyle. From teaching, I'll always carry a passion for education, and am always looking for ways to positively impact students and teachers.
Why did you want to attend Coding Boot Camp?
I've always enjoyed solving tough and exciting problems, but have struggled with what path will best allow me to exercise my skills. Because of this, I decided to look into web development, something that suits my strong critical-thinking skills and a desire to engage in problem-solving.
How did you decide on Northwestern?
Northwestern's program allowed me to learn web development while keeping my full-time job, which was the number one thing I was looking for. I was also excited that my certificate would be coming from a well-known and prestigious school like Northwestern University.
What was the most valuable part of your Coding Boot Camp experience?
I feel extremely lucky to have had wonderful instructors and TAs. I felt super supported as a student in this program, and really valued the knowledge and expertise the instructional staff brought to the curriculum.
Did this experience help you grow professionally?
Yes! As someone who came into the boot camp with zero programming experience, I have gained skills that I would have never developed otherwise.
Would you recommend this program to a friend?
Definitely!