#047 - From Nursing to Programming feat. Trash Puppy

In this section, Trash Puppy shares her journey from being a nurse during the pandemic to transitioning into software engineering. Initially, her interest in coding sparked from boredom during her night shifts as an ER nurse. After a traumatic incident that led to serious health issues, she realized she could no longer continue her nursing career. During her recovery, she took the initiative to learn coding through online resources and eventually decided to pursue tech full-time.

Trash Puppy elaborates on the key motivations behind her career switch. In addition to a growing interest in cyber security and coding, the drawbacks of the nursing industry—including poor laws and pay in her new location—pushed her towards web development. She acknowledges the appeal of remote work in tech, which would allow for greater freedom and flexibility.

The discussion explores Trash Puppy's unconventional learning path in coding. Starting with CS50 and transitioning to resources like The Odin Project, she emphasizes the importance of project-based learning. She details how working on a significant project, 'Net Puppy', directed her learning process and helped her deepen her understanding of coding through practical application rather than sitting down to study theory alone.

Trash Puppy discusses the current job market landscape, highlighting the challenges of cold applications and the importance of networking. Having experienced difficulties with getting responses from conventional applications, she emphasizes standing out in tech through personal branding and community engagement, especially leveraging platforms like Twitch for visibility.

The conversation also delves into concerns about AI in the tech field and how it relates to job opportunities. Trash Puppy reveals her mindset of focusing on what she can control rather than worrying about external factors like AI and the lack of a CS degree. Her perspective aligns with a proactive approach, focusing on continuous learning and adaptability in skills.

Trash Puppy shares insights into her experience learning Golang. She appreciates the control and visibility Go provides compared to other languages like Python. She discusses the challenges of adapting her mental model to Go’s different structuring and organization of code, contrasting it with the methodologies she previously learned. Despite challenges, she expresses enthusiasm for Go's functionality and simplicity.