Samantha Wessel’s journey to becoming a Software Engineer at National Public Radio (NPR) is an inspiring testament to career reinvention and the power of coding bootcamps. Leaving behind a path in law, Samantha embraced the world of web development and now thrives in her role at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Her story offers valuable insights for anyone considering a similar transition, especially those aiming for an Npr Coding Career without a traditional computer science degree. This article delves into Samantha’s experiences, highlighting her motivations, bootcamp education, and daily life as a software engineer at a major media organization.
Samantha’s professional life began in the legal field. After law school, she moved to Los Angeles to practice entertainment law. However, she soon realized this wasn’t her true calling. Seeking a more fulfilling and dynamic career, she ventured into digital content production, creating shows for platforms like SnapChat. Interestingly, during this time, a part-time job exposed her to the basics of HTML, sparking an unexpected interest in coding. As her dissatisfaction with the legal and entertainment industries grew, the allure of a tech career, with its promise of flexibility and constant learning, became increasingly appealing. Samantha began exploring coding more seriously, teaching herself JavaScript while continuing her production work. When her production contract concluded, she made a pivotal decision: it was time to fully commit to coding and pursue a career change.
Recognizing the limitations of self-teaching, Samantha sought a structured and intensive learning environment. This led her to Codesmith, a coding bootcamp renowned for its rigorous curriculum and strong industry connections. “It got to a point where I felt I’d reached my limit of what I could learn on my own, and that’s when I found Codesmith,” Samantha recalls. She was drawn to Codesmith’s challenging program and the supportive community it fostered. The bootcamp proved to be intensely demanding, pushing her beyond her perceived limits. However, the collaborative environment and readily available support system were crucial to her success. Samantha emphasizes the invaluable role of her mentor, Victoria, who provided unwavering encouragement and practical guidance during challenging moments. The mentorship program at Codesmith, along with the strong sense of community, were highlights of her bootcamp experience. Before she knew it, Samantha had completed the immersive program, equipped with a robust skillset and a newfound confidence in her abilities as a software engineer.
A typical day for Samantha at NPR as a Software Engineer is structured yet dynamic. She starts by reviewing her tasks from the previous day and dedicates the initial part of her day to focused feature development. A key element of her daily routine is the team stand-up meeting at 9:45 AM. This meeting serves as a platform for the team to synchronize, discuss progress, outline daily plans, address any roadblocks, and review upcoming tasks. Post-meeting, Samantha dives back into her coding work. Collaboration is highly encouraged at NPR; when faced with coding challenges, Samantha often engages in pair programming with teammates to find solutions efficiently. Her role also involves exploratory tasks, where she researches and evaluates different libraries to optimize NPR’s codebase and address specific technical problems. Once a feature is complete, it undergoes a thorough code review process before being merged and passed on to the QA team for testing. Samantha then transitions to new tasks, ensuring a continuous workflow. To maintain productivity and work-life balance, she concludes her workday by prioritizing tasks for the next morning and noting her progress, adhering to a consistent 8-hour schedule.
Samantha’s initial foray into coding stemmed from her part-time job involving basic HTML. This experience, coupled with her growing dissatisfaction in her previous career path, prompted her to explore coding as a viable and potentially more rewarding profession. The flexibility inherent in tech roles, including the possibility of remote work and diverse company options, strongly appealed to her, aligning with her aspirations for a digital nomad lifestyle. Recognizing the potential of her existing HTML skills, Samantha embarked on a deeper exploration of web development. She started with Codecademy’s Web Development path and discovered a genuine passion for coding. This positive experience solidified her decision to fully commit to a career in software engineering.
The application process for Codesmith was intentionally rigorous, a factor that attracted Samantha to the bootcamp. Codesmith’s selective admission process, requiring a foundational understanding of JavaScript, signaled a high standard of education and peer group. Motivated by this challenge, Samantha dedicated herself to intensive self-study in JavaScript, utilizing various online resources and tutorials. She enrolled in Codesmith’s CS Prep course to further hone her skills and prepare for the immersive program application. The technical interview was a nerve-wracking experience. Despite feeling momentarily overwhelmed and experiencing “brain freeze,” Samantha’s preparation and underlying aptitude shone through, and she was accepted into the immersive program.
Codesmith’s immersive curriculum is designed to rapidly accelerate learning. As Samantha describes, “Codesmith throws you in head first.” The program assumes a pre-existing foundation in JavaScript, enabling a fast-paced and in-depth learning experience. The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming at times, but Codesmith’s pedagogical approach, emphasizing pair programming and collaborative problem-solving, ensures that students effectively absorb and apply new concepts. For Samantha, the production project in the latter half of the bootcamp was particularly transformative. This intensive team project, focused on building a developer tool, initially seemed daunting. However, it proved to be a crucial learning experience, allowing her to synthesize the knowledge acquired throughout the program and develop practical, real-world coding skills. Working closely with her project group fostered strong bonds and highlighted the power of collaborative development.
Codesmith’s support extends beyond technical training to career placement. The final weeks of the program are dedicated to career services, including resume refinement, interview preparation, and leveraging Codesmith’s extensive alumni network. While acknowledging that real-world job interviews are unique, Samantha emphasizes that Codesmith effectively prepares students for the types of questions and scenarios they are likely to encounter. The career services team provides ongoing support throughout the job search, offering resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and personalized guidance. The alumni network proved to be an invaluable resource. Samantha utilized this network to gain insights into companies she was interested in, seeking advice and connections from fellow Codesmith graduates working in those organizations.
The decision to learn to code and attend Codesmith has profoundly transformed Samantha’s life. She successfully transitioned into a career she genuinely enjoys, finding both challenge and fulfillment in her daily work. “Attending Codesmith completely changed my life,” Samantha states. The sense of accomplishment and intellectual stimulation derived from solving complex coding problems is a significant source of satisfaction. Her role at NPR led to a relocation back to the East Coast, a major life change that has been both exciting and demanding. Importantly, her career as a software engineer has significantly improved her quality of life, eliminating the dread of going to work and providing a sense of purpose and financial stability.
Looking ahead, Samantha’s coding aspirations are continuously evolving. While the recent shift to remote work due to the pandemic presented unique challenges in learning a new job and codebase remotely, it has also prompted her to re-evaluate her long-term career goals. Currently, her primary focus is on becoming an exceptional software engineer. This includes a commitment to continuous learning, exploring new frameworks and programming languages, and deepening her expertise in the field. Samantha’s journey exemplifies the rewarding possibilities of an npr coding career and the transformative potential of coding bootcamps like Codesmith in launching successful tech careers.
This article is based on an interview with Samantha Wessel and information from Codesmith.
