Growing up with a passion for computers but without the means to own one, I always felt a step behind. Even a basic Intel 386 SX was financially out of reach for my family. My parents prioritized education, investing their limited resources to supplement my scholarship at a private high school. This access to the school’s computer lab was transformative, opening up a world of possibilities that would shape my future career. This early experience instilled in me a drive not just for technical proficiency, but also a desire to find a coding career that was truly rewarding, in more ways than one.
The Prank That Sparked a Passion
In high school, my best friend received a state-of-the-art Gateway 2000 Intel Pentium 90 for his 16th birthday. This $4500 machine, a symbol of technological luxury, was something I could only dream of. His constant boasting about it fueled my frustration. I excelled academically and dedicated myself to learning, yet I lacked the same opportunities simply due to financial constraints. This early sense of injustice became a driving force in my life, pushing me towards a career where I could not only succeed but also make a difference.
One day, invited to his house to finally experience this technological marvel, my initial awe soon turned into mischievous inspiration as his bragging continued. While he was momentarily away from the computer, I experimented and discovered a way to prank him. I created a simple batch file that, when executed, displayed the terrifying message: “Windows has been deleted…” before reverting to the DOS shell. The beauty of it was its reversibility – deleting my file restored everything.
The prank worked perfectly. His boastful demeanor crumbled into tears as he believed his precious Windows 3.11 installation was gone. Immediately regretting my actions, I confessed, deleted the file, and explained how it worked. However, in that brief moment of perceived power, a feeling starkly contrasting my usual financial powerlessness, a seed was planted. This feeling, this ability to manipulate technology, motivated me to pursue computer engineering. (Years later, proving all was forgiven, I stood as a groomsman at his wedding.)
Exploring Diverse Avenues in the Tech Industry
After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, I embarked on a ten-year journey through the diverse landscape of the tech industry. My experiences ranged from an internship at Motorola working on early mobile phones, to a demanding, travel-heavy tech consulting role at Deloitte. I embraced the fast-paced environment of a software startup, wearing multiple hats, and even contributed to the development of the Pentium 4 at Intel as a Product Development Engineer. Yet, amidst these professional achievements, one of my most profoundly gratifying moments was teaching my mother how to send her first email on a computer I had bought for my parents. This personal impact resonated deeply.
Driven by a desire to broaden my skillset, I returned to CMU for an MBA. The following five years saw me venture into marketing, launch my own business, and eventually move to the West Coast to contribute to software development at Nike. This diverse career path, accumulating varied experiences and responsibilities, unexpectedly led me to what I now consider my dream job: guiding and teaching career-changing adults as a Coding Bootcamp Instructor. These individuals, much like myself in my early years, brought their own unique backgrounds and motivations.
Making a Tangible Difference: A Career of Impact
For some software developers, transitioning to teaching might seem like a step back, a deviation from a potentially more lucrative path as a tech practitioner. Why trade a comfortable, upward trajectory to teach beginners the fundamentals? However, when a recruiter approached me about becoming an instructor, it was a revelation. I had always found joy in helping others learn, whether mentoring junior developers or assisting non-technical friends with computer skills. This opportunity offered a chance to amplify that impact on a significant scale.
In my current role, I am far from a mere “code monkey.” The pressures of overnight server crashes and the monotony of moving tickets across a kanban board have been replaced by something far more meaningful. Instead of contributing to abstract projects, I am directly involved in improving the lives of real people. This shift has redefined my understanding of what a profitable coding career can truly mean.
One student’s story, in particular, encapsulates my purpose. Before joining my program, he worked stocking shelves at a grocery store. With a baby on the way, he faced the urgent need for a career transformation to provide for his growing family. When he became the first student I taught to receive a job offer, he rushed into my office, tears of joy streaming down his face, exclaiming, “They want me!!” That moment, witnessing his raw emotion and the life-changing impact of his newfound skills, brought a level of fulfillment I had never experienced in the corporate world. It was then I realized this was more than just a job; it was a calling.
In that moment of shared excitement, a profound realization struck me: this student was now on a path to becoming the kind of parent who could afford to buy his child a computer, breaking the cycle of limited opportunity that I had experienced. This was the real profit – not just for him, but for future generations.
Is Teaching Coding the Right Profitable Path For You?
This career path is not without its challenges. It demands intensity, dedication, and can be all-consuming. However, it is unequivocally the most rewarding work I have ever undertaken. I encourage every software developer to reflect on their initial motivations for entering tech and what truly brings them fulfillment, both professionally and personally. If technology is solely a means to an end – a job title or a salary figure – then teaching might not be the ideal transition. But if you are driven by a desire to use your skills to create a lasting, positive impact on others, to empower them not through pranks, but through knowledge and passion, then this role could be profoundly fulfilling. Our coding skills possess the power to build a better future, one transformed life at a time. So, if you are a doer seeking a different kind of profitable coding career, consider becoming a teacher. It might be the most rewarding investment you ever make.
