Teaching to Tech

2024-12-14

Finding My Passion for Teaching

I graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Political Science, unsure of my exact career path but certain that I wanted to make a positive impact. While at Whitman, I worked as a writing tutor on campus. This job wasn’t just a way to earn money—it was a revelation. I discovered how much I loved teaching. Helping others express themselves clearly and watching their skills grow gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

At the same time, I was eager to explore the world beyond the small bubble of college life. After graduating, I leaped at the chance to move to Ankara, Turkey, to work as an English instructor. For three years, I taught university-aged students, learned about Turkish culture, and gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of a global community. My time in Turkey not only reinforced my passion for teaching but also cultivated a deep curiosity about how people learn and grow.

Returning to Seattle and Specializing in Education

When I returned to Seattle, I decided to continue pursuing a career in education. I enrolled at the University of Washington to earn a Master’s degree, focusing on elementary education with a specialization in working with English Language Learners (ELLs). Many of my students were immigrants, and I was passionate about supporting them as they adapted to a new culture and language. Teaching math and science to these students became favorite part of the job. I worked hard to make these subjects accessible, exciting, and empowering for students who often faced significant challenges in their day-to-day lives.

I loved teaching and the connections I built with my students, but I also started to notice my own emerging interest in something new—a field I had never seriously considered before.

A Chance Encounter with Coding

While working for Seattle Public Schools, I had a colleague who had been a programmer before transitioning to education. He served as our technology specialist and introduced me to Scratch, a programming tool designed to teach children how to code. My students loved it, and so did I. There was something deeply satisfying about building something from scratch (pun intended) and seeing the results unfold on the screen. I realized that programming wasn’t just a tool for teaching—it was something I genuinely wanted to learn for myself.

Curious and inspired, I began teaching myself programming in my spare time. I started with online resources like CodeAcademy and the book Automate the Boring Stuff with Python. What began as a casual exploration quickly turned into a serious interest. For the first time, I found myself imagining a future outside of teaching.

Testing the Waters

Before making the leap into a new career, I wanted to ensure that I both loved coding and had the aptitude for it. I reached out to my college friend David, who was working at Amazon, for advice. He became my mentor, helping me navigate the world of programming languages, frameworks, and career options.

To deepen my skills, I enrolled in night and summer classes at a local community college. The professors there were exceptional—many had come from careers in big tech and brought a level of rigor and insight that pushed me to excel. I poured my energy into these classes, eager to learn as much as I could. By the end, I had earned a 4.0 GPA and felt confident in my ability to pursue programming as a career.

My Breakthrough: FarmHQ

Around this time, David approached me with an interesting proposition. He and his brother were working on a farm irrigation project and needed some programming help. He offered me $1,000 and the chance to gain real-world experience if I could complete a set of tasks for their startup, FarmHQ.

I treated the opportunity as more than just a paid gig—I saw it as a test of my skills and dedication. I tackled each task with focus and determination, often going beyond the initial requirements to suggest improvements. My enthusiasm and problem-solving approach didn’t go unnoticed. David and his brother saw potential in me, and despite my still-developing technical skills, they offered me a role at the company as a founding team member.

Diving Headfirst into Tech

At FarmHQ, I was ready to take on any challenge that came my way. Initially, my responsibilities were broad—I helped wherever I could. But soon, I took ownership of the entire frontend, along with significant portions of the backend and infrastructure. I had to learn fast, picking up skills in React, AWS, Terraform, and Postgres as I went. It was an intense period of growth, but the effort paid off. Before long, we had a functional app that real farmers were using and paying for.

Over the next five years, I continued to grow alongside the company. Today, I hold the title of Principal Software Engineer. My role has expanded to include hiring and managing junior engineers, designing and developing products, solving SEO challenges, and building and deploying iOS, Android, and web apps. I’ve even acted as the de-facto product manager and designer, wearing many hats to help our small team succeed.

Lessons from My Journey

Reflecting on my transition from teaching to tech, I’ve learned several important lessons:

1. Hard Work Beats Talent
   I didn’t have a traditional background in programming, but I was willing to work hard and learn quickly. That determination made all the difference.

2. Leverage Your Network
   From my college friend David to my community college professors, the people in my network played a crucial role in my journey. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek out mentors.

3. Start Small, Aim Big
   Before committing to a complete career change, I tested the waters with self-teaching and community college classes. This approach gave me the confidence to move forward without feeling overwhelmed.

4. Do What You Love
   Switching careers is hard work, and the only way to sustain that effort is to love what you’re doing. Programming brought me joy and fulfillment, and that passion fueled my success.

5. Be Open to New Paths
   I never planned to leave teaching, but life has a way of surprising us. By staying curious and open to new opportunities, I found a career that suits me perfectly.

Closing Thoughts

Transitioning from teaching to tech wasn’t a straight path, and it wasn’t always easy. But every step of the journey—from teaching English in Turkey to building apps for farmers—has been deeply rewarding. If you’re considering a career change, my advice is simple: stay curious, work hard, and surround yourself with people who inspire and support you. You never know where your next opportunity might come from.