A few years ago, I was an exhausted public school special education teacher. I loved my students and believed in the work, but I was burnt out—emotionally and financially. It felt like I was being paid for half my effort and expected to volunteer the rest. Looking at my career trajectory, I realized I needed a path that allowed for long-term growth, creativity, and better income. That realization led me to explore software engineering—and ultimately, to TripleTen.
Why I Chose TripleTen
There are countless coding bootcamps out there, but TripleTen stood out to me for a few reasons. It had great reviews, transparent graduate outcomes, and a strong focus on hands-on learning. After taking their career quiz, reading about potential tech salaries, and speaking with a warm and encouraging advisor, I decided to enroll in the Full-Stack Software Engineering program.
At the time, I had no STEM background and zero experience writing code. I was intimidated, convinced software engineering was only for math geniuses. But I quickly discovered that learning to code is more like learning a new language: it takes time, effort, and practice—but it’s absolutely achievable, even for people like me who came from creative or non-technical backgrounds.
What the Program Includes
TripleTen teaches you real, job-ready skills. Here’s a quick snapshot of the tech stack and tools we learn:
- HTML, CSS, Git, GitHub
- JavaScript, React, Node.js, Express.js
- MongoDB, REST APIs, Postman
- Google Cloud, Webpack, Figma, VSCode
These are the same tools many professional developers use daily. More importantly, the projects are practical and buildable—at the end, you’ll have a working portfolio.
Support and Community
Although the program is self-paced, it doesn’t feel isolating. TripleTen has built a very supportive learning culture. My Learning Coach checked in regularly, and the program keeps you on track with soft deadlines.
What really helped me was the layered support system:
- Several group tutor sessions offered daily on Zoom
- 1-on-1 tutor calls if you’re stuck or want extra help
- Discord community where you can ask questions and connect with other learners
- Live lessons on specific topics to deepen your understanding
- 24/hr Platform support for technical issues
In addition to the formal support, I found solace with the friends I met along the way. Our study group checked in and encouraged one another.
More Than Just Tech Skills
There is also well-rounded support for career prep and extracurricular opportunities. The Career Acceleration Program starts after you finish the final project, and you receive 1-1 career coaching and build a plan that is right for you.
I also got the opportunity to volunteer as a senior student, helping peers in earlier sprints. That role helped me sharpen my skills and gave me a sense of leadership within the learning community.
There are also Code Jams where students work on teams to quickly build an app together. That kind of collaboration teaches you that software development isn’t just about code—it’s also about collaboration.
My Experience: From Teacher to Tech Professional
The transition wasn’t easy. There were times I felt overwhelmed or doubted whether I could actually do this. But every time I hit a wall, I leaned into the support systems available and kept going. Whether it was needing a concept re-explained or just needing help catching a missing comma in my code, the tutors were patient, knowledgeable, and kind.
Once I hit my stride, I began to really enjoy the work. I even looked forward to coding after long teaching days because I saw real progress. The moment I built my first working webpage was empowering, and that feeling only grew as I tackled more advanced topics and built full-stack applications.
For my final project, I designed and launched a React app from scratch. I created the concept, chose the color scheme, and built it from the ground up. It was a huge milestone for me.
There were times I felt overwhelmed or doubted whether I could actually do this. But every time I hit a wall, I leaned into the support systems available and kept going.
Life After Graduation
After completing the program, I joined TripleTen’s Career Acceleration Program, where I got 1-1 coaching and individualized guidance. Soon after TripleTen connected me to an externship where I got to work on a developer team for a small business. That gave me real-world experience and boosted my résumé.
I also chose to pursue freelancing, launching Mariposa Effect Co, where I now build websites and apps for businesses. To date, I’ve worked with multiple clients to create or upgrade their web presence, and I’m confident that TripleTen gave me the technical foundation to do this work professionally.
Is TripleTen Right for You?
I always tell people: you get what you put into it. This isn’t an easy ride, and it requires rigorous, consistent study. (Guess it’s called a bootcamp for a reason.) But if you’re motivated and ready to make a change, TripleTen provides the tools, support, and roadmap to get there.
If you’re not sure coding is for you, try out some free online resources first. If it strikes curiosity for you, TripleTen can help you go from beginner to full-stack engineer with real projects, real skills, and real job support.
Whether you’re interested in software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or UX/UI, TripleTen has programs designed to launch your tech career. I am beyond grateful I found their program to help me get to where I am now.
Interested in signing up?
Use my referral link* for a discount on any of TripleTen’s bootcamps! 🙌
Feel free to contact me if you have questions—I’m always happy to share more about my experience.
*Disclaimer: I receive a referral reward when certain conditions are met.
