Opportunity Academies provide non-technical people with the knowledge and skills they need to move into technical roles. In this blog, we interview Pluralsight Opportunity Academy students. The participants share their experiences with the program and how it has impacted their lives. They also offer advice to individuals and organizations who are interested in Opportunity Academies.
Why did you apply to the Learn to Code program
“I thought that I had everything figured out before applying for the program. I was working for the City of New York for several years and was good at my work. I wanted to change careers. So I accepted a position in a different state, in another industry (making ball bowling) and the chance to be a manager at a new startup.
“That was January 2020. COVID-19 arrived in the United States two weeks later. In March, I returned to NYC, utterly unsure of my future and unsure what to do. I spent the remainder of 2020 pondering what I should do. I was depressed because I had left my job and then lost it within three months.
“I thought it was a bit ambitious for me to pursue a better career than my former coworkers and not play it safe. Although I am grateful for the Pandemic Unemployment Aid (PUA) that I received, I had no other options during my furlough. “I was a bit scared to start over.”
How did you hear about the Opportunity Academy
“I learned about the program from a former colleague in NYC [who found out about it through Pluralsight marketing]. They told me to check it out.
“A few things stood out to me. The program was designed to attract people with no professional experience in technology (me). They were also looking for people with interest in technology but no opportunity to pursue that passion. I was interested in technology and dabbled with computers in my spare time, but didn’t want to spend money on learning because of my financial situation.
“Finally, although participants would not be guaranteed a job, they could learn enough to have a shot at tech roles. Acceptance into the program was free. When I was receiving PUA, I could take this opportunity.
If I hadn’t applied, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity again. “I felt forced to put my best foot forward in the application.”
What was the interviewing process to be accepted into the program like
“Someone from the program contacted me for a 30-minute interview. It was a pretty smooth process! I talked to two people who asked me questions that were similar to those of a job interview. They asked me to explain myself, what I expected to gain from the program, how I saw myself in the future, and my level of engagement during the program. The questions ranged from why I was interested in the 14-week boot camp of the program to my motivation for getting into technology.
“I was honest when I explained my situation and the reasons why I wanted to treat this program seriously. I did not have any expectations other than to want to show that if I were accepted into the program, it would be everything to me. I was desperate for this opportunity and would not waste it. I was finally born!
“I then received an email that outlined everything I needed to know, including the prerequisite courses and activities I required to complete on the
What did you think of the first day at school
“I was thrilled, but I knew that I had come to study. I was determined that I would finish the course and make the most of it. Knowing my situation, I was determined to make the most of it. At first, I struggled to understand the basics of HTML. I knew about HTML classes, tags, and attributes. But I hadn’t used it without the help of a program like Dreamweaver. I felt rusty.”
What was your typical day during the program
It was well-structured! I got up at 8 am and prepared myself for the class like any other job. I was ready by 9 am to start the Zoom course. After a half-hour break, we finished the day at 5 pm.
Then I would spend the next three to four hours studying alone or reviewing notes with my classmates. “I would go to bed early so I could do it all again the following day.”
What was your best and worst day during the program
“The best day was after the first week of the program when I started getting a sense of how to use React on a fundamental level. This was also the most challenging section of the course because of the significant jump in difficulty.
I wasn’t familiar with JavaScript and how to apply it to React, as the instructor instructed. The program was structured in a 14-week timeframe, so I had to study (and struggle) to learn it. I gave my feedback to the teacher. He adjusted the pace to be more realistic based on group average. “I was able to pick it up right away.”
Have you ever thought about quitting your job
“I knew I would never quit because this was the right thing for me. I knew I would have to finish the program before I could use what I learned. It was something I had to do, no matter how difficult or ‘impossible it’s felt for me as a technology newbie.
How did instructors support you
“The first two instructors were always there to listen to me if I had a question. The first two instructors were especially good at encouraging me to find the solution independently without giving me the complete answer. They kept the carrot and stuck it in front of me.
It felt like I could at least make friends with the instructors, and they provided a welcoming environment where I could ask any questions I had during the class. I never felt that I was a bother to them.”