I'm Just Sayin...

runonrails:

Below is an essay I wrote on why on wanted to apply and be accepted into Code Academy, a Ruby on Rails learning program based in Chicago. It’s a good reflection for me on where I was at the time I wrote the piece and where I want to go from here, which is eCommerce development work.

Top quality instruction, passionately involved community, awesome opportunity. These are the reasons that I am applying to CODE ACADEMY.

After searching for Ruby on Rails development instruction as well as design techniques, I finally found a solid educational source in your program. Reading Ruby books and blog posts is a good way to gain knowledge especially if you are a complete newbie to Ruby, as I am. However, my aspiration is to become the best Ruby on Rails developer that I can possibly be. I want to build a high-performance Rails-developing skill set so that I can redline my abilities knowing that I will get to where I want to go with speed and precision.  And to accomplish this goal I want the best quality instruction and support that is available. Having learned what CODE ACADEMY is and offers I know that CODE ACADEMY is the right engine for me to perform in the manner that I desire.  CODE ACADEMY will provide the key to unlock the door that opens into a world where I will turn my dreams into realities.

Engineering this engine and forging this key is only made possible by way of instruction. And leading, top-notch instruction is one area that CODE ACADEMY provides. CODE ACADEMY’s instructor and mentors are practicing professionals so I know that what I  learn is what the street, i.e. the real world, is using. Jeff Cohen, Ginny Hendry, Dave Hoover, JC Grubbs, Eric Meyer, Chad Pry, and Frank Pinto are devoted to their careers, committed to the program, and are all willing to share their time and knowledge so that I can become a better person. This is awesome. The instruction that all of these people are willing and able to provide is world-class and to learn from them will be very rewarding.
In addition to this, the program’s curriculum is well planned and focused. The “Learner Mode” provides the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation in Ruby on Rails development. The “Start-Up Mode” is where I will be able to apply the skills that I have acquired to solve a real problem and it is creating solutions to solve life’s dilemmas and conundrums that give me the most satisfaction in life. And finally, “Demo Day” is the opening night. The previous 11-weeks sculpted our repertoire of skills and techniques, and now the curtains are drawn and all of our preparation is presented to potential investors and employers. This entire program will give its students the dexterity, aptitude, and confidence to get noticed by professionals in the tech community.

Community leads me to my next reason why I am applying to CODE ACADEMY. Surrounding yourself with people who are passionate about a subject is like drinking pure, cold H2O when you are parched. It’s refreshing and it re-charges you. There’s a type of energy that encompasses people who are interested in the same ideas and work that you are. And when one is surrounded by these people, conversation and ideas flow smoothly. Creativity abounds. Being with others who are passionate about what they do, who want to help others reach their full-potential, and are eager to share what they know is, in my opinion, vital to achieving success. A passionate community provides support and it is this support that expands self-confidence and evaporates self-doubt. This type of environment is ideal, and a necessity, for achieving a high-level of success.
Becoming a student at CODE ACADEMY allows me to join a community that is filled with passionate, creative, and industrious individuals and organizations. Working with my fellow classmates, developing solutions to problems with them, and helping each other learn the material is the type of social interaction that I seek. I know that each one of us will have the desire and guts to achieve our goals and to be part of such a dedicated group is exciting. Along with us students, the programs’s creators, instructor, mentors, companies, and advisers form one large, impassioned group that is dedicated to improving people’s lives through technology development. It’s this type of environment where success is cultivated.

The third reason that I am applying to CODE ACADEMY is that it is an awesome opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. Learning Ruby on Rails, HTML5, CSS3, software product development, presentation skills and other subjects from seasoned professionals is optimal. Asking for more would be exuding greed. The program’s curriculum, as mentioned before, is solid, and the people that I will be learning with and learning from are ideal participants. This environment will allow me to grow as an individual and partake in a life-altering adventure. The experiences that I will undergo throughout the program and afterwards will be phenomenal. Endless opportunities abound and graduating from CODE ACADEMY will prepare me to succeed in whatever path I choose to take. Can’t wait to start!