Last week I published an article on Women2.0 titled “How to Teach Yourself to Code: 7 Resources.” The goal of the article was to provide tried-and-trusted online resources for women who were thinking of testing the professional coding waters but who might not know where to start.
At least, that’s what I thought the article was about.
Now that I’ve had a week to mull it over, the article was actually a rallying cry - even if I didn’t realize it at the time.
Buried in a longer paragraph in “How to Teach Yourself to Code” I wrote:
“Female entrepreneurs have been playing by their own rules for a while now and thriving because they ask, because they take, and because they don’t wait for permission. If you’re a woman interested in learning a coding language, learn it!”
That is the crux of the matter. Ladies, if you’re thinking about learning code - learn it!
Apply to Code Fellows’ women-only bootcamp. Stop thinking and submit that application!
Rather than letting the fears, the lack of classroom or professional experience, or the self-doubt keep you from applying, look them all in the eye and apply despite them. To spite them.
We all have voices in our heads telling us that we’re not ready, we’re inexperienced or that we don’t belong. Let me assure you that you are ready, experience will come to you, and you most certainly belong!
So fill out your application today!
The worst that happens is you don’t get in this time. In which case, you check out some of the self-directed resources available to you and you apply again in the fall. That seems a small price to pay when the other outcome includes new skills, network, and friends, and a shiny new career path.