In September 2022, life threw open a window of opportunity, and I decided to leap through it—gracefully, of course (or as gracefully as a full-time mom of 12 years can manage). My youngest started primary school, my husband ditched his corporate chains to start his own company, and suddenly, I had something rare: time. Not much, but enough to think, Hey, what about me?
After years of focusing on my family, I knew it was time to focus on my own growth. And what did I want? A career in IT. Simple, right? Well, not so much. Starting from scratch in tech without any formal education or experience felt a bit like deciding to climb Everest with a backpack full of snacks and no map.
But I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. So, I found a way—a program supported by the government and ZAM, a foundation empowering women to break into male dominated career fields. Little did I know, the application process alone was enough to make anyone reconsider their life choices.
The Grueling Application Process
Before I could even dream of joining the program, there were hurdles. Think courses in Math, German, Programming, and Logic, followed by tests and interviews designed to separate the dreamers from the doers. And then, there was the final boss level: the IT Lab.
Imagine a month-long crash course in software engineering, thrown at a group of hopefuls—most of us with no prior IT background. It was like trying to drink from a firehose while learning to swim. But hey, out of more than a hundred applicants, only 16 of us made it to the Lab, which felt pretty special.
By the end of that month, 15 of us passed the final exam (one opted for another program before the exam, so no hard feelings). And with that, we officially joined the program. Cue the celebratory cupcakes—or at least a long nap.
The Survival Edition
The program was designed to turn clueless-but-determined individuals (like me) into fully-fledged software developers in just about 20 months. This meant cramming years’ worth of learning into a tight, intense schedule. By the end of the first semester, I was coding in my dreams (and occasionally in my nightmares).
And because the universe loves a good challenge, we also had to find internships while mastering the basics of software development. The stress was real. It didn’t help that two classmates left during this time—one for a great personal reason and another due to an academic integrity issue (we’ll leave it at that).
Despite it all, what kept me going was the camaraderie. My classmates and I leaned on each other, sharing laughs, frustrations, and too many cups of coffee (or puffs of smoke for some). Some days, I showed up just to see them and remind myself I wasn’t in this alone.
The Balancing Act
By the second semester, things got even busier. Three days a week were spent interning at IT companies, while the other two were packed with classes. Balancing work, study, and family life felt like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. But at this stage, we were already kinda used to it so it felt a little less difficult compared to the previous semester.
We lost more colleagues as the semesters went on, which was bittersweet. Seeing someone leave after all the effort they’d put in was tough, but it also reminded me of how far we’d come.
For me, the support from my family was the glue holding everything together. My husband and I became each other’s cheerleaders, and my kids were the best accidental motivators—because nothing says “keep going” like a child asking, “Mom, when will you finish your homework so we can play?”
Crossing the Finish Line
By October 2024, I had survived 20 months of chaos, code, and coffee, and I graduated. It wasn’t just a certificate—it was proof that I could step out of my comfort zone, tackle something completely foreign, and come out the other side.
So here I am, a shiny new addition to the tech world, armed with some coding know-how and a whole lot of ‘figure-it-out-as-I-go’ energy.
Another Starting Line
What’s next? Well, I’m still figuring that out. Job applications are the current mountain to climb, but I’ve learned one thing for sure: no path is too challenging if you have determination, a solid support system, and maybe a bit of humor to get you through.
To anyone dreaming of a change but feeling unsure—take the leap. Even if it feels impossible, even if it’s scary, even if you end up debugging your own brain at 2 AM. It’s worth it.