Starting over can feel like signing up for a marathon when you’ve only ever jogged to catch a bus. But for me? Turns out I’m a sprinter at heart. Who knew?
When I decided to pivot to software development, I braced myself for late nights, steep learning curves, and possibly crying into my keyboard. What I didn’t expect was to genuinely love it.
1. It’s Hard, but When You Love It, It’s Worth It
They say the best kind of work doesn’t feel like work. They also say chocolate is a vegetable because it comes from beans—so take that as you will.
But in this case, it’s true. Coding didn’t feel like work to me. Sure, my study program was a full-throttle, blink-and-you-miss-it journey through Java, C#, JavaScript, and TypeScript. But there was something wildly satisfying about writing a function, running it, and seeing it actually do what it’s supposed to.
I won’t lie; there were moments of frustration (looking at you, recursions!). But staying up late to debug or learn something new wasn’t draining—it was exhilarating. My brain was on fire, and for once, it wasn’t because I’d forgotten to turn off the stove.
2. Imposter Syndrome Is a Guest—Not a Roommate
Imposter syndrome stopped by when I started my internship, as if to say, “Hey, mind if I crash here?” Walking into a company as a half-baked developer can do that to you. But instead of kicking it out right away, I treated Imposter Syndrome like a visitor who brought useful advice. It kept me humble, reminding me that I really had a lot to learn—and that was okay.
That self-awareness became my superpower. It gave me the right mentality to learn faster. I soaked up knowledge from teammates who had more experience, asked questions without hesitation, and threw myself into the work. And guess what? It didn’t take long before I was contributing—solving real problems, building actual tools, and genuinely adding value to the team.
At some point, Imposter Syndrome quietly packed its bags and left, probably realizing I didn’t need it anymore. And though it still came knocking at my door every now and then (especially when I have to work with technologies I have no prior experience with), I didn’t shun it. I just made sure that it left as quickly as possible.
The more I learned, the more confident I became. And by the end of my internship, I wasn’t just “hanging in there”; I was thriving!
3. Motivation and Discipline Go a Long Way
Starting over isn’t just about finding your passion—it’s about having the discipline to follow through. For two years, I juggled a rigorous program, an internship, and a family. I showed up, not just physically (hello, perfect attendance!) but mentally.
It wasn’t just about the grades, though I did manage to get some really (ahem!) good grades. It was about consistently giving my best effort, whether I was in the classroom, at work, or sitting at my desk at home with a cup of coffee and a stack of notes.
4. Your Why Will Keep You Going (and Going and Going)
People often say, “Find your why.” Mine was pretty simple: I wanted a career that challenged me, gave me room to grow, and gave me a sense of accomplishment. Why? Because those things make me happy! Oh, and also because I got tired of explaining to my kids why I didn’t have homework like they did.
Every time things got tough, I reminded myself of my why. It’s amazing how much motivation you can find when you’re chasing a dream (and trying to impress your kids with the mini game app you coded).
5. Starting Over Is Both Empowering and Humbling
No one tells you that starting over can make you feel both like a superhero and a noob at the same time. Learning something new, excelling at it, and proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than you thought? That’s empowering.
But it’s also humbling to realize how much there is to learn—and how much you’ll never stop learning.
So, Would I Do It Again?
Abso-effing-lutely! Starting over isn’t easy, but for me, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s about more than just switching careers—it’s about discovering what lights you up, leaning into that spark, and seeing where it takes you.