My Journey from Sociology to Software Engineering

My Journey from Sociology to Software Engineering

Education #

In college at UC Berkeley, my focus leaned more towards cultivating friendships, crafting costumes, and plotting my next travel escapade rather than charting a clear career path. My affinity for people, a knack for essay writing, and the class times of sociology courses naturally led me to a Sociology degree. Four years flew by, and as I held that hard-earned diploma, I realized for the first time in my life I had no answer to the big question: "What comes next?"

A year of soul-searching followed, serving pizzas at Zachary's Pizza in Oakland and savoring the freedom that came with youth and few responsibilities. Yet, an undercurrent of restlessness nudged me toward change, and I moved home to Stockton, CA. Working at my mom's print shop, I honed my craft as a graphic designer. The job of assembling yearbooks for local sports teams and connecting with the community through design was fulfilling. It's a chapter I hold dear, as the skills I cultivated there often intertwine with both my personal and professional endeavors—be it crafting UI mockups or designing playful awards for my softball team.

Coding a new Chapter #

I once believed computer science was the realm of mathematical prodigies and tech enthusiasts, but through a series of fortunate events I discovered that the tech world also values creative, sociable, and logical minds—minds like mine.

In 2015, my sister Megan, a fresh business graduate, veered into the tech world by attending a coding bootcamp in San Francisco. "If Megan can do it, why can't I?" - The thought was a seed that rapidly grew roots. I moved to Austin, TX, and spent long hours every day sipping on a Moonraker at Summermoon Coffee (the best coffee shop ever in my humble opinion!), reading a JavaScript textbooks and practicing coding. Not long after I attended the Hack Reactor bootcamp myself, and found the immersive 13 week experience to be completely transformative.

Ashley's JavaScript textbook and coffee from Summermoon coffee

Nobody can become an expert coder in 13 weeks, however along with the preparation I did beforehand I had everything I needed to jump into the world of software engineering. I was accustomed to racking my brain learning new coding concepts, my resume showcased several full-stack projects which was enough to get me a few interviews, and I nailed my first two technical onsite interviews thanks to rigorous practicing of data structures and algorithms. The result was 2 offers within 3 weeks of my Hack Reactor graduation, and I was thrilled to sign on as a Software Engineer for vAuto.

Life as a Software Engineer #

Entering vAuto’s doors, I stepped into a wonderland of creativity and innovation. The games and social events weren't just perks; they were the glue that bonded us as a team, fueling our understanding of each other, our users, and the drive to excel professionally. As part of the Stockwave application team, I found my rhythm, marrying my design instincts with robust coding to enhance our software's usability. The mentorship from senior developers didn't just sharpen my technical acumen—it instilled a philosophy of lifelong learning, the value of clean code, and the art of constructive feedback.

Stockwave team at the vAuto Christmas party 2016

At Evernote, my role took a deep dive into complex systems revolving around the rich text editor, where each problem was a puzzle that demanded a tailored solution. It was here that I refined my problem-solving skills, untangling intricate issues with persistence and a collaborative spirit.

Yumi's work felt like a playground for my front-end expertise. During my tenure, I streamlined the codebase and spearheaded the website's revamp. Though my journey there was brief, it underscored my passion and aptitude for front-end challenges.

Now, I'm taking a moment to breathe, enriching my life with the joys of parenthood and the thrill of continuous learning. Stay tuned as I unfold the next chapter of my journey in tech—a tale of code, curiosity, and the constant pursuit of growth.