In this video I’m sharing the real ways learning how to code has changed my life—starting with where I came from. I didn’t grow up thinking “tech.” I thought I was going into medicine (pediatrician, then orthodontist), I tried college a few times, even studied psychology for a bit, and I did dental assisting school… until I realized I absolutely could not deal with people’s mouths. After that I worked regular jobs: a call center, Office Depot (because yes, I love stationery), Best Buy, and then banking. While all of that was happening, I was learning to code on lunch breaks and after work—while becoming a mom, moving through apartments that honestly weren’t safe or stable, and trying to figure life out. Coding changed our circumstances in a very literal way: it took us from dealing with mice and unsafe living situations to being able to afford a clean, safe luxury apartment for our kids. But it also changed me internally. It taught me patience, how to manage frustration, and that I can do hard things—even as someone who barely made it through high school and didn’t feel “smart enough.” I also talk about how tech pushed me out of my comfort zone, especially networking as an introvert. Relationships—not asking strangers for jobs—are what helped me get my first web developer role. If you’re learning right now, I’m encouraging you to keep going. It’s not too late, and there are so many ways to use this skill beyond “big tech.”