Hi there, thanks for stopping by!

I’m Amy, a kindergarten teacher in the final stretch of Oregon State’s postbaccalaureate computer science online program. Currently, I’m starting my last official class, CS 467 – Capstone Project, where I have the opportunity to apply the skills I’ve acquired in this program to a final group project.

One of the first steps in CS 467 is to submit your top picks for what project you would like to work on. I applied to six industry-sponsored projects, where I will have the opportunity to work on a real-world project with my group. The number one choice for my group is the SaaS Application for Fire Department 911 Risk Analysis. The scope of this project is to help implement, integrate, and test a web-based SaaS version of a 911 risk analysis desktop application. I am excited to hear this Wednesday which project I have been selected for!

Stepping back and reflecting for a moment, I can confidently say that this program has been a significant game changer. Learning about the process of software development and how to code has provided me with new career opportunities, just as it can for you. Have you ever wondered:

            “Is coding hard to learn?”

            “What exactly does software engineering mean?”

            “Do I have enough time to learn to code while still working full-time?

            “Am I too old to change careers to be a software engineer?”

            “Is computer science right for me?”

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone as I asked the same questions to myself.

In this blog, I’m going to share my capstone journey and reflect over the past two years while going through Oregon State’s postbaccalaureate computer science online program. Change can be intimidating and scary, but when you push yourself beyond your comfort zone, numerous exciting possibilities can unfold!

I hope my experience inspire those of you considering starting a computer science program to take that exciting leap into the world of coding and software development.

So please, come along as I embark on this last step in my journey to becoming a software engineer!

-Amy