Obstacles do not have to be a hindrance. Don’t give up if you run into a wall. You can either climb it, work around it, or figure out how to climb it. -Michael Jordan
Is the American Dream still possible? No matter where they were born, or what class they belong to, can anyone achieve success through hard work and sacrifice? It all depends on who you ask. Yamin Hakizimana is an African refugee who was a recent Boise Coding Dojo grad. His answer would be a resounding yes. In 2014 Yamin fled Burundi because of ongoing conflict. In the hope of finding new opportunities in America he left behind his family and moved to Boise, Idaho. Yamin was amazed at the kindness and desire of his community members to help him succeed as he settled in. Boise was cold! He ended up in a couple of dead-end jobs, first as a meat-packing plant worker and then as a landscaper for a while. He knew he wanted to find a better job, and he tried to return to school. However, it was not feasible due to the cost and time required to complete a traditional four year degree. A friend introduced him to Trailhead, a local coworking space, which also hosts the Coding Dojo Boise Campus. Yamin was encouraged to apply by his friend and, after being accepted, received financial assistance from Trailhead and his friends. Yamin was excited but worried that his computer skills would hinder him.
I had no knowledge of computer science. I mean, I had seen computers and touched them but I didn’t know much about typing. I was excited but nervous.
Yamin didn’t have enough support – One Refugee donated a laptop computer for Yamin to use during the 14 week program. Yamin started his coding journey with a computer in hand. Yamin watched many YouTube tutorials and completed all his pre-bootcamp tutorials in an effort to catch up. Even so, the first few weeks were difficult. Gradually, the coursework began to click and Yamin’s bootcamp experience began to take off.
It was the right thing for me to do. I knew that I wouldn’t have another chance. I did everything I could to help myself.
He also made friends quickly in the program by collaborating with talented developers. Yamin’s dedication paid off. As he gained more knowledge, his confidence and problem solving skills increased. Yamin excelled as graduation approached and was on track to earn black belts (the highest grades) for all three stacks. Three black belts were his, and he was offered three jobs in the tech sector within three weeks of graduating. Yamin eventually chose to work as a developer at VYNYL’s Boise office. Yamin offers some tips for anyone who is interested in learning how to code as he begins his new career.
There’s nothing to be anxious about, so don’t be afraid. Don’t worry about how difficult it might be or the walls you will face. You can go anywhere you want.
What are you doing wrong? What barriers have you built around your self? Get in touch to find out how we can help get you where you want to be.
