CommunityMary Learned to Code While Working Full-time & Raising Kids

As a homeschooling mother of four, Mary found herself fed up of working a full-time job that she no longer enjoyed. With an increasing interest in learning to code she considered attending a coding bootcamp, but found they didn’t fit into her busy schedule or budget. Then Mary found Treehouse. Able to work at her own pace, anytime, anywhere, Mary has been confidently working through selected Tracks and is now well on her way to developing web-based software solutions for nonprofits and launching web applications of her very own.

We caught up with Mary to ask her a few questions about her experience, the value of a technology education, and how she fit Treehouse into her already busy schedule!

What initially drew you to the web industry and learning to code?

There is quite a bit of power in coding, along with significant room for creativity that is simply not inherent in other industries. Additionally, I have come to value nothing more in life than the flexibility and freedom to come and go as I please. Coding offers the scratch for that itch.

What were you doing when you first joined Treehouse?

I was working a full-time job that I no longer enjoyed, while simultaneously home-schooling my four children. In an all-out effort to find a way to “get off the wheel”, I considered attending one of those nine-week coder camps, but later concluded that as a wife and mother, I really didn’t have the heart or desire to spend months away from my family. Just as importantly, those camps were way out of my budget.

Tell us a little about your experience learning with Treehouse over the last few months.

I have been through a number of significant professional and personal changes over the past few months, including relocation from Atlanta to Miami. Providing the flexible continuity that my lifestyle demands, Treehouse is ready for me when I am ready for Treehouse.

“Providing the flexible continuity that my lifestyle demands, Treehouse is ready for me when I am ready for Treehouse.”

How has learning with Treehouse fit into your busy life?

I set a goal of one video per day, no matter how short or how long the video is and that works really well for me. I complete that lesson sometimes as early as 5:30 in the morning, on weekends or holidays, or even during recess, but I get it done!

What has the value of a Treehouse education meant to you?

Treehouse has provided a happy medium between obtaining a tech education with thousands of dollars of debt (and content with fast-fleeting relevance) and navigating the waters alone. The most significant aspect of Treehouse is its affordability, but a close second is that it is both self-paced and professionally structured and guided.

Tells us about your plans for the future. What’s next on your learning path?

I am training to develop web-based software solutions for non-profit entities and plan to launch a few really hot web-based applications of my own.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with new students who are just starting out?

Be consistent, even if you can only dedicate 15 minutes per day to your new career path. Eventually you will get there!