Why I Am At MATC

Hi! My name is Kathleen. Currently I am an activity specialist in a retirement home.  I enjoy my job, but feel I have hit a ceiling, and that it is time for me to change careers and find something better for myself.  I am attending MATC and working toward an Associate's Degree as IT Web and Software Developer. Right now I am completely new to computers and feel very intimidated! Well not completely new, we got our first computer when I was under ten years old.  One of my favorite games was Mario is Missing:

As I got a little older, I was required (by my parents) to use Mavis Beacon to learn how to type. Which, though I don't normally admit to them, I am happy they made me.

I received my first laptop (a 2 year old hand-me-down from my sister) when I went away to college for health promotion.  It wasn't a speed demon by any means, and although I spent much of my time telling it to "GO!", it worked pretty well. I discovered the wonders of Microsoft Office, and enjoyed learning new shortcuts and faster methods for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

I also discovered I had a knack for figuring things out on my computer on my own, since asking questions over the phone to some form of help-desk was not always convenient and usually very time consuming. Google became my best friend and we still work very well together to this day.

In my last years of college I had friends who "taught me" what they were learning in programming classes.  Basically they talked about coding, and I listened and watched the strange language intently with everything going over my head, but nodding fervently and hoping my questions didn't sound stupid to them.  I thought it sounded fun and wondered why I didn't go to school for that, but put it out of my mind. 

After graduation and moving back to my hometown to work, I again discovered how much I enjoyed using the computer. Weather it was helping my mom on her computer, helping to teach my coworker how to use the scheduling program on the computer at work, or just learning new things at home (mainly from codeacademy.com, and random googling), I realized how much I enjoy working with computers on a daily basis. 

I finally got my first smartphone, after everyone I knew had a smartphone. I discovered APPS, and gmail, and that wonderful mystical blob called the cloud!

Although I already knew it deep down somewhere, I suddenly realized how much technology is everywhere and affects everyone. I realized how useful and wonderful technology can be when you know what your doing, but also how much I DON'T KNOW!

I had been considering going back to school for awhile, but I really didn't know what for. I thought I really like working with computers and I would like to do something with it, but there's so much I don't know, and what if I'm terrible. My dad was the one to help push my thoughts into action into going to school to MATC. I am in my second semester, I feel as though everyone in my classes already knows a ton more than me, and I feel as though I have to work twice as hard just to learn what they already know.  So far though, I really enjoy it! Everyone here has been very supportive, answers my questions without judgement, and really help me to learn.  The main reason I chose MATC is I feel it is very affordable, I can go at my own pace, and most of all I can still work a full time job while taking classes!  I am excited for what the future holds, and am eager to learn more as well as share more of my experience with you as I go.