Check out how SheCodes helped Viktorija turn her passion into a full-time job!
๐โโ๏ธ Before SheCodes
Viktorija is a dynamic Lithuanian ๐ฑ๐น woman who has made London her home ๐ฌ๐ง. In the summer, she enjoys hiking and attending rock concerts. While during the colder seasons, she prefers indoor activities like playing video and board games! ๐ฎ
Before embarking on her coding journey with SheCodes in April 2021, Viktorija was a Project Manager in the video game industry. She specialized in localization QA projects, where she ensured that video game content was suitable for its intended audience in a specific localization. She was also a pillar for the testing teams and their leaders, ensuring smooth operations and quality outcomes.
โOverall, I was always curious about coding, but it felt not accessible. Prior to discovering SheCodes, I attempted to learn through YouTube tutorials and free courses, but the lack of a structured approach made it difficult to progress.โ
Viktorija's curiosity about coding started while working on her past job. Her day-to-day tasks, which often involved handling variables and troubleshooting system bugs, piqued her interest in understanding developersโ logic and decision-making processes. Although she had always been intrigued by the world of coding, it seemed out of reach. She tried learning how to code through YouTube tutorials and free online courses, but the lack of structure made it very difficult for Viktorija to progress.
โI stumbled upon SheCodes through a social media advertisement that invited me to attend a free lesson. Having contemplated learning coding before, I saw this as a sign. The introductory lesson proved to be highly motivating, ultimately leading me to enroll in the course.โ
That's when she stumbled upon SheCodes Free 60-minute coding class. This class was so inspiring that it convinced her to sign up for more. It was the beginning of her journey into coding, a step towards turning her curiosity into a new skill.
๐ฉโ๐ป Her SheCodes Experience
Viktorija's journey with SheCodes was truly wonderful! The SheCodes Workshops were well-organized, which made learning easier and more effective. Each lesson came with clear explanations and hands-on tasks that had to be completed by a certain time. This structure helped her stay on track.
โWhat set this program apart was Matt's approach: he didn't merely code in the videos. Instead, he explained the logic behind the code and demonstrated problem-solving techniques. โ
What really made the difference for her was how our instructor, Matt, taught the classes ๐. He didn't just show how to write code; he explained why things were done a certain way. He shared the thinking behind coding decisions and showed how to tackle problems step by step. This approach helped Viktorija understand coding better and taught her valuable coding habits that could be used with different programming languages.
The topics covered, like how to make websites live (web hosting) and how to use GitHub (a platform for saving and sharing code), were incredibly helpful. These skills are important for anyone looking to work in tech.
Another highlight for Viktorija was the positive and welcoming community at SheCodes. Being around friendly people who are all learning and growing together made her experience even better. It was the cherry on top of a great learning journey. ๐
๐ How SheCodes has Helped to Change Her Life
Viktorija's life took an exciting turn after completing all the SheCodes Workshops. In December 2021, right after finishing the workshops, she landed a role as a Game Producer at a company specializing in location-based entertainment. Her newfound coding knowledge from SheCodes made a significant difference in her work. It helped her understand game development projects more deeply and enabled her to work effectively with Game Developers and Designers. Viktorija was able to take part in various aspects of the projects, like getting games ready for release, managing versions of the game, ensuring the game's quality, and making sure games could be enjoyed by players worldwide. This expertise allowed her to streamline processes and create new systems that improved how her team worked.
โI believe that SheCodes and the technical knowledge I received there accelerated my career but also gave me a new hobby that I really like. I became more interested in Game Development and started learning Unity and C# this year.โ
Now, Viktorija has stepped into a new role as a Game Submission Manager for the ID@Xbox program. In this position, she plays a crucial role in helping independent game developers release their games on the Xbox platform. This shift in her career not only showcases her professional growth but also marks a personal achievement. The technical skills she gained from SheCodes have not only advanced her career but have also sparked a passion for game development ๐ฎ. Motivated by her learning experience, she has started exploring game development more seriously by learning Unity and C# this year. Viktorija credits SheCodes for providing a strong foundation in coding, making it easier for her to grasp new programming languages and concepts.
โSheCodes is a great foundation for it as the basic principles are very similar, and I feel confident about my learning path. One day, I dream to release my very own game!โ
๐ฉโ๐ผ Advice to Future SheCodes Student
"Be consistent and patient, and you can achieve anything!โ
Viktorija believes that learning to code is not just about enhancing your career prospects but also about empowering yourself with a skill that opens up a world of new possibilities. According to her, coding is a powerful and enjoyable skill that can significantly impact your professional life and beyond.
Viktorija's journey is a testament to the doors that coding can open when you're dedicated and patient in your learning process. She wants to remind all future SheCodes students that with perseverance and consistency, there's no limit to what they can accomplish.
So, she wishes everyone embarking on their coding journey with SheCodes the very best of luck and encourages them to embrace the learning process with open arms and an eager mind. ๐
Weโre very proud of you Viktorija! ๐ฉโ๐ป
๐ Viktorijaโs SheCodes Basics Testimonial:
โIt was my first experience in coding, and I found it very engaging and interesting. The way information is presented is accessible for complete beginners. The short lessons with challenges were very useful and helpful, and I really enjoyed working on the final project. I am looking forward to a more advanced course.โ
๐ Viktorijaโs SheCodes React Add-On Testimonial:
โI" absolutely loved this course as well as all other courses from SheCodes. Everything in the course is nicely structured and well explained that makes it accessible for beginners like me. I enjoyed building both apps, and I feel that I learned a lot from this course. CaCan'tait to build more things, and I am sad that my SheCodes journey is over. I highly recommend this course to everyone who is new to coding, I enjoyed every moment of it! Thank you, Matt and the team, for creating such a great program!โ
๐ Viktorija's SheCodes Responsive Add-On Testimonial:
โInteresting short course to learn some new techniques to do better websites. I enjoyed building the final project, I think it turned out to be great and it will be a good addition to my portfolio.โ
