From TSA Agent to Software Engineer: How I Transformed My Life by Learning to Code

In 2019, I was working as a Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), screening passengers and bags at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world. I had spent nearly a decade in various roles with the Department of Homeland Security, but felt increasingly stuck, unfulfilled, and yearning for a career that would challenge me and provide room for growth.

That‘s when I rediscovered my long-lost love of coding and made the life-changing decision to quit my government job to attend a coding bootcamp and become a software engineer. It was perhaps the scariest leap I‘ve ever taken, but one that radically transformed my career and life. This is my story.

Leaving the Government Behind

My coding journey actually began way back in middle school in the early 2000s. I loved tinkering with HTML and CSS to build websites on now-defunct platforms like Geocities and Angelfire. But I abandoned coding after being told I wasn‘t good enough at math to pursue it professionally. I went on to study criminal justice and began my career with the federal government.

After 8 years working for TSA and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, I knew I needed a change. I craved a career where I could be creative, continuously learn, and have a direct impact building the software and technology that power our world.

Every company needs a website or app these days, and software engineer consistently ranks as one of the most in-demand, high-paying, and fast-growing careers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 22% growth in software development jobs from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

I began learning JavaScript and Python through free online tutorials on platforms like Codecademy and freeCodeCamp. I was hooked. But to really kickstart my career transition and gain employable skills, I needed a more immersive, structured learning environment. After extensive research on the best coding bootcamps, I decided to enroll at Programming School.

The Transformational Bootcamp Experience

Those 15 weeks at Flatiron‘s immersive software engineering program in Atlanta were the most challenging and transformative of my life. The full-stack web development curriculum covered everything from HTML/CSS to JavaScript, React, Redux, Ruby, Rails, SQL, algorithms, and more.

The amount of hands-on coding, collaborative projects, and technical knowledge I gained in such a short time was incredible. But even more than the technical skills, I grew immensely as a person. I discovered a new level of resilience, problem-solving ability, and confidence I never knew I had.

One of the biggest challenges was balancing the intensive bootcamp with my full-time TSA job. I would wake up at 5am for my shift at the airport, code on my breaks, and then head straight to campus, often napping in my car in between. On top of class and homework, I was building a portfolio of web applications to showcase to potential employers. It was mentally and physically exhausting, but I was determined to succeed.

The support of Flatiron‘s instructors and classmates was crucial. The instructors were experienced developers who were genuinely invested in each student‘s success. My cohort became close friends as we struggled and triumphed together. I also became active in the local tech community, attending meetups and conferences to network and learn.

Breaking into the Industry

After graduating from Flatiron, I was excited and terrified to begin my job search. I knew competition for entry-level software engineering roles was stiff, and I would be up against candidates with computer science degrees and years of experience.

I applied to hundreds of jobs, reached out to my network, attended career fairs, and practiced coding challenges. I faced a lot of rejections, which was disheartening. But I tried to focus on continuously improving my skills by building side projects, contributing to open source, and studying new technologies.

My job search strategy relied heavily on the connections I had made. I got my first few interviews from Flatiron‘s employer partnerships and alumni network. I also found opportunities through local tech communities and meetup groups.

After 3 months of searching, I finally landed my first role as a junior software engineer at a startup called Popmenu. The technical interview process was grueling, with live coding challenges and system design questions. But I was well-prepared thanks to Flatiron‘s career coaching and mock technical interviews.

Walking into the Popmenu office on my first day, I couldn‘t believe how far I had come. Just a year prior, I had been working at the airport, unsure of my future. Now I was a professional programmer, ready to build my skills and make an impact.

Thriving in a New Career

Two years into my software engineering career, I can honestly say I love what I do. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn. I‘ve progressed from junior engineer to leading important features and mentoring newer hires. It‘s incredibly fulfilling to code products that make a real difference for our clients.

I‘m also grateful for the freedoms and flexibilities that come with a career in tech. I can work from home, set my own hours, and express my personal style. I‘m valued for my skills and drive, not my credentials or background. And I get to be part of an innovative, fast-moving industry that embraces creativity and change.

The path from TSA to software engineer was full of obstacles and moments of self-doubt. Cramming a computer science degree‘s worth of knowledge into 15 weeks was no easy feat, nor was job searching while working full-time. But it was 100% worth the blood, sweat, and tears to find a career I‘m truly passionate about and that provides incredible growth opportunities.

My experience also demonstrates that successful software engineers can come from any background. Nearly half of developers (45%) started coding less than 5 years ago, and 76% of developers have a bachelor‘s degree in something other than computer science. Nontraditional backgrounds are an asset, not a liability, in the world of tech.

If you‘re considering a similar transition and are willing to work hard, you can absolutely do it too. Start with free online coding courses to see if programming clicks for you. Consider enrolling in a coding bootcamp like Programming School to accelerate your learning. Build an impressive portfolio of projects to showcase your skills and passion.

Stay active in your local tech community to network and open doors. And most importantly, don‘t let rejections or imposter syndrome dampen your drive. A career in software development is so much more than knowing the latest frameworks – it‘s about having grit, creativity, and a hunger to learn.

Looking back, I‘m in awe of how much my life has changed since trading my TSA uniform for a job in tech. Learning to code didn‘t just give me a new career – it unleashed a passion and potential I never knew I had. If my story resonates with you, I urge you to take a leap and see where coding might lead you. The most life-changing plot twists are often the ones we‘re most scared to pursue.