If you asked me a year ago what were the certainties in life I would have told you: “death, taxes and hating your job”.
Perhaps hate is a strong word. Perhaps it doesn’t truly fit. But I was not happy. I thought that overwhelming since of dread, the creeping anxiety as I made my way to work every morning was just a part of being an adult. I didn’t understand the generic questions of “hows work going? how was your day?” you hear from friends and family, I never wanted to talk about work once I left. “Gee I don’t know, Linda, how was your day on this steady decline towards the inevitable?!” (Please note this is not a direct attack towards my own dear Aunt who is also coincidentally named Linda)
I hate to bring this up, I know we’re all sick of it, but hear me out. The pandemic changed us. It continues to change us. But those first few months of the unknown really dug deep and forced us to step back and see things in our life differently. Through the years I watched a close friend, Becky*, struggle with her own career. She was just as miserable, stressed and lost as I was. We laugh now how struggling side by side and openly just made us think it was normal. But the pandemic really dug deep and the work piled on, eventually making it too much to hold. Her parents stepped in and begged her to quit. And she did. With no backup plan and an apartment in the heart of Toronto she just quit. Finding a job is no fun for anyone, especially during 2020. A new stress but she was relieved. Then, a few months later it was my turn. I had one of those “ah-ha” moments where I saw I needed to make a change. And, like Becky, I quit my job with no backup plan beyond I needed to focus on what I wanted to do with my life.
I spent my new found freedom attending free webinars on any topic I could find. I stumbled upon a “women in coding afternoon” and signed up. Beyond the high school hours spent designing and redesigning my MySpace profile I knew nothing about the world. I figured I’d try it out, I’m a sucker for supporting women, trans and non-binary folx. Worst case, I spent an afternoon in an online class I had no interest in. Best case, I’d become a world leader in coding.
The women in coding class was taught by a man. I know, I know. They dropped the ball on that. But beyond this, I needed to learn more. I started researching schools and quickly fell upon Juno. The classes, the atmosphere and the staff drew me in. Everything about this coding world has been exciting. Between courses I’m coding at home … for fun. After class I’m texting my friends the funny things that happen in class, I’m bugging my partner with explaining all the things I’m learning. And most of all I’m excited when people ask me how my day was. I don’t know what the future will bring but I know it will be successful and most of all, I’ll be happy.
And I have Juno to thank. And Becky.
*Becky is not her real name. Please do not attack any Becky I may or may not know.
