Meet Eric Warren! We sat down with Eric after a pretty exciting month. Recently asked to sit on a panel discussing the issues surrounding diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, see our conversation here. Eric shares about life before boot camp and how Demo Day was the start of his new career.

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am originally from Florence, SC, and moved to the Upstate to attend USC – Upstate to study Information Management & Systems. This particular program is a multidisciplinary degree comprising courses in computer programming, relational database design, computer networking, social networking, and business informatics. After being accepted into Carolina Code School, I joined Cohort #9 and worked to continue earning my bachelor’s degree. I graduated from CCS in July 2021 and began as a Software Engineer at My Well Ministry, a non-profit organization that develops software used to reduce the cost of processing donations for churches and other non-profits. I will finish my bachelor’s degree this December!

What was the driving force or factor that made you apply to CCS’ bootcamp?

In my previous job, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in tech but wasn’t exactly sure how or in what way. My boss at the time helped me move into a more tech-adjacent role before I decided to go back to school. I started to code outside of class, on my own, but I hit a wall. Hitting that wall was really frustrating. I was using Udemy – a platform that provides a variety of courses by experts in certain fields – which was great for what it was, but I was getting all I could get from the self-guided software development course they provided. I needed some further explanations that you just don’t get in those types of scenarios.

What was the Demo Day experience like for you?

My demo day experience was exhilarating. We had an amazing turnout. From start to finish, each table was packed with eager members of the tech community excited to learn more about our final projects. Attendees of the event were very engaged and actively participated in the presentations by asking thoughtful questions and giving solid feedback. My final project was a volunteer coordination app that allowed volunteers to find local volunteer opportunities. On that day, I met my current employer and co-workers who were impressed by my final project which eventually led to me accepting a position at My Well Ministry.

It was really just an awesome experience. I was pretty nervous leading up to it since we’ve been working on our projects for so long. Our cohort was pretty tight, so we all provided support and encouragement going into Demo Day. Even though we were all doing our own presentations, I had the support of my classmates (as did they) which made it easier.

What was the most valuable takeaway from your experience with CCS?

I do believe that learning to program is not a typical learning experience, but it’s a journey and it’s worth it. When I entered into this program I knew it was going to be difficult. I asked Mady, “What is the most common trait you see in your successful students?” She talked about the passion they had for what they were wanting to do. That stuck with me throughout the 12 weeks. It’s not easy to do. Sometimes it can be very hard, but I think being passionate about it helped propel me through those moments. I am taking that advice with me not only with my new job, but in life. It has opened my eyes to not only my potential professionally, but in my personal life.

What would one piece of advice be for those currently participating in CCS Bootcamp and/or someone who is considering applying?

My one piece of advice would be to make sure that you are passionate about programming, your potential career in tech, and learning new things as that passion will help you navigate through difficult situations. Programming is all about your continued learning and development, and you must be committed to that journey in order to succeed.

Alumni Q & A with Eric Warren