Journey from College Dropout to Software Engineer (Part 1)

Introduction

Hi, my name is Brandon Nicholson, and I'm a 26-year-old college dropout with no work experience in tech. Today, I'm beginning to document my journey to become a successful software engineer, despite my lack of a degree or previous experience in the field. I aspire to create great value for humanity, and some of my dream jobs include working at SpaceX, developing humanoid robots such as Optimus or Figure, and potentially starting my own company further down the line.

Background

I've been deeply interested in AI since 2016, my senior year of high school. Unfortunately, until recently, I never really took any steps to pursue that interest and often assumed I wasn't smart enough to make a career out of it—a regret that I still carry. In my early 20s, I did some freelance marketing work but eventually lost interest and became a medical courier. Currently, I work as a sales representative for a laboratory that conducts PFAS testing.

Despite this, I have been programming in Python for a few years and have become proficient in many of the tools used by data analysts and data scientists, including Pandas, Scikit-Learn, and SQL. I recently completed a 6-month bootcamp in data analysis at the University of California, Irvine, earning a certificate. Through this journey, I realized that I'm not particularly fond of the repetitiveness that often comes with data analysis—tasks like collecting, cleaning, and organizing data take up about 80% of the time, with occasional opportunities to explore predictive modeling (which can also feel repetitive). Although understanding data and how to manage it was an important learning experience, I would prefer to consistently build new projects and take on new challenges as a software engineer. So far, despite applying to numerous jobs in data analysis and data entry, I haven't received a single response from an employer.

Purpose

Although I wasn't considering doing this until ChatGPT suggested it, I think it would be interesting to document this unconventional path to achieving a successful career in tech/software engineering. If I find success, perhaps it will motivate others who are in a similar position.

Future

I'm considering leaving my current job to focus entirely on learning, but I haven't made any concrete decisions yet. I've been looking into different software engineering programs and bootcamps, and one in particular caught my eye because it offers a full course that only requires payment once you land a job. My next post will likely cover a more detailed plan of my path forward. Feel free to leave a comment if you're in a similar position or have any advice!

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