I was managing a construction site in Detroit and decided I wanted to finish a certificate program in Software Engineering. I have always loved computers and computer programming. How I ended up doing mechanical engineering and controls engineering is somewhat of a mystery. Although I think I did those jobs well, my goal was to do software engineering before I wrap-up my career. If I have enough fun, maybe I will not retire.
The two most common ways to become a software engineer are boot camps and college. Boot camps are intense coding classes; they are popular with those switching careers – but leave you with a rather shallow skillset. They are also very expensive, but they want to reduce opportunity costs, which is the amount of money the student would have earned while in school. Another option is college, which gives the student a well-rounded education but has a high opportunity cost. In our quest for financial independence, opportunity cost wasn’t a big concern.
The options for getting software coding education were many. Having a bachelor’s degree made me eligible for many master’s programs. Like teaching, one can get a master’s degree in something completely different than what the bachelor’s degree is in. Although this seemed feasible, in my case it was overkill. A pre-req for the master’s programs is some coursework in coding, which is not normally required for the undergrad program.
I ended up looking at a year program at the local community college. Being a half-hour away and the very reasonable cost was the deciding factor. My goal was to learn to code. Doing a year’s worth of coding at the community college seems like the right solution for me.
The return on investment for a software engineering certificate is awesome. Yet doubts in myself persist. I have been successful in everything I have put my mind to, be it controls or mechanical engineering. Software engineering will be no different. At a time in life when most are slowing down (55 years old), I seem to be getting my second wind. The awesome gift of life keeps giving.
The Late Frugal
