I thought changing careers meant leaving teaching behind. I was wrong.
Starting over in a new country
I started teaching in Venezuela in 2010. In 2014 my family and I moved to the United States, and I didn't speak English. I waited tables, cleaned houses and babysat while I taught myself the language, and little by little I rebuilt my career. Eventually I was back in a classroom, teaching Spanish and computer science.
The weekend that changed it
In February 2021 I spent a volunteer weekend building a website for a nonprofit at GiveCamp Memphis. I ended up leading the team. It was the first real proof that I could do this.
Two months later I started a full stack bootcamp, while teaching full time and raising three kids. For six months I slept from 1am to 5am: I studied and built projects before and after class.
The job, and the surprise
That fall I landed my first remote job as a software engineer, without a tech degree. I grew into a team lead.
But here is what I didn't expect: teaching never left me. I started mentoring bootcamp students. I supported the online school of a nonprofit foundation. And the experience I brought as an educator turned out to be useful in tech: explaining complicated things simply, and managing a project full of people who all need something different.
Where I am today
I help schools and entrepreneurs launch their virtual school, from the first idea to the first day of classes. I build applications and systems that help organizations work better. I'm earning an online Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) at University of the People, to keep growing with formal education.
In 2025 my family and I returned to Venezuela and I started over once more. I'm still restarting. I just know now that none of my restarts were a step back.
Three things I learned along the way
You don't need perfect credentials. You need a real project, however small, that proves you can.
Motivation runs out within a week. Small, repeatable steps are what carry you.
Nobody should restart alone. Find people who have been where you are.
If you're thinking about a change
You don't have to have it all figured out. Take the 2-minute quiz to find the kind of help that fits you best.
And I'd like to know: what is the one thing holding you back? Write to me through the contact page.
