Our alumni are pretty amazing individuals. While still working daytime jobs, they attended our 12-week part-time coding bootcamp on weeknights from M-Th and all day Sunday. Some were looking to make a career change, while others were looking to learn a new skill. We loved getting to know each and everyone of them, and feel like our readers should get to know them too.

This morning, we sat down for a chat with Anyone Can Learn To Code's Chicago Alum, Sylvester Nettles.

What were you doing before the bootcamp?

I was a Police Officer working in the city of Chicago. I worked 12 hour shifts on the midnight patrol.

Why did you want to make the switch to web development?

I was ready for a change in careers and the Information Technology industry seemed like a great field to pursue.

How did you hear about the bootcamp?

I learned about ACLTC's bootcamp through a Google search for developer bootcamps in the Chicagoland area.

What made you decide to enroll in the cohort?

After speaking with Jay Wengrow, Founder of ACLTC, I felt comfortable with applying to the program. The bootcamp would also allow me to attend part-time while keeping my full-time job.

Tell me where you're working now and what you're doing.

I'm currently a Quality Assurance Analyst/PMO Analyst/Technical Writer contractor for Northrop Grumman Corporation in their Health Information Systems section in Baltimore, Maryland. My job is to manage and perform quality assurance on software development projects for the Medicare Modernization Act.

What were the skills and tools you learned at ACLTC that helped you land your current role?

All the skills I obtained through the ACLTC program are what assisted me in landing the position I have today. Everything from learning how to code, using HTML, CSS, SQL, JavaScript, Ruby; to participating in team SCRUM application development activities prepared me to contribute right away.

What would you tell others looking to make a career change into web development?

I always refer anyone interested in learning to become a web developer or just trying to break into the Information Technology field to ACLTC. It was an awesome and rewarding experience that has allowed me to change my life and my family's future.

To contact Sylvester, please refer to his LinkedIn account.