Before joining Le Wagon, Sofia worked as a pastry chef in the restaurant and hospitality industry for approximately five years. Her educational background is diverse, including studies in fine arts, engineering, and projects related to electric acoustics and electronic arts. Sofia’s first exposure to coding occurred when she experimented with basic HTML and CSS. This experience sparked her interest in the technical and problem-solving aspects of coding, ultimately motivating her to pursue web development.
The pandemic was a big turning point for me. I was feeling burnt out and struggling with my academic studies because of that, so I took some time off. During that period, I began researching tech bootcamps. A friend recommended Le Wagon, and after looking into it, I was drawn to the bootcamp’s transparency, hands-on learning approach, and supportive community. I thought tech would be a great field to leverage my problem-solving skills, and it felt like the right moment to make a career change.
I looked into other bootcamps, but Le Wagon stood out because of its clear admissions process and the quality of its curriculum. I was reassured by the way they communicated with me and how their teaching methods seemed to align with my learning needs. I also appreciated that they offered part-time programs, which would give me more time to absorb the material. As someone with learning disabilities, I felt that Le Wagon’s structured and supportive environment would be a good fit for me.
The part-time bootcamp was a great fit for me. It’s structured with three classes per week—two evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and a full day on Saturday. While it was time-consuming, I found it manageable and easy to integrate into my life. The sessions are very immersive, and even though they didn’t seem long on paper, they went by quickly because you’re so focused on the challenges and collaborating with your peers. You need to dedicate time outside of class to really absorb everything, but it’s definitely worth it.
The biggest challenge for me was learning Ruby on Rails and understanding frameworks. While I did well with the initial coding challenges, Rails was a whole new world. It took me a while to grasp the concept of frameworks, and I struggled a bit in the beginning. However, the support from my teachers made all the difference. They were always there to help, encouraging me to work through challenges instead of giving up.
There was definitely a point when I started to question whether I was on the right path. Initially, I thought I’d be more interested in front-end development because of my fine arts background. But when I didn’t enjoy the front-end as much, I began to doubt whether I was cut out for coding at all. A teacher took me aside and reassured me that I was doing great and suggested I might be more suited for backend development. That advice helped me stay focused and reassured me that I was on the right path. It made me realize that struggling with certain topics is just part of the learning process, and it didn’t mean I wasn’t capable.
Yes! One of my most memorable moments was when my final project pitch was selected. My team built Food Fluent, a platform designed to help people with dietary restrictions find restaurants that can accommodate their needs. It was a great project because we were solving a real-world problem while using the technical skills we’d learned during the bootcamp. The collaboration within the team was fantastic, and it was exciting to see our hard work come together at the end. It was definitely a proud moment for me.
My advice is to stay open-minded. Tech is a broad field, and you might find that your initial idea of what you want to do may change as you go through the learning process. Don’t be discouraged by challenges. Everyone struggles at some point, and it’s part of the growth process. Keep pushing through, and trust the learning journey. Finally, take advantage of the community—collaborating with peers and mentors can really help you grow and succeed.
👉 Watch Sofia’s full Q&A replay here.
Sofia’s story is a great reminder that it’s never too late to pivot into a new career—whether you’re coming from a creative background, like Sofia, or any other field. With dedication, the right support, and the commitment to learn, anyone can transition into tech.
If you’re inspired by Sofia’s journey and are considering a career change into web development or another tech field, Le Wagon is here to help you take the plunge. Whether you choose to study full-time or part-time, we’ll equip you with the skills and support you need to succeed.
Apply to the bootcamp of your choice and discuss it with our admissions manager.
Interested in learning more? Join our upcoming info sessions to ask your questions and see how Le Wagon can help you grow in your tech journey!
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