I was near tears when I heard those words from my new manager. After months and months of self-learning, both about myself and programming, I finally have my first job in the tech field and can happily say I made the switch from a career in Manufacturing Quality to Technology.

Starting May 24^th, my new title will be that of a Software Test Engineer for Cox Automotive. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Cory, your social media says you're a Full-Stack Developer. Why are you happy with a Software Test Engineer role?". Well, there are numerous reasons for that, such as the fact that I'm less than a year into my career path transformation, I've found a great company to work for, and understand that there is a lot more for me to learn and grow from within the tech industry itself. I will go into further detail on all of these points, and more, within the other posts of this series, so be sure to stick around and read them when they come out. One key item to remember when reading through these though; I'm not done yet.

There will always be more to learn about in this industry, different ways to grow and develop yourself as an individual and programmer, and a better way to approach and solve issues that we must master. This is what makes us engineers and what we must tackle day in and day out with an optimistic and joyful mindset. Without these key values in our life, we're certain to fall behind the next person and be overlooked in our careers so it's vital to be continually improving. The keyword here is continually. Most people think they have to be continuously improving, but that frequently leads to stress, burnout, and overall poor results. By continually improving, you provide yourself with sufficient breaks and pauses to relax and enjoy life. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Life is a journey, not a destination". I strive to live my life every day by the message of his quote.

While I work hard and push myself to get things done quickly and correctly, I never put my mental health and sanity over that of studying and work. This is what I would like each and every one of you to take away from this series. It's never too late or difficult to follow your dreams and make them a reality. It of course will take hard work and dedication, but you can get there, just like I have and will continue doing.

Be sure to stay tuned for the next post in the series by following me here and on social media too! The links to my social media accounts can be found on the contact page of my personal website. Thank you and I look forward to your comments below!👋