Meet Janelle! She always wanted to work in the computer science field, but didn’t know how to get started. Once she discovered Coursera, Janelle explored a variety of IT courses and projects—going on to earn two certificates. Reflecting on her journey, Janelle shared with us how putting together a learning routine, prioritizing her mental health, and taking learning day-by-day have all helped her work toward a career in computer science.
Hi, my name is Janelle. I first learned about Coursera through my Code (Cayman) community and was excited to take courses to learn more about computer science. My goal is to either work remotely for a tech company in the United States, or become an IT support specialist in the Cayman Islands, so I decided to explore all the courses I could where I’d gain the experience needed for those roles.
Since I work full-time, it was important that I could have flexibility in when and where I’d learn. The great thing about online learning is that I can start and stop my learning at any time based on my personal schedule, without having to attend class at a certain time as you might with on-campus learning. This also allowed me to design my own study schedule and create a routine that worked well for what I needed.
As someone who’s diagnosed with chronic depression, there are some days when I’m productive, and other days I don’t have the energy to focus on my studies. With online learning, it’s helpful that I can study at my own pace—whenever it’s best for me. The way that Coursera is set up gives me an advantage in getting my assignments done whether or not I’m experiencing an episode.
To prepare for careers in tech, I chose courses like digital marketing and IT where I could work on tangible projects and learn industry tools. In the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program, I learned skills to assist customers with end-to-end support, ranging from identifying problems to troubleshooting and debugging. Then, in the Northwestern Social Media Marketing Specialization, I learned how to properly market my brand through social media channels. I also enjoyed taking courses in different areas, too, like social sciences and business. I really just wanted to learn as much as possible—especially during the pandemic.
If I could give any advice to my fellow Coursera learners, it would be this:
- Set goals for yourself
- Develop a schedule
- Create a study space
- Research and revisit former course material
- Make time for your mental health
- And lastly, do your best—you can do it!
Without discovering Coursera, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn for free, get practice using tools and technology in my career field, and work in interactive environments. With the help of both my Code (Cayman) community and Coursera, I know I’ll be able to achieve the goals I set for myself. Know that you can, too.