“If you’re in a situation where you need to work, part-time is a great option for you. It’s of course challenging at times, but it gives your the freedom to learn to code, regardless of constraints.”
Hi Aris, can you please introduce yourself?
Hello, I’m Aristotelis Rapai, but I like to go by Aris and I’m 27 years old. I’m originally from Greece, but have been living in the Netherlands for the past 5 year. Currently, I’m working at a large health tech company as a business and reporting analyst and this was actually my first job.
I did my bachelor’s degree in Greece and then I came to the Netherlands for my master’s degree. Following this, I did an internship which turned into a full-time position and eventually, I joined Le Wagon’s part-time web development course.
Can you tell us about your background and what made you want to join the Le Wagon community?
I originally studied Applied Economics during my bachelor’s degree in Greece. During this time, I dipped into the world of data science, but not so much into that of the web development, striking my intrigue in the matter. Following this, I completed my master’s degree in business and economics, more specifically strategy, corporate finance and entrepreneurship.
Having had this background, I was always really interested in tech. In my personal time, I would always play around with the idea, but never really took a deep dive into coding. That is until I began my job. At this point, I began working with tools and really began to see the benefits of automating processes and building something for yourself.
This really stemmed my interest, and at this point I began doing my own research. This is actually how I discovered Le Wagon. The more I read about Le Wagon, the more excited I would get. I was looking through all of these amazing reviews and everyone was really positive. I then decided to just go for it!
What made you decide to learn to code in a part-time format?
Having already had a bit of knowledge on the data science side of things, I knew that I wanted to do the
web development course. I really enjoyed building solutions and wanted to understand how to build the infrastructure for the programs that I was using.
When choosing between the full-time or part-time options, I knew that I would need to take part in a part-time format. I continued to work throughout the bootcamp so this worked perfectly with my schedule. I also wanted to make sure that I gave myself the proper amount of time to load up all of the information and make the best of my learning experience.
How was your experience doing the course in a part-time format?
If you’re in a situation where you need to work, part-time is a great option for you. It’s of course challenging at times, but it gives you the freedom to learn to code, regardless of constraints. I’d also say that the other participants in the batch have a big impact on your experience. It’s important to have everyone participating and there to support you, which was the case for me.
Looking back at my experience, I don’t feel as though I missed out on anything in comparison to the full-time format. My remote experience was so great, the teaching staff and people were so supportive and helpful and the sense of community was great.
Can you tell us about your weekly structure at the bootcamp?
To be completely honest, at first I made no plan. I feel like the first couple of weeks were essential to get the rhythm of things and organize myself accordingly. Once I got the hang of things, I made sure that I was always prepared for the lecture. For this, I would divide my lecture preparation between two days and make sure that I completed all of the exercises. To me, this was really important as you also need to be there for your buddy, and by preparing, you ensured this.
Can you tell us about your journey at Le Wagon?
It’s been great! It’s honestly a topic that I thoroughly enjoy to talk about as it makes me happy and the people within the community were just as amazing. I love the idea that I’m now in this community with diverse backgrounds, while maintaining a similar passion.
The curriculum was great and really nicely structured. In the beginning, I have to say that I was a little bit confused and didn’t necessarily see where we were going. Having said this, everyone kept saying to trust the process, and they were right. Eventually it all comes together and one day everything clicks. Overall, everyone was very helpful, patient and supportive, which truly made the experience.
Now that you’ve graduated, what are your plans?
The goal of completing the bootcamp has always been to change careers and deep dive into tech. I really enjoy spending my time coding, and eventually, I’d like to launch my career as either a fullstack or frontend developer.
Finally, do you have any advice for someone who’s looking to join the Le Wagon community?
I would say exactly what everyone told me, which is to just go for it. If you’re even just thinking about it, don’t hesitate and just do it. I also recommend having a call with the local admissions manager to get a bit more clarity on the program and experience. I myself got cold feet just before the start date, but 6 months later, I don’t regret it one bit. The experience was completely worth it.
Thank you, Aris!
