The Best Part of LaunchCode LC101

The best part of LaunchCode LC101, hands down, is the people.  I am not only talking about fellow LaunchCoders but the staff as well.  Overall, it is a supportive environment. 

Recently, we had to complete another hard ass assignment, Mars Rover, mostly unit testing to make sure the rover Curiosity moves and not move when given certain commands.  Anyway, attempting to complete the assignment took a lot of resources not only from the LaunchCoders but the staff as well.  The assignment is one where logic and code can be all over the place.  So, to grade it for the LaunchCode staff is a chore.  Long story short, we were able to skip it (for now) and go to the next assignment.

We ALL are struggling but a lot of us are still here.  To teach a LaunchCoder cost money.  The staff is not free.  Yes, this is a nonprofit but people still need salaries to eat.  I am saying this to say that if you are thinking about joining LaunchCode, make sure you are comfortable with not only NOT being the smartest person in the room, but be able to keep showing up and keep plowing through each assignment. 

Feeling like a failure 90% of the time and feeling like a God/dess 10% of the time is the job.  I've seen this class thin out so much so that the parking is great.  I can arrive 5 minutes before class and still get a great spot. 

All in all, the point of this post is that the people are great, supportive, and are just like you. So, get over how smart you think you are, show up, and don't waste this nonprofit's money by quitting. 

The GeekGala at LaunchCode

I ended up volunteering at the GeekGala.  Our study space was transformed into a wonderland of tables and chairs, big lit screens, and booze.  Outside was valet, food trucks, and you guessed it, more booze. The corporations that were represented were Charter, Mastercard, Centene, and Allsup to name a few.  Each table cost $800 plus a tug on the heartstrings of the attendees to give more.  I am sure donations ended up to a great night.  There was swag table, donation station, photo booth, and coding stations. My role was to shuffle drinks and food to the attendees.  I met some great people. I wish I had more to say but it went smoothly and was a great experience. 

JavaScript Should be a Romance Language...

JavaScript Should be a Romance Language...because I am in love with it. Corny I know.  Previously, I just talk about how hard LaunchCode assignments are, but I don't tell you how much I love it.  When I was a kid, I used to get a new gaming system every year from my grandma.  I remember one year, I received a Super Nintendo.  Not only did I get through the included Super Mario Brothers game, but I also got to the point where I turned that game to a Halloween scene and was able to play the entire game again with scary pumpkins.  The point is that I had the most fun struggling through the levels.  The pleasure was not the same when the level was easy.  So, JavaScript is hard.  It is something that cannot readily be answered with Google.  It is difficult, but in the struggle comes FUN.

The GeekGala at LaunchCode

I wanted to do a post about the GeekGala, one because I am super excited about it, and two because it is vital to support non-profits.  To get into this party supplied with food, alcohol, and brilliant people, you need $100.  Yeah, I know it is a little steep, but you can deduct it from your taxes as LaunchCode is a 501(c)3 organization. If you are a LaunchCoder, you can get in for $75.  Also, if you are super-tight on money AND are affiliated with LaunchCode somehow, you can get in free if you volunteer.

The GeekGala is IMPORTANT because it is a fundraiser for LaunchCode whose mission is to increase job opportunities in technology for individuals lacking a traditional educational background.  It is also important because it is a tremendous networking opportunity for job seekers and hiring managers.

Over 400 people will gather at LaunchCode's Mentor Center to celebrate hard-working techies. Support of GeekGala paves the way to life-long careers for passionate, smart, driven aspiring technologists while keeping high-paying jobs in St. Louis.

There will be complimentary food truck eats, open bar, music, learn to code station, photo booth, dancing & more!

It's Thursday, September 26 at The LaunchCode Mentor Center, 4811 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, from 6-ish to 11-ish.

To purchase your tickets or for more information, click here.

Beware!! LaunchCode LC101 Takes up a Shitload of Your Time!!

The last time I had time to post was about 3 weeks ago.  Okay, the good news is that there is really only one thing that will get you kicked out of LaunchCode...not completing the graded assignments.  The bad news is that the graded assignments are hard as shit.  The graded assignment alone takes about 20 hours, no joke for the average person.  If you came in with prior Javascript knowledge, it should take about 2 hours.  Right now, I have completed the 1st part out of 4 of the graded assignment with mucho help. The most advanced person I have met at LC101, took freecodecamp.org prior.  It took him about 3 months, but we did a little math, and with just doing the Javascript part for 5 hours daily can take just a little over a month.  I wish I did that because this boot camp curriculum is hard!!  So, this is Tuesday, and I have until Thursday to turn in the next graded assignment.  I will complete the 2nd section today, the 3rd section tomorrow, and the 4th section on Thursday.  Another graded assignment is due by the time the GeekGala starts in 2 weeks.  No pressure.

How to Pass Launchcode

LaunchCode takes up a lot of time.  I just have to get that out.  I work 7 days a week on LaunchCode and it seems neverending.  Twice a week, there is a chapter reading, 3 to 6 coding exercises, and a quiz.  Also, there is an assignment that is looong that has to be done within 3-4 weeks of starting LaunchCode.  Anyway, the only homework that is graded are the quizzes and the looong assignment.  All the other busywork is gratis.  So, the way to pass LaunchCode is to turn in and prioritize the graded assignments and not spend too much time on the other stuff. 

What to expect on your second day of Launchcode LC101

The second day of Launchcode, I got there 30 minutes early to get a good parking spot.  I took a 15-minute nap before I went end.  The environment inside was a lot more chill with people everywhere.  This open space holds many people.  Promptly at 5:30p, lecture starts with everyone with a laptop, listening to Will Farrell typing away.  After about an hour of that, we break off into groups, but today we don't do a coding studio exercise, we do power poses and set goals for success.  Later we get our mascot drawing that we made on the first day of class.  One person from each group has to present it to the entire room.  My group is the codingCrustaceans with a mascot of a Mantis shrimp.  When we presented it, the room roared with belly laughs at our name and/or our drawing.  The engagement managers and the teaching fellows dug in deeper by saying the no one in the Launchcode staff knew what our drawing was, with some thinking it was an alien.  Whatever!  It doesn't matter what they think of the codingCrustaceans, we are going to code our heart out.  After everyone presented their mascots, there were closing remarks by Nick and we went home at 8:30pm 1 week down and 19 more to go. 

What to expect on your first day of Launchcode LC101

Getting there:
I live in Belleville, IL 26 miles east of Launchcode St. Louis.  I found that traffic was smooth although I am traveling at rush hour ~5pm to get to my destination at 5:30pm. Mostly highway because Launchcode is not far from a highway (Kingshighway) exit.  So, smooth travel! +++

Parking:
One word, HORRENDOUS!.  Parking was tight even with half of the Launchcoders parking in the wrong parking lot.  There is some free street parking and paid parking.  The good news is that the paid parking is free after 7pm.  However, paying for an hour and a half+ twice a week for 20 weeks can add up.  I did get a good parking spot...barely! --+

Inside:
Launchcode takes the lion's share of a space it shares with the NAACP.  Cohabiting with the NAACP scores major cool points with me.  The setup consists of LOTS of chairs and tables with a huge pull-down screen.  There are also interior offices.  This entering Launchcode class consists of 150 people.  So, there were a lot of people in a big open space, yet no feeling of crowding.  +++

Introductions:
A lot of people introduced themselves, from engagement managers to teaching fellows and out of all of them I only remember three or four; Nick, engagement manager, a guy with the last name Sharp who now works at Centene because of Codecamp, Paul, my teaching fellow, and a guy named Will Farrell, yes that's his real name.  So, there are many people to help you succeed in this place.  +++

Format of the course:
Yearly: You should be in a job.  Why?  20 weeks of coding + 8 weeks of a personal project, + 13 to 26 weeks internship + 4 weeks vacation = 45 - 58 weeks.  So about a year until your dream job and about a half a year before you are being paid SOMETHING.  Not bad for free.
Weekly:
You do the homework before you hear the associated lecture in-house, then you do the studio with your group of 10-12 people with a teaching fellow.  You do that twice a week and repeat for about 20+ weeks before the 8 weeks Liftoff personal project.  +++

Lecture:
Will Farrell conducted the lecture.  It was pretty simple.  We had to make it print "Happy Birthday, You are (a certain age) old.  It was fun.  +++

Creation of mascot:
Each group on the first day create and draw a mascot and name it/the group.  What my group came up with is a mantis shrimp with the group name of Coding Crustaceans.  Lame, I know but it works.  -++

Studio:
After we broke off into our groups, after finding what group we belonged in on Canvas, we started a studio which is just coding the same exercise while having a teaching fellow to help us learn.  In my opinion, this is the best part of Launchcode.  +++

Goodbye:
There is no formal goodbye.  At 8:30p, leave.  I love it! +++

So, that is your first day in a nutshell.  Painless.  You got this!

How I got into Launchcode LC101

For those who don't know, LaunchCode was founded in 2013 to help companies find skilled, new tech talent from all backgrounds and walks of life by offering free boot camps to train web developers.  Aspiring web developers are taught Javascript and Java. The process to get into the boot camp consists of a short application asking why you want to be a Launchcoder and completing a problem-solving assessment which in my opinion requires some prior coding knowledge.  After the completion of the timed assessment, you sit and wait up to two weeks to hear back if you got "provisionally accepted".  You are not officially accepted until you complete the prework that consists of reading 3 chapters, taking a quiz where the questions are asked within the reading, and a demographic form that includes uploading your resume.  So, I am officially enrolled in the class because I completed all the requirements.  I start my first class tomorrow, Monday, August 12th.  My schedule is Monday and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30pm for 20+ weeks.  I should be finished on Jan 30, 2020.