Changing careers in your late thirties might seem daunting, but Queen Arit's inspiring journey from public health professional to senior developer advocate proves it's not only possible—it's transformative. Her story offers a roadmap for anyone considering a major career pivot, especially into the tech industry.
The Unexpected Beginning: When Life Forces Your Hand
Queen Arit's tech journey didn't start with a grand plan. Originally aspiring to become a doctor, she pivoted to public health during her third year of medical college when she realized medicine "may be too much." After working multiple jobs in public health, a company reorganization led to her being let go—a moment that would prove pivotal.
"When I got let go from that job, it didn't feel like I had lost anything really because I wasn't as emotionally invested in the role. It was just a job... it was paying bills."
As an immigrant who had just started a new family, Queen faced a practical dilemma: working just to pay for expensive daycare. Instead of immediately seeking another similar role, she made the bold decision to stay home with her toddler son and explore other opportunities.
The Entrepreneurial Detour: Finding Your Natural Talents
During her time at home, Queen discovered something crucial about herself—she couldn't stay idle. Drawing inspiration from the matriarchs in her Nigerian family, she launched multiple ventures:
- Makeup artistry for several years
- West African catering company
- WordPress website development (which started as a college hobby)
What began as simple website requests from friends gradually evolved into something bigger. Word-of-mouth referrals brought strangers seeking professional websites for their small businesses, forcing Queen to legitimize her web agency with an LLC in 2016.
The Power of Intuitive Business Sense
Queen's natural entrepreneurial spirit shone through her ability to anticipate client needs:
"I was able to put myself into the shoes of my clients and actually anticipate their business needs even before they articulated them. I was able to say hey you're going to need this, you're going to need a booking form, you're going to need online processing."
This intuitive understanding of business processes would later prove invaluable in her tech career.
The Turning Point: Recognizing Your Limitations
Success in her web agency eventually led Queen to a crucial realization—she had hit a technical ceiling. Client requests were becoming increasingly complex, beyond what WordPress plugins and themes could handle. She needed to learn PHP programming to take her business to the next level.
"That was the first time that it occurred to me that learning to code might be a good thing. It had never crossed my mind before, literally never."
This moment illustrates a key principle: sometimes our limitations become our greatest opportunities for growth.
The Strategic Approach: How to Choose the Right Bootcamp
Instead of rushing into an expensive coding bootcamp, Queen developed a methodical approach that others can replicate:
Phase 1: Research and Discovery
- Googled terms like "coding bootcamp beginner" and "coding bootcamp never coded"
- Read reviews on Reddit and other message boards
- Analyzed curriculum offerings for robustness
- Compared pricing structures
Phase 2: Free Trial Strategy
Queen participated in six different mini bootcamps—free trial periods offered by various programs. This allowed her to:
- Experience different teaching styles
- Understand the commitment required
- Make an informed decision before investing $6,000
Phase 3: Decision Criteria
Her final choice was based on:
- Affordability: At $6,000, it was the cheapest among her options
- Flexibility: Self-paced learning with pre-recorded videos
- No live requirements: Perfect for a mother with a 5-month-old baby
- Traditional loan options: Avoided newer, riskier income-sharing agreements
The Learning Journey: Overcoming Self-Doubt
Even with careful preparation, Queen faced significant challenges during her bootcamp experience:
- Physical and mental exhaustion
- Imposter syndrome ("I don't belong here")
- Difficulty thinking "like a computer"
- Managing studies while caring for young children
The Power of Mentorship
The game-changer in Queen's journey was her bootcamp mentor, Jeremy, who provided crucial support:
"Jeremy made me believe that I could do it. Everything else was telling me I couldn't... but Jeremy was that one guiding light."
Practical ways Jeremy helped:
- Went beyond curriculum to teach test-driven development (TDD)
- Introduced concepts like continuous integration and delivery
- Helped structure approach to take-home coding challenges
- Provided confidence through concrete validation
Breaking Into the Industry: From Bootcamp to Captera
Queen's strategic approach extended to her job search. The concepts Jeremy taught her about testing and development best practices became talking points in interviews, setting her apart from other bootcamp graduates.
Within a few years at Captera, she had grown into a senior developer advocate position while building a substantial presence in the tech community through:
- Mentorship activities via her website and newsletter
- WhatsApp groups for career guidance
- Four-year mentorship circles
- One-on-one coaching sessions
- Women's tech communities
Key Takeaways for Career Changers
1. Embrace Unexpected Opportunities
Sometimes job loss or life changes create the perfect conditions for reinvention. Instead of immediately seeking similar roles, consider exploring new directions.
2. Leverage Your Existing Skills
Queen's public health background and entrepreneurial experience provided valuable context for understanding business needs—skills that enhanced her value as a developer.
3. Test Before You Invest
Before committing significant time and money to education, use free trials and mini-programs to validate your interest and aptitude.
4. Choose Learning That Fits Your Life
Consider your personal circumstances when selecting educational programs. Flexibility might be more important than prestige.
5. Find Your Jeremy
Seek mentors who believe in your potential, especially when self-doubt creeps in. Their external validation can carry you through difficult periods.
6. Think Long-Term
Queen's story shows that career changes aren't just about landing a new job—they're about building a foundation for continued growth and impact.
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of Queen's journey is how her career transformation enabled her to help others facing similar transitions. Her mentorship activities, community building, and advocacy work demonstrate that successful career changes often create opportunities to lift others up.
Your Next Steps
If Queen's story resonates with you, consider these actionable steps:
- Assess your transferable skills: What from your current career could enhance your value in tech?
- Research thoroughly: Use Queen's bootcamp selection strategy for any educational investment
- Start small: Take advantage of free trials and resources before making major commitments
- Build your support network: Find mentors, join communities, and connect with others on similar journeys
- Document your process: Queen's experience shows the value of sharing your journey to help others
Queen Arit's transformation from public health professional to tech leader at 38 proves that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. With strategic planning, dedication, and the right support system, you too can navigate a successful career change that not only transforms your life but positions you to impact others along the way.
The question isn't whether you're too old or too late to change careers—it's whether you're ready to take the first step toward the future you envision for yourself.
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