S5E11: Student Spotlight - From Coasting to Excelling, a Student Transformation with Nick

S5E11: Student Spotlight - From Coasting to Excelling, a Student Transformation with Nick

Author: Launch School April 1, 2024 Duration: 41:37

In this episode, Brandi has a conversation with Nick Perry, a current student and active member of the Launch School community. Nick shares his background and how he was never a 'good' student previously in high school and university. When he began Launch School, like many students, he wasn't sure if he could succeed and had to reevaluate his perception of his abilities both technically and as a dedicated student. He discusses reshaping his study habits, confidence, and dedication not just to succeed, but to become a leader in the community with a trusted network of support around him.

He also gives insight into overcoming a 'Not Yet' on his first coding challenge interview, even though he was technically prepared. He cites the support that he received from peers as a critical component of his ability to persevere. Nick is a great example of someone who came in uncertain, with low confidence, and became a pillar in the Launch School community as a SPOT lead, a Smooth Start lead, and over two-thirds of the way through the core curriculum. He's an excellent example of the transformation that can happen at Launch School.

We hope you'll have a listen!


For anyone curious about the deliberate, patient path to becoming a true software craftsman, the Launch School Podcast offers a grounded and insightful companion. This isn't about quick hacks or trending frameworks; it's a deep, ongoing conversation about the fundamentals of mastery itself. Each episode connects through the shared experiences of learning to code, drawing on voices from within the Launch School community and beyond. You'll hear from students navigating the curriculum, employers discussing what they truly value in developers, and seasoned engineers reflecting on the principles of long-term career growth. Discussions naturally explore effective study habits, the philosophy of mastery-based learning, and the practical realities of transitioning into a professional role. By focusing on the underlying process of expertise, this podcast provides a unique and thoughtful resource for anyone committed to a meaningful education in technology. Tune in for honest conversations that reframe the journey of learning to code as one of continuous, intentional growth.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 57

Launch School Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Meet a Student: Terry Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:01
Terry Lee came on the podcast today to talk about her experience so far at Launch School. Terry has been at Launch School for about a year and has aced every assessment so far. She talks about her previous career as a pr…
Meet a Student: Naveed Fida [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:07
Naveed is has been learning at Launch School for around a year and has been an outstanding student so far. He's nearing the end of the curriculum and stopped by the podcast today to share his story. We talked about the u…
Meet a Student: Darren Burgess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:27
Darren Burgess stopped by the podcast to talk about his experience at Launch School. Before starting at Launch School, he spent many years as a Filemaker Pro developer and even attended a different coding “bootcamp”. We…
Meet a Student: Rachel Minto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:38
Rachel is currently in the "Advanced" phase of the program, having completed all back end and front end courses. She stopped by to share her experience so far at Launch School. We talked about: her art and philosophy bac…
Meet a Student: Tommy Caruso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:09
In this interview, Tommy Caruso shares with us his strategy of balancing a family, kids, finishing up his Computer Science degree, and Launch School all at the same time. Oh, and he’s also interning in his spare time. We…
Meet a Student: Karl Lingiah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:35
One of our students, Karl Lingiah, took time to answer some questions and talk about his journey so far at Launch School. He shares his ideas on learning in general, and specifically what his experience has been so far a…