Transition to Spring (aka Winter Break)

Well, the Fall semester is now behind me. I'm pleased to say I got an A in every one of my classes. I truly enjoyed the semester.

As mentioned in my last post, I'd like to briefly discuss the rest of the classes I took in Fall. First is Introduction to Database. This class laid some great groundwork in helping me understand how databases are set up. Granted, the ones we did for our projects were simple in comparison to any I have seen in a work environment. But as with most things, the basic concepts must be understood before complex databases can be build. I found it amazing how fast even the simplest databases started to get complicated. Just adding a few fields or tables of data create a multitude of new questions regarding the database structure. In my opinion, it takes a keen eye and a good mind for organization to keep a database working. I'm looking forward to taking these concepts to the next level in the Spring semester.

Next is the Website Development course with HTML. I was initially not sure how I would react to this course. But after only a few weeks with it, I immediately loved creating web pages. In this class we learned how to write HTML code in a simple text editor. Initially I used Notepad, but switched to Notepad++ halfway through the semester. I found it very exciting to be able to create web pages using HTML. I absolutely cannot wait to learn how to take my web development skills to the next level and learn how to make dynamic web pages that interact with both users and servers. This class was one of my favorites of the semester.

Finally, I also truly enjoyed my Introduction to Programming with JavaScript class. Not only did I enjoy learning about programming, but I also enjoyed using JavaScript. As with Introduction to Database, we only did what I consider simple projects. But again, these projects covered the fundamentals that will be the building blocks of everything else I do in programming. A lot of duplicate ground was covered with the programming class I took when I was at the UW. But I also learned a lot more than I think I did in that class. Especially the concept of creating algorithms and documenting code. I suppose some of that is attributable to that class having been taken over 15 years ago.

I also really enjoyed this class because I had one of the best instructors I've had in a long time. Eric Knapp did an excellent job not only of teaching the class, but also of providing valuable information on the programming career as a whole and on offering general advice on our choices at MATC. I felt I learned twice as much in this class as in any others and this may have been my favorite class of the semester.

The Spring semester starts next week. I'm ready to go! My books are all but packed in my backpack already. Spring will be more of a challenge than Fall, but I feel I'm ready for it. Not only will the classes be more challenging, but I will be on campus at MATC four days a week nearly all day. Mondays I will be there all day as well as staying for a night class. Also in Spring, my wife and I are expecting our second child. I absolutely cannot wait for our new baby to arrive! Spring is going to be a very memorable semester indeed.

I'll post again once the semester has started and I can offer feedback on the new classes.

Wrapping Up

The last month has been a busy one, as always. Life rarely seems to slow down to allow one to catch up with it!

Registration went fine for Spring semester. I was able to register for fifteen credits, or five 3 credit courses. My course schedule will be as follows:

1. SQL Database Programming
2. Object Oriented Design with UML
3. PHP Web Development with MySQL
4. Introduction to Visual Basic.NET Programming
5. Computer Hardware Essentials

I can't say for sure which class or classes I am looking forward to taking the most. I've found it's often the case when you are learning new things that you don't really know what you like the most until you're in the middle of it. So I guess time will tell.

The fall semester is wrapping up. I finished all of my online, 1 credit courses last week. I also have all course work done for my HTML Web Development and Introduction to Database courses. The remaining project is in Introduction to Programming, which I can't start yet due to the nature of the course.

I'd like to talk briefly about my three online courses. First is Careers in IT. This class was a very general one, but did touch on many aspects of the IT field. I found it useful to understand what other careers are out there, besides my own. It can be easy to get tunnel vision in an industry when you focus so much on your own courses and goals. I feel it is important to know the other areas since, in the end, they all tie together.

Second is IT Security Awareness. This course gave a great general understanding of various threats IT professionals (and all computer users) face. I found that not only was it a good course to learn about how to tighten security at a future job, it also will benefit what I do at home to secure my PCs and network there. Many things I learned I found I am already doing (secured wireless router, antivirus, spyware scanning, etc), but there is always a little more that can be done. The important thing is to stay on top of the latest threats and learn how to adapt to them.

My last online course was in Flash. While this course wasn't necessary for my degree, I found it a very welcome diversion from my other courses. This course required a different kind of creativity than some of my courses. A change of pace which I enjoyed. I've been told during other classes that Flash often can be the cause of many website problems. However I still found it an important skill to learn since Flash isn't going away any time too soon. It could definitely be a skill I'll need in the future, whether that be in creating something in Flash or supporting it's integration into a website I'm working on.

I hope to work on Flash projects for my family's use. My young daughter loves the Flash games she plays online. I hope to make some simple projects in my spare time between semesters that will entertain her and also help to keep my skills sharp. I will post here if I am able to find the time to do that project or any others.

Next time I post, I hope to have more comments on my remaining courses in the Fall semester.

Crossroads

Well, Spring registration at MATC is right around the corner. I'll be registering on November 9. This last week has seen a lot of me reading and re-reading various course lists. My main decision is which language(s) do I want to learn in addition to the core progam? At this point, I'm planning on taking both PHP and .NET. I had a feeling I'd be going this route all along. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to be able to take two languages (out of the three...the other being Java) instead of just one. I don't pretend to know everything about the paths these languages will take me down in the future. But my belief is that I will be prepared to help both small and medium sized companies. Perhaps even large companies, depending on their needs. I also feel I will be well prepared to quickly learn Java when and if the need arises.

I was also surprised to find out that I have room in my schedule should I want to take Ruby on Rails as well as Linux Server or Perl (part of MATC's LAMP Open Source Development Certificate). These classes would come in during 3rd and 4th semesters. From all I've heard of Ruby on Rails, this sounds very interesting to me and I'm eager to learn it down the road.

Of course, I'm the type that wants to learn everything offered, but of course there isn't enough time within a two year period. I'd love to learn Java as well as iPhone development in addition to .NET, PHP and Ruby on Rails. Perhaps I can learn these shortly after my two years at MATC are over. I know I'll be continuing to learn things the rest of my career, so maybe in two years, the outlook on what I want to learn will be different.

My next post will likely include my final preparation and thoughts on registering for next Spring.

Looking ahead

Well, this past week has been a fairly typical week at school. Homework and then, well, more homework! We also had our first exam in Intro to Programming - Javascript. I think the exam went well for me. We'll find out in the next few weeks how it truly went. Overall, the homework, while ever present, has been enjoyable. It's amazing how work can be fun with it's related to something you are really interested in doing.

But my posting for this past week isn't so much about what happened, but what's coming. On November 6 I will be able to register for Spring semester. I'm definitely looking forward to getting into more advanced territory with my education. However, I also need to choose a more specific path to go down. Having earned a bachelor's degree at UW-Madison, I do not need to take the general education courses at MATC. This has given me the freedom to take extra classes in IT. Many students in the same program as me will need to choose one programming language to learn between the three offered. Those languages are Java, PHP and .NET. Of course, the core courses will still be the same all of us.

I have the opportunity to learn 2 of these languages. Initially, I had considered learning all 3 as I was able to fit them all into my class schedule over the 2 year program. However, I now believe that learning only 2 of the languages will allow me to focus more intently on them. I want to avoid what the old saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none" implies. I want to go for depth, not breadth. This will also allow me to keep some room in my schedule should I decide to take other electives based on my interests over the next 2 years.

At this point, I am leaning towards both PHP and .NET. I still have that nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me to learn all three, but I think the prudent choice is still to "only" learn two. I can always go back later, and earn a Java certificate. I'm also left with the option to learn only one of the languages and take the iPhone development courses offered by MATC in place of a second language. While I currently don't own an iPhone, I definitely understand the trend towards programming for mobile devices.

So I have some tough decisions to make in the next week or so. I plan to meet with my IT advisor this week to help me in this choice. This field is so interesting to me, that I wish I could just learn all of it. But I have to remind myself to be patient and to learn one thing at a time! There is no reason not to keep learning once my two years here are complete. I guess the main thing to consider is what do I want to do in this field and not worry so much about what I think others will need me to do. That will benefit myself and my future employer the most in the long run.

Thanks again for reading. I hope to have more insight into my career choice next time.

The Beginning

Welcome to my blog. Admittedly, this is my first blog, but I figured it was time to embrace one of the more recent advancements on the internet and give it a try.

The focus of this blog will be on the professional side of my life. Currently, I'm a student at Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin. This fall is the first semester of my two year degree, which is in the Computer Programmer/Analyst program.

Computers have always been a central focus for me and a source of great entertainment and education. I can remember back to when I was probably 9 or 10 years old. My cousin had a computer in his house, which was pretty unheard of at the time, especially in our area. He showed me how there was a programming language on the computer, called BASIC, which allowed you to write a program and then run it. Granted our programs were simple, but in short, you could make the computer do what you wanted! I was very taken by that idea and it left a long lasting impression on me.

In high school, I finally got to have a formal class on the BASIC language, which I really enjoyed. A few years later, I was at UW-Madison in a 4 year program earning my bachelor's degree in Accounting. I had the opportunity to take another programming class and the language taught at the time was Pascal. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the class and was thrilled at the possibilities of what one could do on a computer. I briefly considered changing my major after that class to Computer Science.

After college, I earned my Certified Public Accountant license. I've always enjoyed numbers and received a rewarding feeling for keeping things in balance from an Accounting perspective. However, over the 15 years I spent as an Accountant, I always thought back to those days I considered changing my major at the UW. I tried to get my programming or computer "fix" by getting into the more technical side of accounting. Things such as Financial Reporting, databases and most of all, Excel spreadsheets. I learned everything I could about Excel in seminars, but it wasn't enough. I felt the need to do more.

Over the years I taught myself Visual Basic for Applications at a basic level. In 2008, I created Endres Data Solutions, LLC to provide Excel services to my customers. Endres Data Solutions, LLC was intended at first to be a side business with the hopes of things taking off and some day becoming a full time job.

Early in 2009, I received notice that I would be laid off in the fall. As usual, my thoughts drifted back to being a computer programmer. I finally made the decision to go back to school and earn that degree. I must add, that I received tremendous support and encouragement from my wife on this and couldn't have done it without her.

Changing careers will most likely be putting an end to Endres Data Solutions, LLC, but in the end it is for the best. Instead of getting my computer "fix" as a side business, I get to do it full time. This is what I've truly always wanted.

So here I am, in my first semester at MATC. Every day I am thankful I made the decision to do this. I'm loving the classes. The homework has sure picked up, but it is definitely worth it.

My initial plan with this blog is to make regular updates regarding school and other things related to my career change. I hope you keep reading as I keep learning and discovering new things.

Thanks for reading!