I decided to stay at home and raise my kids when I first got married and to make ends meet I did what I could to make money. I made cloth diapers back when the internet was a baby (2000) and realized I needed a website to sell my products but I had no money to invest, so I found tutorials on how to build a website.

I discovered I could figure this stuff out pretty easily, I learned all I could and was re-programming software built to run websites (like wordpress) and making things easier. I loved helping people figure out technology and found it engaging and interesting. I learned all I could online (which was growing quickly) and started doing websites and custom plugins for other work at home moms trying to make ends meet.

Once my kids were all in school I went back to college and got a degree in computer animation and simulation at a local community college because I wanted to be challenged in learning something I didn't know, knowing that any degree would get me in the door and I was a quick learner on my own.

It took a few years to really hit my stride and have the confidence that convinced me that I knew I could handle what was thrown my way. I was fired from a job (first for me), now I see it was for being too good, which was the best thing to ever happen to me. I used a recruiter to find the position I am in now and quickly went from small time development locally to large world wide software development. I love it, this company values ability and willingness to speak up and adjust. Being able to work with peers that are as smart or smarter than me is the best ever, not being judged for being a girl in a mostly male field is also amazing. Never settle for being the smartest person in the room. Find a new room.