Welcome to my new blog which was made using WordPress. This is my first time using this platform…

I have decided its time for me to make a change in my career. I’ve worked in various fields over the years including the grocery industry, pet grooming, technical support, insurance claims, and general labor. I am currently working in an Amazon Fulfillment Center. It’s my current position with Amazon which gave me the opportunity to enroll in a Full Stack Web and Application Development Program which was offered by Ancora Corporate Training and was mostly paid for by Amazon Career Services. I consider myself truly blessed to have been given this opportunity.

I first started to look into Web Development about 2 years ago. I had left my job as an Insurance Claims Adjuster and was driving for Uber at the time. I felt I needed to make a change because while claims adjusting does allow you to help get people back on their feet after a loss, where I was working, we also had to deny quite a lot of claims. I felt it was beginning to take a toll on my emotionally and personality wise.

During my down time I found a course on Web Application and Development on Upskill. I was enjoying the course but I found it hard to dedicate the time I needed to complete it and still be able to drive enough for Uber to pay bills and still be able to spend time with my family. I enjoyed learning how to program. I do have an IT degree and while the program’s focus was on networking we did learn a little bit of C, html, and some database management.

You’re probably wondering why I’m not working in a field where I could better use my degrees. I often ask myself the same thing. I’m trying to get out of the habit of making excuses, so I’ll just say that sometimes, life just happens. I did work a few years in tech support. I was at for Allstate for 3 years as a Network Specialist (basically a glorified password resetter (is that a word?)). I interviewed for several positions with no luck and once I learned our department was being downsized and moved overseas I ended up going back to Albertsons’ because I didn’t want to be out of work.

As I mentioned earlier, I now have a certificate in Full Stack Web and Application Development and am doing everything in my power to improve my skills and get into this field. I built my own website using Visual Studio and ASP.NET (jeffreyraley.com). I am primarily doing this blog as a practice. While I know there isn’t much coding involved in using WordPress except for maybe a little CSS, I thought it would be good to get some practice on how it works. How often will I update this? I really don’t know. So why am I doing this? Well, as Michael Jackson once said, “Make that Change”. I’ve long looked at the man in the mirror and I have come to realize that I can do better. It’s time to push myself, to really apply myself, and to make a better life for myself, and most importantly, for my family. I have no doubt that I will be successful in this. I may be older than a lot of the other developers that are also starting out but its not too late for me and I will not accept my age as an excuse. Mark it down now……I will be a success.