Why I declined a top-rated Psych Mental Health Nursing Program to pursue a career in technology:

Since graduating from Texas Tech’s nursing school in 2017, I began my career as a registered nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit. After a few years of working in the Texas Medical Center, I took a leap of faith and secured my first contract as a traveling nurse.

For over two years and the entirety of the pandemic, I took three to six-month contracts with various hospitals across the US, aiding in COVID-19 hotspot relief. At the time, my long-term vision was to further my nursing career and obtain my doctorate of nursing practice as a nurse practitioner in mental health.

I began my career in nursing because I loved science and wanted to positively impact people’s lives, and getting my doctorate seemed like the right next step. By the end of 2021, I had applied to many of the top-rated programs in the US. The basis of my applications included utilizing technology to create a unique approach to mental health care and treatment.

I noticed how the mental health space was being transformed by emerging tech companies, such as Cerebral and BetterHelp, and I felt inspired. I realized software would allow a more significant reach instead of sitting in a clinic all day. I believe there are opportunities to push the boundaries of healthcare using technology, and we are only in the early stages of widespread adoption.

Ultimately, I declined my admission offer to the number one rated program in the country and decided to transition my focus to technology. I enrolled in Flatiron’s Software Engineering Bootcamp, intending to pursue a software engineering career. Eventually, I plan to impact the mental health space, but not from inside a clinic.

My name is Alex, and I started this blog to document my journey through this unique, uncomfortable part of my life. I intend to share technical knowledge and highlight the emotional experience of all things career-change, adult learning, and more. Thank you for reading!