Combine Real World Experience With Time In The Classroom

Originally published in Forbes Tech Council

For current high schoolers or undergraduates interested in pursuing technology, there’s more to consider than just going to college and majoring in computer science. Becoming a technology leader is built from being constantly curious, collaborating with others, and working on projects outside of the classroom.

My Advice: Build While You Learn

Classes are great for learning theory, but nothing beats real world experience. Here’s how to get started:

Create your own personal projects and show them off on GitHub. This is your portfolio. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple todo app or a complex data pipeline - what matters is that you shipped something.

Offer to help a nonprofit with their website. You’ll learn how to work with real stakeholders who have real needs, and you’ll be doing good in the process.

Become involved in an open source project. You’ll learn how professional developers collaborate, how code review works, and how to contribute to something bigger than yourself.

Build your portfolio by freelancing on sites like Upwork. Getting paid to code, even small amounts, teaches you lessons about scope, deadlines, and client communication that no classroom can provide.

The combination of theoretical knowledge from school and practical experience from side projects will set you apart. When you’re interviewing for your first job, having real projects to discuss makes all the difference.