My name is Madeleine. I’m a design enthusiast, an avid learner, and a bit of a foodie.  This year, I also learnt that I’m passionate about computer programming and coding. This discovery led me to apply to the University of British Columbia’s second degree program in Computer Science. In September, I was accepted and moved out to Vancouver, British Columbia.

My previous education and career were all in the arts industry. I went to a specialized arts high school, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts for Fashion and Textiles from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Upon graduation, I worked for three years as an assistant for a high-end womenswear label in Toronto.

While I was working in fashion, I started to take classes in different fields for fun. (Boxing and ballet for adult beginners were some favourites). One of the workshops I took was organized by the non-profit Ladies Learning Code. It was a six hour crash course in coding. It was also a lightbulb moment for me. I found out that coding was something I greatly enjoyed.

Within a few months of the workshop I had decided to change careers and go back to school. I’m now a full time student at the University of British Columbia. When I’m not studying or in school, I’m exploring Vancouver.  I’m always open to new restaurant, cafe or hike suggestions, and would love to hear from all of you.