Breaking the Stigma: Why I Stopped Hiding My Boot Camp Journey

When I first decided to enroll in a tech boot camp, I didn’t tell anyone. Not my friends, not my coworkers, and not my family. I was embarrassed. I worried people would judge me for taking a “shortcut” into tech or assume I wasn’t serious about learning. After all, boot camps have a reputation — some people see them as less legitimate than traditional degrees or self-study. I didn’t want to be seen as someone trying to “hack” their way into a career. So, I kept it to myself, quietly logging into classes after work and spending weekends buried in code.

But as the days went by, something shifted. I realized that attending a boot camp wasn’t just about learning to code or gaining technical skills — it was about so much more. It was about the structure, the accountability, the community, and the mentorship. It was about having a dedicated space to fail, learn, and grow without feeling completely lost in the vast sea of free online resources. And most importantly, it was about proving to myself that I could do something hard, something that scared me.

When I finally started opening up about my experience, I was surprised by the reactions. Instead of judgment, I found curiosity. Instead of skepticism, I found encouragement. People wanted to know how I chose my boot camp, what I was learning, and how I balanced it with my full-time job. Some even admitted they’d been considering a similar path but were held back by fear — fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of wasting time and money.

That’s when it hit me: the stigma around boot camps isn’t just about the programs themselves — it’s about how we perceive success and learning. We’ve been conditioned to believe that the only “real” way to enter tech is through a four-year degree or years of grinding through free online tutorials. And while those paths are valid, they’re not the only ones. Boot camps offer something unique: a focused, immersive environment where you can gain practical skills, build a portfolio, and connect with a network of like-minded individuals — all in a matter of months.

Yes, you can learn to code or cloud computing for free. Yes, you can piece together your curriculum using YouTube videos, blog posts, and open-source projects. But let’s be honest: not everyone thrives in self-directed learning. Some of us need deadlines, structure, and a community to keep us motivated. Some of us need a coach to guide us through the tough moments or a cohort to remind us we’re not alone. And that’s okay.

Attending a boot camp isn’t a shortcut — it’s a choice. It’s choosing to invest in yourself, your growth, and your future. It’s choosing to prioritize your time and energy in a way that works for you. And it’s choosing to believe that you’re capable of reinventing yourself, no matter where you’re starting from.

Today, I’m proud to say I attended a boot camp. I’m proud of the late nights, the debugging marathons, and the moments of frustration that turned into breakthroughs. I’m proud of the projects I built, the connections I made, and the confidence I gained. And I’m proud to share my story because if it inspires even one person to take a chance on themselves, it’s worth it.

So, if you’re considering a boot camp but worried about what others might think, let me tell you this: your journey is yours alone. Whether you choose a boot camp, self-study, or a traditional degree, what matters most is that you’re taking steps toward your goals. And if anyone tries to diminish your efforts, remember that their opinion doesn’t define your worth or your potential.

The stigma around boot camps is real, but it’s also fading — one success story at a time. Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s celebrate all paths into tech because, at the end of the day, it’s not about how you got here. It’s about what you do with the skills you’ve gained and the impact you make along the way.

And who knows? Your story might just inspire someone else to leap.