Raymond even considered traveling down to Utah to enroll in DevMountain, just to gain some type of certificate

Not to mention, CCS was expensive, costing $25,000 annually for tuition and housing

Raymond had an interest in video game development since the eighth grade. He would race home from school, eager to open up Blender, and begin crafting 3D models of weapons and characters with the television on silent in the background. As a child he took great pleasure in playing a variety of games, from platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog, action like Grand Theft Auto, and almost the entire Call of Duty franchise, so developing games seemed like the next best thing.

While Raymond exhibited the technical skills necessary to get a job as a software developer, interpersonal skills were just as important, and his past experiences lent a hand establishing those. During Raymond’s time at Chipotle, he was promoted from a team member to a kitchen manager, which improved his leadership skills. “Once I became a kitchen manager, I learned how to work under pressure, and how to mentor my peers. In software development, being able to communicate why one solution is better in the long term than another is a key skill to have.” Additionally, Raymond’s various jobs as a landscaper helped him to serve customers in the best, and most efficient way possible. “When you’re coding, you’re not only considering application speed, but also trying to ensure that the client gets the most functionality out of your program.”

Upon inquiring if there was anything Raymond would have done differently, he said no. He still wishes to pursue a degree in Computer Science, just to have the knowledge. However, Raymond emphasized the importance of specializing in one thing, and being the best at it. He says, “Instead of being a jack-of-all-trades, master of nothing, you should take one skill that you enjoy, master it, and that will propel you in your career.” Following this advice is what got him as far as he has today.