From Animation and Design to a New Coding Skillset

Designed as an alternative to traditional 4-year computer science degrees, coding bootcamps cover a lot of material. But how do bootcamp students learn so much in a short time frame?

According to coding bootcamp alum Sam Cherry, the answer is one step at a time:

“The bootcamp experience was intense but so rewarding. It’s definitely a fast-paced program but in the best way possible. Every week, we’d dive into new topics, and it felt like we were building on what we learned at lightning speed. The cool part is that it’s structured so you’re constantly applying what you’ve learned in hands-on projects, which makes the pace manageable (even when it’s a lot).”

Like most coding bootcamp students, Sam enrolled as a programming beginner. The curriculum is designed to support learners of all starting skill levels—gradually building on coding fundamentals as the program progresses. At the same time, students are also taught to recognize their existing skills as they apply them toward learning to code.

Sam Cherry, for instance, began bootcamp with a range of digital skills. And while his coding experience was limited, these related skills supported his success early on.

“My background is actually in animation and design, so I came in with some creative problem-solving skills, but I was new to things like databases, back-end development, and frameworks like React,” he recalls.

Sam then rapidly ramped up new and existing skills throughout the program:

“The most helpful skills I’ve learned have been a mix of technical and soft skills. On the technical side, learning full-stack development—especially React, Node.js, and SQL—has been huge. I also picked up a lot of practical debugging techniques, which were game-changers for me.”

While these skills meant he was poised for success in bootcamp and beyond, the program was not without its challenges:

“The most challenging part was definitely the sheer volume of material covered in such a short time. But, honestly, that’s also what made it so beneficial. You’re constantly learning and pushing yourself, and by the end, you realize how much you’ve grown.”

In Sam’s case, completing tech training was a matter of persistence. The online coding bootcamp curriculum is designed to build on itself as you learn progressively more advanced concepts, so adopting a step-by-step mindset can help you take stock of what you’ve learned. But with the right mindset and ample time, can anyone be successful in bootcamp? Cherry thinks so:

“If you’re on the fence, just go for it. A bootcamp like this is a commitment, but it’s also one of the most efficient and immersive ways to break into the industry. My advice? Be prepared to work hard, ask questions, and embrace the process—even when it feels overwhelming. Trust the curriculum, lean on your instructors and peers, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Also, keep in mind that the skills you’re building here go beyond just coding—they’re setting you up for a whole new way of thinking and solving problems.”

Ready for a progressively challenging learning journey? Explore the Part-Time or Full-Time Fullstack Academy Coding Bootcamp to experience your own rapid tech skills growth. Like Sam Cherry, you may be surprised by how much and how fast you learned from the other side.