It wasn't really farfetched to think Autumn might find her way into technology because she grew up around computers — her father is a software developer. It was when she was fourteen, though, that her own interest really took hold.
She started playing with HTML and CSS through games and forums and just kept going. She joined developer networks and began building relationships in the community.
When she was nineteen, she landed her first web development job, packed everything into her car, and moved across the country to Seattle.
Now, as an experienced developer, Autumn gives back to the community that she grew up in. Joining Girl Develop It by chance through a coffee meetup North Carolina, she teaches courses like Intermediate HTML/CSS and Introduction to JavaScript for the Raleigh/Durham chapter.
Her students are women and men, ranging from 18 years old and up, with varied backgrounds — some are simply interested in development, others are making a career change. As a female developer and someone who is passionate about code, this is just one of the places she can make a difference.
But it's really within the entire developer community where Autumn feels comfortable and inspired. "Developers are wonderfully helpful and supportive of one another," she says. "If you have a question, it's only a Stack Overflow answer away. And if that doesn't cut it, there's a huge community of people out there willing to help."
As a frontend developer with Bluespark, Autumn collaborates closely with the entire development team, and since she's been working in Drupal since 2011, she brings significant and relevant expertise to the company. But her enthusiasm for development is an important contribution, too. Her favorite thing about web development? "Going from nothing to something. It sounds really simple but it's so cool to watch," she says.
In her free time, Autumn rides bikes, climbs rocks, and trains one of her dogs — Loki — for agility. "I love cycling because it gets me outside and around town, rock climbing is just as much mental as it is physical, and dog training is great because it has taught me how to compromise and be very, very patient," she says.
As someone who feels most grounded on the open road, her next move is into a camper so she can explore keep exploring the country (while working for Bluespark).
More about Girl Develop It
"Girl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and judgment-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. Through in-person classes and community support, Girl Develop It helps women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their every day lives." - Girl Develop It website
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