This February, our volunteer of the month is Rogelio Camargo! Rogelio, a software engineer at Vividly, has served as a mentor in our Intro and React classes, a practicum project lead, and now helps lead sessions for our Data Structures and Algorithms class in CTD Labs. Apprentices share that Rogelio is skilled at breaking down tough concepts and teaching problem-solving skills.
For the blog, Rogelio shared more about his story and work with Code the Dream.
Tell us about yourself!
I currently work for Vividly, where we develop accounting software for retail brands looking to manage their trade spend. I’m a full-stack software engineer and have been with the company for about 10 months.
I took an AP Computer Science course in high school that introduced me to coding—I even passed the AP exam. Honestly, I have no idea how I passed because I don’t remember listening or paying attention in that class. I literally took it because everyone said it was an easy course.
After high school, I attended community college and studied computer science for a year before switching my major to political science, thinking I wanted to pursue law school. However, during the final months of my senior year at university, I realized I no longer wanted to go to law school and do software engineering. At that point, it was too late to change majors again, so I decided to teach myself how to code.
I went through The Odin Project, App Academy Open, FreeCodeCamp—basically any course I could get my hands on. I didn’t have a structured plan, which is probably why it took me about three years to finally land my first job as a software engineer. I’ll say that again—three years. It was a brutal three years, filled with countless rejections and failed interviews.
But I stuck with it, constantly trying to improve. I believed that if I ever got lucky with a company, I needed to be good enough to take full advantage of that opportunity.
Why did you get involved with Code the Dream?
I’ve been loving every moment of volunteering at Code the Dream. It’s been an incredible experience meeting so many amazing people while also sharpening my own skills. I can confidently say that my communication skills have improved dramatically through collaborating with others at Code the Dream.
What has been meaningful about your experience with Code the Dream?
It’s especially meaningful to witness the growth of those around me—it makes me genuinely happy to be part of their journey.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I really want to emphasize that software engineering is difficult, and it’s not something most people (including me) can quickly pick up and master quickly. I used to feel discouraged watching “How I Got a Software Engineering Job in 6 Months” videos on YouTube. I’m glad some people are able to achieve such a feat in such a short period of time, but don’t assume that it’s the norm.
Keep going and fight for your dream—even if it takes three years like it did for me. I was able to change my life by putting in a massive effort during those three years, and I would do it again.
Keep pushing!
Apprentices shared about why they appreciate Rogelio:
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Rogelio helping us with algorithms classes. He is not only highly knowledgeable and skilled but also patient and approachable. Even when I struggle to solve a problem, he never makes me feel intimidated and always takes the time to explain things clearly. His supportive attitude and ability to make complex concepts easier to understand make a huge difference in the learning process. I’m very grateful to have him helping us!”
Oksana, CTD Labs Apprentice
“Many have broad and deep knowledge, but few can explain it in a way that everyone can understand. And, Rogelio is one of them. Big shoutout to Rogelio!”
Elena, CTD Labs Apprentice
“Learning algorithms is a tough subject. I love problem-solving, but sometimes, figuring out the right approach is challenging. Rogelio shows us how to break down and understand a problem and guides us in choosing the best solution. We’re so lucky to have him dedicating his time to help us learn and grow in algorithms!”
Xeniya, CTD Labs Apprentice
“It’s inspiring to see someone like Rogelio demonstrate the engineering method with such patience and precision. Tackling challenges together is a humbling reminder of the problem-solving wizards we can someday grow into.”
Sam, CTD Labs Apprentice
