Meet Our Member: Seonyoung Son
Simple Steps recently welcomed a web developer to work on Simple Steps' website renewal and maintenance. Seonyoung Son initially joined as Simple Steps' program participants who successfully completed all five online programs this year. This takes a huge commitment and dedication and Simple Steps is pleasure to work with such a talented person. Welcome to the team, Seonyoung!
Q. Can you walk us through your journey?
S. I worked as a software engineer (in the mobile phone and defense industry) for over a decade until I moved to the U.S. when my husband got a job here. I mostly focused on raising my children for the first few years, and then took some community college courses related to my field after my youngest started preschool. Studying turned my self-doubt into self-belief that I am capable to resume my career in the U.S. I multitask as a mom and as a future developer, studying and honing my skills every day.
Q. You participated in all of the five online pilot programs by Simple Steps in the first half of 2020.
S. I did not even realize I was in all of them! I’m grateful to Simple Steps for providing programs that not only help improve my skills but also expand my networks. Also, it had made my quarantine more enjoyable and made me look forward to the online sessions.
Q. What made you enroll in all of them?
S. The shelter-in-place order went into effect around the time the “Wednesday Night Meetups” started. This program helped me maintain my motivation when everything came to a halt amid the quarantine. I subsequently attended the “Tell Me About Yourself” and LinkedIn boot camp, receiving information and training needed as a job seeker. And then came the Code States coding boot camp, a great opportunity for developers like me. I participated in all those programs because I was sure they would advance me toward my goal.
Q. What was your favorite program and why?
S. I found the “Tell Me About Yourself” the most memorable. During that program, I discovered various aspects of myself—as an individual, not as a mom or a wife—for the very first time. Each meeting was full of empathy and warm encouragement from the participants. Despite the different backgrounds, we deeply related to each other by sharing our personal stories.
Q. You have recently joined Simple Steps as a web developer. What was the transition from a participant to a staff member like?
S. It was my active engagement in Simple Steps programs that brought me the chance to join as a staff. Since I have benefited greatly from Simple Steps’ programs, I was more than happy to be part of the organization that helps women in similar situations as me and give back to the organization.
Q. What is your plan for the next five years?
S. With the goal of restarting my career as a developer, I will keep studying and put myself out there. Although I am taking only small steps now, I would also love to provide some support to anyone experiencing the same challenges I faced.
Interview date: July 20, 2020
Translated by Hyunjin Kim