Ethan Ansel-Kelly

Get to know Ethan Ansel-Kelly

What are you looking for in your next role?

There is so much more to learn in software beyond Launch Academy. So I’m looking for something where I can continue to grow and develop my coding skills, whether it’s working on something challenging, or having a mentor to help facilitate my growth. I also care about the people I work with and the company I work for, so a good cultural fit is important for me too.

Why did you decide to change career and/or educational paths? What was your prior path and how did you end up down that road initially?

Before I started Launch Academy, I was a Research Assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital. I was interested in Public health and Environmental issues, and wanted to gain experience working on these types of issues. Eventually I realized that the career path wasn’t a good fit for me, and between that realization and the pandemic I began looking for something different that would bring me more opportunity, satisfaction, and stability. I learned about coding bootcamps through a friend, and after lots of research and talking with friends and family I enrolled at Launch Academy.

Where have you been involved in the tech community (events attended, volunteer activities, etc.)?

I haven’t been involved in any tech community yet (outside of Launch), but I’m looking forward to getting involved with Code for Boston, hackathons, and live coding.

What has been the most fulfilling aspect of your journey towards becoming a web developer? What's been your biggest challenge and how have you overcome it?

The most fulfilling aspect of my journey so far has been how much I’ve learned in my short time with Launch Academy. I love a challenge, and learning coding has been a constant supply of challenges. In the same vein, learning something so different than anything I’ve done before has taken me out of my comfort zone. It is easy to get stuck on something, or read/watch something that is way out of my depth, and feel overwhelmed by the information. If I can’t find the answer on my own through googling or reviewing material, I’ve begun asking questions quickly and often, and my cohort-mates and EE’s have been invaluable in getting me out of a rut. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a missing ‘/’. Other times they will share an insight that makes a concept click in a way that I hadn't figured out.

If you had an unlimited budget and resources, what would you build?

I love living in a city, but transportation is always a struggle (even with our relatively “good” MBTA system). I’d build out the MBTA to a scale that would probably be impossible in the real world. Something like a New England-wide system that can compete with owning a car for the majority of trips a person takes. Reliable and consistent access to public transportation is one of the things that can really uplift a community and save people time and money. I also hate driving in the city, but it is often the fastest and easiest way to get anywhere that isn’t on my nearest bus routes