They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. At 52, I’m proving that saying wrong every single day.
After serving my country in the Army and spending 34 years building my expertise in IT, I made a decision that surprised even me: I enrolled in a Master’s program at Harvard. Some people asked if I was crazy. I prefer to think of it as being curious.
Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed firsthand how technology can transform communities—both for better and worse. That’s what drives my passion for open-source development. When we create tools that are freely available and community-driven, we’re not just writing code; we’re democratizing opportunity.
My military background taught me discipline and service. My decades in IT taught me problem-solving and innovation. Now, my studies at Harvard Extension School are teaching me new perspectives on how thoughtfully engineered software can create lasting positive impact.
Speaking of learning—I recently had a moment that reminded me why we shouldn’t let fear hold us back. I was worried about taking an advanced Java class this fall, having not written a single line of Java code in over 15 years. So I decided to take a refresher course that was supposed to take a month. I started it this past Sunday, and as of today, I’m already over 80% complete with a perfect score.
Turns out, my background in Python and C made Java feel familiar enough that the skills came flooding back. It’s a good reminder that if you have a foundation in something—whether it’s programming, writing, or any other skill—don’t be afraid to stretch into new territory. The fundamentals often translate better than we think.
To all my fellow adult learners out there: take that leap. The worst that can happen is you’ll learn something new.
Every project I work on, every line of code I write, and every solution I architect is guided by one question: How can this strengthen communities?
Learning never stops. Growing never stops. And with a full semester of Master’s classes starting September 2nd, I’m just getting started.
#LifelongLearning #OpenSource #VeteranOwned #HarvardStudent #Community #Technology
