Hey Vanessa, I believe that software is not a sanctuary from our human needs. You seem to enjoy solitude and constantly convince yourself that it's alright. I agree that finding a balance is important. Your KZbin channel is an excellent starting point to discover intelligent people. I genuinely admire your sense of self-determination and unwavering mindset. However, from my perspective, building a network of friends is crucial. It enriches our lives with diverse perspectives, offers emotional support, and provides a platform for meaningful discussions. Nothing quite compares to the mutual growth and understanding that comes from being part of a strong, supportive circle of friends.

Really nice video! Thank you for sharing this story. Best wishes 🤍

Very strange, I work as software engineer java Spring boot and feel stuck in life with AI advancing and outsourcing I feel I want to move to something else such product owner business analyst where automation is less likely.

Thanks for pointing out the sexism and racesism in Swedish IT, hope you have a good day.

Hey there! I noticed you took on a lot of classes at once, and I'm curious-what made you decide to do that? I'm 21 just starting my bachelor's degree, and I'm considering doing something similar. Do you feel it helped you graduate faster or gain more experience, or was it overwhelming? I'd love to hear your thoughts and any advice you might have!

You are a beautiful soul

Your inspire girl😊

No open source software is not as allemansrätt you cannot sell opensource software how you want but you can sell anything you find in swedish nature.

In Sweden we have a right wing government, together with right wing extremists. You can’t say that they are Socialdemocratic. They hate Socialdemocrats.

Thank you for sharing. Can relate to so many aspects of your experiences! Keep going. You are an inspiration.

I'm a Swede that used to work in Texas between 2015-2017 and I prefer our system here. I calculated the differences between Texas and Sweden and had about the same purchasing power when added in all costs (all insurances). I recently had a son born in week 29+3 and we needed to stay at the NICU for 2 months and then at the neonatal family unit for an additional month, that cost me nothing out of pocket and we got most of our salary covered by the state, I earn more than the limit so I got bout 60% compared to my partner that got 80% This would have cost me $200k to $1.6 million in the US out of pocket with the PPO plan I had and then I would have to hope that they did not deny the claim.

I'm curious what tech stack IS popular in Europe. Is React still popular for frontend, but other tech for backend? Or is React not a big frontend thing like here in the U.S.?

Thank you for your story! You are so great! Keep going!

Sweden is not socialist. Providing free education and healthcare is not socialism, socialism means the state owns/controls the majority of the means of production.

great story

Thank you for sharing this story with us! It takes a lot of courage to change paths like this, especially if you already have a degree in a different field. Really glad you were finally able to find your way.

VAB is 100%

despite everything, your story inspired me. YOU ARE GREAT PERSON

if you didn't say that you are introvert it would be impossible for me to say you are . in my country being introvert is considered to be synonymous with being shy and weak . I like to show you to them and ask them Educated and talented women like this could be considered weak ? but she is an introvert. so stop looking down to introverts. ❤

Alot of folks here focus on health care when it comes to the high taxes but not only is it that and "free" collage education even your blue-collar worker can swap trades and get paid whilst going to trade school like a CnC operator out of work wanting to become a car mechanic, electrician or a Certified Welder tho this is tied and limited to industry demand but this helps both those in need of new work and the industry in finding skilled workers. Being stuck in an irrelevant trade whilst being to poor to move or get proper training in a new profession is a situation that does not benefit the state, industry or the worker after all.

Not only that....when you get a baby you get a lot of freedom, free time payed.....and about 5-6weeks of payed holliday... Compare this with USA..... I belive that sweden is about 100% better then most other countrys...

Very interesting journey! Thanks for sharing and being so open about it. I'll admit I had checked your Linkedin before this and was a bit puzzled. There are many (maybe too many) that never felt like 'This is what I want to do', they made choices at the age 18-20 based on well-meant advice and 'functional' arguments, then life caught up with them and it's too late to change.... For very many people work is just a means of earning money, it's then the company and the colleagues that are the most important.

Software engineering is basically modern slavery. You will hate your life for choosing it.

Well Sweden is more than Sthlm! And no one in his/her right mind moves there. You can more than half your expenses just by moving to another town!

Funny you'd mention the insurance business and sales and how being an introvert doesn't seem suited for corporate America. I'm a Swede and an introvert myself and I've been in the insurance business and primarily in sales (key account management, sales development, coaching and management) for more than a decade across several companies. From my experience, introverts tend to outperform extroverts in the long run and their ability to maintain long-term relationships with clients far surpasses that of extroverts. For some strange reason, people seem to believe that extroverts are better suited for jobs involving close customer contact and communication. However, when you start looking at how clients themselves perceive customer interactions and relationships, introverts tend to have an easier time building trust and maintaining long-term business relationships. Extroverts, on the other hand, find it "easier" to make quick deals but they unfortunately face greater challenges in sustaining business relationships. This is often because they have more difficulty listening to existing clients and their needs while constantly chasing after the next client. And as we all know in business, acquiring a new client is more expensive than retaining an existing one. I'm not entirely sure what point I was trying to make here other than to say that just because someone is introverted doesn’t mean they aren’t suited for corporate jobs that require a lot of close customer interaction.

Hello everyone! Thank you all so much for the nice comments and support. It means so much to me. I am slowly going through the comments and replying to all the messages. Thanks again! ❤

Thank you for sharing with us!

As a native born Swede I really get offended when you say "Sweden is a socialist country!" Yeah right! Do your homework!😡

Hello. Interesting trip you have had. Why did you choose to move to Sweden? Can you speak Swedish? Good luck on your life journey.

So I work hard as F, learning, clawing, making my way and just because I am not a female I don't get the same treatment. Humm that sounds to me like favoritism and all that jazz. Ye why even try when the companies just gona hire someone else based on the shape or their nether regions.

Thanks for sharing your story. I was wondering, what coding language(s) did the bootcamp teach you? Are you using python and Django in your current job or do you use something different like html/CSS/JavaScript?

Cows kill at lot.more humans than people realise. Bumpkin here.

Thank you for sharing this story and it felt so relatable at times, since I also got myself a business degree, pursued that and took marketing classes, wanted to be this same strong independent woman and also fight against my introvertedness and now I'm self studying towards fullstack. Your channel is so helpful for this journey, thank you again (and idk you, but just wanted to hug you at the emotional part, it really resonated with me and more ppl I'm sure). Thank you again for the interesting and helpful videos :)

Do u also have personal projects learning other languages? For example, Go to develop blockchain or practicing Python and data structure? I think it is always fun to learn a new language. You can try LISP, it will make you a smarter person. Amazing John McCarthy developed LISP in 1958 and it is still used today. Functional languages have their own beauty. Thanks for sharing your story, it was very interesting.

Wonderful soul Vanessa the Swedish SWE ... Wish you all good and the best with the career you are happy and successful with ... I hope to see more talented reasonable STEM women like you in field ...

gorgeous

Enjoyed listening to your story. We sometimes do just come across our passion in the most random ways, don't we?

You are really smart! Do not undervalue yourself, wildly impressing to listen to your journey

Well, welcome to Sweden! I am working as a software developer. Born and raised in Sweden. I am pretty proud of my country. We have developed a well-working society over the years. :)

Hi Vanessa, would you mind sharing the bootcamp company's name? I would like to do this if possible. 😊 Thank you

You seem highly intelligent and talented to me. It's a real issue in Corporate jobs that only extroverts get promoted. I feel this is an enormous bias of too many men in leadership roles thinking that extrovert/aggressive personality is the only successful type. Every role I have ever been in, the introverts were grinding out high volume, quality work while the extroverts were chatting up the bosses in the lunch room. It's incredibly frustrating. I think going into engineering is excellent. Highly paid and highly valued and far less needing to be the loudest person in the room. ❤ I really think this pivot early in your career will be extremely helpful to your career.

Great video! When you learn it is not magic but something you understand and can do you will never be out of work. 35 years in IT and still something new every day.

Sweden does not have free healthcare btw. It's paid with taxes. A lot of people die every year from not getting the help they need for cancer. Non naive Swedes who make enough money opt for privatized care for obvious reason. It took me 2 years to get proper help for a tumor and I had to nag to be taken serious. Will never ever rely on government healthcare. Utter garbage. I am from Sweden.

Nice to have a woman in the Software Engieering club. Good to have you do something you love. Keep it up.

hey cutie

VAB, Paid when you are home sick, free university for citizens, free hospital health care and much much more.. that is what our taxes go to. I prefer that it does not matter if you are rich or poor everyone can go to University, same healthcare..

Hej Vanessa! do you get paid during those 12 months as a consultant? was it worth it? :) thanks

Must be tough for an American to be introvert... moving to Sweden makes sense.

Thank you for sharing your story and experience! That was such a nice and calm video, I really enjoyed that you kept the editing to a minimum and actually left in the silent moments too. I am starting to think that maybe it’s worth trying to get into the same industry, although I am not at all sure if software engineering is something I’d be good at.

Glad to see you doing something you like and feel a passion for. The US has become terrible for work opportunities and you made the right call to look outside. Best wishes ❤️ ♥️