Erlend York (34), a former teacher and current team leader in an edtech company, has chosen to explore backend development part-time through online studies at Noroff.
With a solid educational background and a desire to understand the technical solutions around us, Erlend shares his experience of balancing studies, work, and the role of being a father in a busy everyday life. He chose Noroff to combine his language interest with a desire to learn programming and understand the complexity of technology through studies in back-end development.
- I really love languages, and I have always had a previously unrealized goal of learning programming languages.
- Being able to control the pace is golden
The 34-year-old prefers online studies due to his full-time job and the new role of being a father, emphasizing the efficiency and learning outcome of being able to control his own study pace.
- Since I combine this with a full-time job as a team leader and being a new dad, there is no doubt that online studies are the most effective and provide the greatest learning outcome for me. Being able to largely control the pace is golden to make the schedule work, he says.
📷: Erlend balancing online studies and fatherhood. Photo: private.
Erlend's typical study day involves an uninterrupted hour of study early at work and studying on weekends, balanced with taking care of his son. To handle distractions at home, he uses the mindset that tasks must be done now to avoid procrastination..
- Since time is a bit tight, it helps to think that "If I don't do it now, it won't be done later either".
Being able to largely control the pace and follow Noroff's study plan gives me the freedom I need to further develop myself. Erlend York
He describes online studies as highly effective, providing freedom for self-management, and emphasizes the importance of motivation and structure.
- Being able to largely control the pace and follow Noroff's study plan gives me the freedom I need to further develop myself while having some fixed frames. Of course, you have to be motivated and structured to make it work.
Relevant and Fundamental for the Industry
The online student finds joy in learning Javascript and believes that the study provides a relevant and fundamental understanding of the industry. He envisions using the study knowledge in combination with his experience as a teacher and team leader in his future work, hoping for opportunities for further development after completing the studies.
- In the study, we learn the fundamental aspects that seem generally necessary to work in the industry. This, of course, depends on the direction you want to work in, but for me, the study seems very relevant to what I'm looking for when I finish.
Erlend is one of our online students juggling multiple responsibilities. With dedication, structure, and flexibility, he illustrates how it is possible to shape a new career path, even in a busy everyday life as a team leader and a new father.
- Do you have any advice for students in the same situation as you?
- Be conscious of what motivates you to attend the study. Remember that it must be a choice you have made to progress on the path to your goal, whatever it may be.
Back-end development is offered as both a one-year and a two-year education. You can apply directly to the two-year program, securing your study place for two years. Back-end developers top the list of the most in-demand tech jobs in 2023. Through the education, you will learn technical programming skills that are crucial in the profession.
The study is available as online studies and has the next start on 12th of March 2024.
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