How Dropping Out and Saving Lives Led Me to Web Development
Introduction
In 2016, I enrolled at the University of California, Riverside, as an environmental engineering major. Like many students fresh out of high school, I chose a major that sounded practical and impactful — but I didn’t truly understand what I was signing up for.
As the quarters went by, I began to realize something wasn’t clicking. I wasn’t engaged with the material. I wasn’t passionate about the work. I struggled to stay motivated, and my performance reflected it. I felt stuck, like I was on a path that I didn’t choose with intention — just one I fell into.
By the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, I was mentally burned out and academically floundering. That’s when I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: I dropped out.
Searching for Direction
Leaving college wasn’t a relief — it was a heavy, uncertain transition. I didn’t have a clear plan, but I did know one thing: I wanted to be useful. I wanted to give back to my community in a real, tangible way. I didn’t need a dream job — I needed a purpose.
That search led me to emergency medical services (EMS).
EMS: A Crash Course in Purpose and Hard Work
What drew me to EMS was its practicality. It was a hands-on trade — a skill you could learn, certify, and immediately put to work. I liked the idea that I could show up for people in moments that mattered most. I liked that it felt urgent, useful, and grounded in service.
Working in EMS gave me a new sense of purpose, and it gave me something else too: perspective. I saw people from all walks of life — struggling, hurting, surviving. I saw just how hard people work every day to get by, and how little room there is for error when you’re living paycheck to paycheck. It humbled me. It showed me the real meaning of hard work.
At the same time, it made me reflect on what I wanted for my own future. I respected the work, but I also saw its limitations — physically, emotionally, and financially. I realized that if I wanted more stability and long-term growth, I would need to build a new kind of opportunity for myself.
From Public Service to Self-Study
There was one idea from EMS that stuck with me: I had trained myself to save lives. That gave me confidence — confidence that I could train myself to do something else.”
That’s when I started looking into web development.
At first, I knew almost nothing about tech. But the more I learned, the more it pulled me in. Web development was everything I was looking for: creative, technical, constantly evolving, and — most importantly — useful. I realized that being able to build websites and applications wasn’t just a valuable skill, it was something I could offer to others.
I taught myself how to code — starting with free resources, YouTube videos, and online courses. I stayed up late working through problems, building projects from scratch, and learning how the web works, layer by layer. It was tough, but I enjoyed the challenge. Unlike before, I was choosing this path — and I felt excited to wake up and learn.
Why Web Development Matters to Me
One of the biggest reasons I chose tech — and specifically web development — is that it gives me a way to create value for my community. Whether it’s building a website for a local business or developing a tool to solve a small problem, I can use what I know to help people.
Another reason is that tech never stands still. New languages, frameworks, and tools are always emerging. That means I’ll never stop learning — and that’s something I’ve come to crave. In this field, growth isn’t optional, it’s built into the job.
And for someone like me, who once felt stuck, that’s a gift.
Coming Back Stronger
After gaining confidence through self-study, I decided to go back to college — this time with a clearer purpose. I earned an Associate of Science in Computer Science from Imperial Valley College, and I’m currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at San Diego State University.
But my learning didn’t begin in the classroom. I came back to school as a self-taught full-stack developer, with experience in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, databases, and building real-world projects. I’ve learned not just how to code, but how to think like a builder — how to break down problems, learn what I don’t know, and adapt.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t take a traditional path to tech — and I’m proud of that. Dropping out of college, working in EMS, and teaching myself how to code wasn’t easy. But each step taught me something important:
Dropping out of college taught me the importance of pursuing something you’re truly passionate about. EMS taught me the value of hard work and the impact of serving your community. Web development showed me that passion and service don’t have to be separate — they can be one and the same.
Today, I’m a full-stack developer, a computer science student, and someone who’s committed to lifelong learning — not just for myself, but for my community.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the path may not always be clear — but with the right mindset and work ethic, you can build something meaningful from wherever you start.