What's the gist of this story?
I've had a bumpy ride in my programming career after college. For the last 8 months, I have been learning everything I can about game development and programming in Unity using C#. I want a job working on games in Unity using C#.
I have a regular schedule.
I have a regular daily schedule:
8am - wake up
9am - arrive at the library to program
2pm - head back home for lunch
3pm - start work
7-8pm - arrive at home to make dinner and sleep
Spare time?
Any spare time I get either goes into working on my game, updating this website or looking for Unity + C# work.
Sounds boring.
I am not bored in least bit when I am working on my game. In fact, I wish I could spend the entire day working on it. Yes I realize it is ironic trying to escape a "normal life" of monotony by having a totally monotonous schedule, but for the first time in my life, I really want something. I want to make money from developing games. I want a job working on games in Unity using C#.
Freeze frame, you're probably wondering how I got here...
After college.
After 4 years, in December 2016, I graduated with honors in Computer Science(BS) from Webster University. I got a high paying contract-job right away at MasterCard, as a Sr. Analyst. I was excited to finally quit my job at the car detailing place.
Working at MasterCard.
MasterCard was mind-numbingly boring for 6 months.There was not a lot of work to do. I completed all the programming exercises on codingbat.com in java during this job. I lost my girlfriend of 5 years during this time. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, an anxiety disorder.
Interviewing at Boeing.
I interviewed with Boeing during my contract at MasterCard. I applied for the position of full-time Software Engineer, I in Java for the Training System and Simulation division on the Apache attack helicopter software.
Sounds better, I'm in!
They showed me a fun work environment with people my age, meaningful work, people willing to help me learn and great pay + benefits. We agreed on a great salary + benefits and flexible hours. It was a great deal.
Bait and switch.
I arrived to my first day of work and realized I was baited and switched. Sorry, if you wanted what we showed you, you'll have to do at least 2 years here. Here's your new team - one guy, Charles - he is overworked, at least 40 years old.
Charles.
Charles and I, sat 3 desks away, facing away from each other. In between us were 3 60+ year old men on a different team. Sometimes they would grunt. They were waiting to die in their chairs.
Yeah, I quit.
I quit after 3 months.
Producer dreams.
I tried to get a job as a music producer again. I worked as a producer in a studio in college before it went out of business and I have been playing, writing, mixing, mastering, editing, producing, whatever music since I was 15. I am good at it and can be paid for delivering quality productions.
Job at downtown production studio?
With no interview, I showed up one day to a studio and showed them some of my tracks. They said I could work as an intern making no pay.
My own studio.
I started going out every night to open mic's and anywhere that hosted local musicians. After their act, I would say they were great - even if they weren't - give them a business card, and try to get them to record a demo at my house I share with my roommates. I did this for about 4 months.
Listen to a song I produced during this time here
During this time I was also making my own music. View songs here
Face the music.
My band - my roommate and a drug-addict -
was not working out.
My production business was not working out.
My MasterCard job did not work out.
My Boeing job did not work out.
My car detailing job found a replacement.
I had no support. I wanted it all to end.
I was a complete failure and was spiraling out of control.
Time to go.
I needed to leave the environment I was in immediately. I knew the longer I stayed where I was, the more suicidal thoughts would invade. I used the last of my reason and traded in my 4runner for a used Rav4. My dad sensed that I was shaken up I guess and helped me with buying the car and building a bed in the back of it.
Car Mods.
To the back of my driver's seat to my trunk is 72 inches, or exactly my height. I built a pull-out 4-drawer system underneath my 1.5inch bed ply. The drawer system had 13 inches of height. Which meant I had ~8 inches above my face when I slept on my bed (with padding and sheets).
I lived in my car for 3 months.
One night in October 2017, I packed all my car-drawers and drove north. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I needed to leave. The first few nights I slept in Walmart parking lots.
Best decision I have ever made.
I ended up visiting over 20 national parks, meeting some amazing people and having the greatest trip of my life. I completely changed my attitude, left my depression and anxiety disorders at the lowest point in the western hemisphere (death valley!) and became a new person.
Back home.
I drove back home during the winter. The picture you see at the top of this monster-story is beard-me driving back.
What have you been doing?
I sold most of my possessions to release the negative energy they held. I started a business. I also started driving for Uber, Lyft and Amazon flex.
I started programming again after finding out about Unity. I have a regular schedule now...