Even in 2020, We Have a Lot to Be Grateful For!

It’s Thanksgiving week, so we’re taking this time to slow down and reflect on gratitude.

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, but the Alchemy community has shown up strong and risen to the occasion in ways that were far beyond what we could have expected.

You showed up online. You adapted as we went fully virtual. You engaged meaningfully with our mission to increase diversity in tech. You overcame your personal challenges to change careers, persevere under pressure, and find your dream jobs. You passed on your good fortune by helping your own community - friends, colleagues, family - by sharing your stories and connecting them with opportunities to grow and thrive.

The tech industry moves so fast that we often forget to pause simply to reflect and say thank you. But reinforcing the human dimension of tech through emotional awareness is vital to creating an industry with a positive impact on the world, and on each of us as individuals.

In 2020, we’ve gotten stronger thanks to our team, partners, and students. We can’t thank you enough, but here’s a start.

Thank You to…

Our Instructors

Our instructors rose to the occasion, transforming the Alchemy experience to match the new tech remote working environment. They drew on their deep backgrounds in the industry to shift the mode of delivery and interaction with students to be effective online. They found new ways to bring teaching assistants and students together to interact and learn, giving even more generously of themselves to share what they know. And best of all, they nurtured the passion, excitement, and curiosity in the craft of coding. The results and technical outcomes exceeded our previous in-person offerings. Thank you instructors!

Our Team

Our team was laser-focused on the well-being and continued success of our community. Great efforts were made to shift our resources, invent new systems, and invest in the continuity and success of our students. Always asking "how", they showed up in a big way to support everyone on an individual level, working around problems, making adjustments, and listening to feedback with an open heart. A big thank you to our team, the heart and soul that held us together through this year!

Our Students

Our students embraced the changes and faced forward, willing to be guided through uncharted territory. Focusing on their desire to improve their lives and do meaningful work, they bonded together and supported one-another ferociously. In both technology and human interaction, they showed their generosity in offering help to one another, and the courage to reach out for the help they needed. The projects they produced showcased a new level of obtainment with the material and created a culture that inspired bigger and better outcomes from their peers in future cohorts. Thank you students for believing in yourselves and keeping the dream alive!

Our Grads

Our alumni in the industry shared their insights and knowledge as their companies went fully remote. They gave generously of their time to both students and new alumni with tips for being successful in an all-remote environment. They also served as anchors in a time of uncertainty, a testament to both technology's durability and demand as well as the fun, excitement and joy of being software developers. Thank you for living the dream!

Our Partners

Our industry partners and professionals also gave generously of their time, continuing to share their expertise and insights into the world of technology. There were plenty of uncertain moments at your own companies, so thank you for your transparency and honesty as we all navigated the hiring landscape together. And thank you for all of the interesting work, projects, missions, and goals that continued to move forward in 2020, helping form the basis of the industry we love.

A special thank you to our partners Social Finance and Vemo who worked with Alchemy to bring forth the new Impact ISA, an innovative funding source that directly addresses the needs of so many in these hard economic times, our gratitude for making a transition into a career in software development possible and real.

As we move into the holiday season, we hope you’ll take time to pause, reflect, and express gratitude to those who have been key contributors and supporters to you this year.

Thanks again - we look forward to creating new things to be grateful for in the new year!