Gregory Ellis

What first drew you to the web industry?

At first curiosity, I wanted to know how it all worked, so I did a few searches and learnt about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript online. After a month or so of learning I sold my first site, and it snowballed from there, turning from a hobby into my career.

What work were you doing when you first joined Treehouse and what encouraged you to learn with us?

I was at John Moores university in Liverpool studying Web Development, but was disappointed in the simplicity of the course and the way it was taught, so I stopped going; I felt that I learnt more on my own on the internet. A classmate then told me about Treehouse having a scholarship competition, I acquired the scholarship, and Treehouse became like a virtual tutor. I did all my learning at home and went back to university just to take the exams and hand in my final project. I graduated with a first-class honours, the second highest score in the year, just behind the guy who told me about Treehouse.

I looked at how much I was earning from private web development, and it was evident that I didn't need the full-time positions. I had the confidence in my services, and future viability because I knew I could learn what I'd need to online, so I quit and now work from a home office.

You're now a full-time freelance developer. Tell us about the experience of transitioning into freelance.

I had been doing a small amount of simple freelance development whilst in other jobs, but then just before completing the university course I got a job for a web firm, whilst working there I built up a private-client base, after about 2 years I looked at how much I was earning from private web development, and it was evident that I didn't need the full-time positions. I had the confidence in my services, and future viability because I knew I could learn what I'd need to online, so I quit and now work from a home office.

You also recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for your awesome game, Swipe to Kill (congratulations!) Tell us about the experience of building your first game, the campaign and what's in store for the future.

The Swipe to Kill Kickstarter game actually started as a learning endeavour, to see if I could make a match 3 grid with JavaScript. Once I'd done that I thought about making it into a mobile game, and because I'd learnt so much and had so much fun building it, I thought I could package it up with the source code and a tutorial so others could do the same.

What has the value of a Treehouse education meant to you?

It helped me get a good degree, it gave me the confidence to offer clients my services, and ultimately led to me being self-employed, having a lot of fun and working from home.

What’s up next on your learning path?

It's sad to say that my learning is less guided by whimsy these days and more by client requirements, but it's still quite fun. However this means for the last year or so I jump into random sections of Treehouse modules and skip to the parts in videos that I need, rather than being able to enjoy the complete pathways like I'd want to. That said, my whimsy is strong, and it's telling me to complete the Node.js Basics and AngularJS courses.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with new students who are aspiring web designers and developers?

If you put the effort in the complete at least the Front End Web Development and PHP Development Tracks, you're already employable. Make something cool from what you've learnt, send it to a company with your resume to get a job, or learn about starting your own business and do that instead.