Jacob Proffer

What first drew you to the web industry?

I knew how to design but I didn’t know how to develop. That was a big issue when it came time to put together a portfolio. Throughout four years of college, I tried countless template sites and portfolio systems but nothing ever hit the spot. I kept wanting more customization and flexibility. I also hated the idea of having to use a slider or drop-down menu to change something.

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

Honestly, I was jobless. I wasn’t getting any work several months out of college. Good grades and a small portfolio only landed me a few interviews. One was at a popular 3D printing company in New York and the other was at a small screen printing business in Wisconsin. Neither had any relevance to my education.

I joined Treehouse around the same time I decided to go back to school to study Computer Science. In my mind, I wanted a platform that allowed me to stay ahead of the classroom and other students. Most importantly, I wanted to be up-to-date. You’d be surprised how far behind some college professors are.

You recently landed an internship at a web design and development agency. Tell us a little about the experience and the work you’re doing now.

My internship at Elegant Seagulls was very beneficial. It provided an insight into the industry and how inefficient I was. There was so much to catch up on and I was dead slow. Over three months, I worked with clients, designed logos, pushed content, mocked up a pretty sweet Alien website, fell into a relationship with Sass, and was hired on full-time.

Most recently, I was tasked with my first build. It’s been a thrill seeing a site come to life.

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

Treehouse is a powerhouse of relevant up-to-date information. That is essential to someone like me. In a rapidly changing industry, I love having a resource that continuously educates me with what I need to know. I can confidently say that I wouldn’t have my job or pass any of my recent Java exams without Treehouse.

What are your plans for the future, and what’s up next on your learning path?

Growing my front-end skills is key. I’ve been focusing lately on development tools. I want to be more efficient with Git and to learn at least one task runner. I also want to learn a few JavaScript frameworks and more about PHP.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with new students who are just starting out?

Have patience. Understand that you’re not going to master JavaScript or any other language or tool overnight. It takes time. If you’re ever frustrated, take a break. But in that process, take it slow and have fun.

With that said, it’s also crucial to practice and study. Once you finish a course on Treehouse, experiment with what you’ve learned, a lot. Just because you followed along with a video doesn’t mean you truly grasp the material. If you’re learning Java, do you know what a Java program is? Or the difference between a parameter and an argument? Ask yourself those questions. Make sure you understand what you’re coding.