Taylor Hendricks, an alumnus of Great Learning’s PGP Cloud Computing Program talks about his experience at Great Learning. Read further to learn more about his journey.
What were you doing before you joined the PG program in Cloud Computing?
Before entering into the PG program in Cloud Computing I was a General Manager at a local retailer here in Dallas, TX. I also participated in launching a record label, hosted a lot of concerts in Dallas, as well some creative work with video editing.
Why did you choose us?
To add some context to how I ended up here, nearly 2 years ago I tried my hand at self-taught courses to pass the Solutions Architect Associate exam for AWS. I personally learn better in a more structured environment so I knew I needed something more. Fast forward to 6 months ago, I received an advertisement for this program with great reviews and submitted my application for it. After an extremely comforting phone interview, I received an email letting me know I was approved for admission! When it comes down to it, it was the helpful employees and 5-star reviews that drove me to hit the submit button in the first place.
Did you have any apprehensions in learning in an online medium and how were those mitigated?
Considering I had no experience learning online I think my biggest apprehension was if I was going to be able to keep up due to the fact that I was working 50-60 hours per week. After taking the advice during orientation on how much time to commit to the program per day I was able to comfortably enjoy the platform the Great Learning has provided. It’s organized, in-depth, and easy to navigate.
At Great Learning, We have pioneered mentored learning sessions. Tell us how important these sessions were for you?
These are sessions that I looked forward to tremendously because of how much they offer! Not only do you get a deep dive into how the ideas that you learned in the week leading up to the session are applied in real-world environments, but you are also able to speak with industry professionals about their career journey, seek advice on project assistance, and anything else that is on your mind!
What is the role of your mentors in your success?
They have been an integral part of my success both inside and outside of the program as well as instilled the confidence in me to take a leap into my career transition.
How well do you think your mentors supported you during the course of the program?
They are definitely there to be utilized but it’s important to remember that they can’t help unless you ask for it. It took me a few mentoring sessions to realize this, but once I started asking questions and seeking advice (even outside of the sessions) the support I received was unparalleled. It really feels like they care about your success, and for me that’s huge!
How did you feel about the support you received throughout the journey?
As far as my student experiences have gone I haven’t felt the support anywhere else that I have felt in this program. I’ve been able to rely on everyone from mentors and teachers to peers and program managers as well. The whole learning path and program in place throughout Great Learning really is something special.
What have you accomplished from your newly learned skill sets?
As of writing this, I am excited to say that not only have I received my certification for Cloud Practitioner, I am also officially a Certified AWS Solutions Architect and I could not be more excited to continue this journey!
What advice would you give to people who are just starting with learning Cloud Computing?
Honestly, I owe a lot of my success to the mentors in this program so my advice would be to ask questions as often as possible and utilize them! Also to not get discouraged. The information and amount of content can seem overwhelming but if you are able to commit the time necessary and stay dedicated the progress will come.
