Ateeya Barnes

For nearly twenty years, Ateeya Barnes dedicated her life to healthcare. From managing patient billing to providing direct care as a lab technician in Philadelphia, she spent her days caring for others. But after years of giving her all, burnout had set in. “It was like, okay, I gotta do something different,” Ateeya recalls. She knew it was time for a change—but what that change would look like was unclear.

The answer came unexpectedly. Her aunt sent her a text with a link to Per Scholas, a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost tech training.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to do anything with computers—I was so used to dealing with people. But I just, you know, took a shot in the dark and submitted the application.” Almost immediately, she was on the path to something new, working through interviews and qualification steps that would eventually lead her into Per Scholas’ IT Support program.

At first, the transition was challenging. Moving from healthcare to technology wasn’t straightforward. “In healthcare, I can look at you and say, ‘That’s a bruise,’ or ‘That’s a vein,’” Ateeya explains. “But when it came to computers and technology, it was like, okay, what does this button do?” Despite the initial hurdles, she immersed herself in the program, determined to learn. “Eventually, it all kind of clicked,” she says.

The experience at Per Scholas exceeded her expectations. She remembers the instructors vividly. “They were phenomenal. Very patient, very informative. They made sure we were hitting the mark every single time,” she says. 

It wasn’t just about technical training. Career Development also played a critical role in shaping Ateeya’s confidence and readiness. Her job development instructor taught the cohort to give elevator pitches and tackle interview questions in a supportive environment. “It made it easier to step up and answer confidently,” Ateeya recalls. “It gave me the confidence to walk into rooms with executives and hold conversations I wasn’t used to having.”

After completing the program, Ateeya’s hard work paid off. She landed a QA Tester role at Bank of America in Pennington, New Jersey. “It was more my transferable skills than technical knowledge that got me in,” she explains. 

“They were looking for someone who was teachable, coachable, and willing to dig deeper—and that’s exactly what Per Scholas taught me.”

The shift into tech has been life-changing in more ways than one. Financially, Ateeya’s salary jumped significantly, despite having no prior tech experience. “It’s a trickle effect,” she says. “Being able to participate in this and benefit from it has definitely changed me, as far as confidence, providing for my family, and self-esteem. Walking into a company where they value your input and compensate you well makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something great.”

Ateeya sees her new career as just the beginning. While she started in QA testing, which is foundational to software engineering, she is now exploring application management and other software engineering roles. She’s even considering Per Scholas’ upskilling programs, like JavaScript courses, to continue expanding her technical skills.

Beyond technical training and career growth, Ateeya treasures the community she found at Per Scholas. “It provided a challenging environment that allowed for growth and development and the building of relationships,” she says. “I’m still connected to a lot of the people I went through the program with. We still network, check in with each other, and challenge each other to grow.”

Her advice to anyone considering a leap into tech is simple but powerful: “This is a self-taught industry, so don’t give up on yourself. You may not get it today, but you’ll definitely get it by tomorrow. Just take your time, and you’ll get it.”

Looking back, Ateeya sums up her Per Scholas experience in one word: phenomenal. “Every opportunity presented has been phenomenal,” she says. “They provide an environment where you can be yourself, challenge yourself, and grow in an industry that’s always evolving.”

From healthcare to tech, from burnout to breakthrough, Ateeya’s journey is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and the transformative power of opportunity. For anyone wondering if they can take a similar leap: take the shot.