From Learner to Leader
By: Aitanna Parker
A year ago, I was a student struggling with Python error messages. Today, I’m the one helping others decode them. I sit in the classroom as a Teaching Instructor for Hack the Hood, and I see myself in every learner who’s wrestling with a new concept. I know exactly how they feel because I just barely made it through myself. But people believed in me, and that belief is what this whole journey has been about.
When I first joined Hack the Hood’s data science program, I didn't believe in my skills. I already had a technical background from college and even a master’s degree, and I had worked in corporate roles like IT at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Product Support for data centers at Wells Fargo. Despite this professional experience, I still felt unsure about my hands-on coding ability. I needed a space to apply my knowledge. I started with Hack the Hood’s Build program and then joined the year-long Drive program, a partnership with a community college that gives you a cohort, mentorship, and tons of support.
The change was gradual, but the Drive graduation ceremony was a turning point. That week had been one of the hardest of my life. I had just been laid off from my IT role at PG&E. I was so down that I almost forgot the event was even happening. But I walked into that room and was immediately met with hugs, flowers, and a community that knew my story and was there to celebrate my accomplishment no matter what. My mentor, my peers, and the staff all showed up. Surrounded by their support, I finally reflected on my growth.
My final Build project, for example, used key and tempo to create a music mixing recommendation system for DJs. I charted tempos onto a sine wave to show on which beat to mix songs together. Projects like that proved I could apply my skills, and that joy could lead my work just as powerfully as a desire to critique data.
When Hack the Hood asked me to come back as an instructor, it felt like the natural next step. I’m not a traditional teacher. I’m there with good vibes and a simple goal: help students keep moving forward. My approach is “come as you are” and “just turn it in.” I want to remove the pressure of perfection because the real goal is to keep learning. Being on this side of the classroom has solidified everything for me. Explaining concepts to others has deepened my own understanding and, more importantly, it has helped me finally believe in the skills I have.
My story with Hack the Hood has been transformative. It’s a place that doesn’t just teach you to code; it creates a path for you to grow. I went from a learner who wasn’t sure of herself to a leader who gets to pay it forward to the next group. The ultimate goal of learning, I think, is to be able to give that knowledge back, and I’m so grateful I have the chance to complete that circle.
Help Us Make Opportunity Universal. Stories like these are made possible by supporters like you. Your gift to our Talent is Universal campaign helps us provide not just technical training, but the laptops, mentorship, stipends, and community support that unlock the potential in every young person. Join us in ensuring that talent and opportunity go hand in hand.
