It's the first one of this year, but it's part of a series of events with a tradition of its own. The graduation ceremony on February 4, 2017 brought together new generations of graduates and students of Informal School of IT. Between those who had successfully completed the Intro in IT and Software Testing programs and those who had just set foot in the School, there was an informal exchange of experience. Filled with feedback and expectations, thanks and recommendations, future plans and good energy. There was no shortage of success stories either, shared joyfully by graduates who proved that you can grow professionally, naturally and organically, if you have enough ambition and… you also do your homework on time!
Experiences shared on stage, in front of everyone
A new challenge in the Informal School of IT experience? Speaking into a microphone. It was checked off the list of things successfully practiced, because at the event, graduates and new students alike overcame their nerves and spoke their minds, on stage, with the microphone all to themselves. At the same time, as if by some unspoken agreement, each of the participants brought along their sense of humor from home, as well as the desire to learn each other's story: what industry they come from, what their career dream is, and how close they are to achieving it.
Thanks to the mentors
The experience and professionalism of the mentors made themselves felt in the graduates' speeches, who acknowledged not only their expertise and seriousness, but also their charisma and interactive teaching style. Bringing passion into the classroom every single time, the mentors were glad to receive feedback from the students. But not only at the graduation ceremony — after every training session throughout the several months the learning program ran!
Here's what the graduates have to say!
Fărcaș Edgar is one of the graduates of the Intro in IT program. Passionate about the technical side and encouraged by his mentors' recommendation, he will spend the coming months learning Web Development at Informal School of IT:
I especially want to thank the mentors, who were a super bunch. I hope we'll see each other again in the future, at IT companies
Florin Horațiu Lăpușan comes from the administrative sector. He wanted a career in IT, and today he's one of the Informal School of IT graduates, from the 15th cohort of Software Testing.
It's the first time in 20-some years of schooling that I've come to school with pleasure. To come with pleasure means you have to like the teachers. So it's the first time I've come with pleasure, because what I liked wasn't the teachers, it was the mentors
He comes from an environment completely unrelated to IT: the food industry. His name is Andrei Ionaș, and after just two months of training in software testing, he proved he has solid knowledge to back up and successfully pass a job interview in IT:
I want to thank Informal School of IT and the mentors, because they answered every question I had. I didn't know anything when I came here, and now I go to work happily and with satisfaction, because I feel confident in my knowledge
Bringing passion into the classroom every single time, the mentors were glad to receive feedback from the students. Not only now, at graduation, but at the end of every training session throughout Informal School of IT's program. This is to make sure that every participant easily absorbs the concepts taught and tested in practice, and that the teaching method is an effective one.
It was constructive feedback, it helps me grow too, and I thank you for that. I've learned a lot from the students. Some of them made a significant effort: they came from Oradea, Timișoara, Satu Mare. I couldn't believe how they made that trip every week and still got here, and yet they were among the best students I've had. I really appreciate that, and I saw myself in their experience too, back when I started my career in testing.
–Lucian Rusan – Software Testing mentor with over 11 years of experience in the field
