I could not have asked for a better way to not only learn python, but to meet amazing individuals in the process. -- Richard Ward

Posted on August 14 2025
I( Richard Ward ) was a graduate student, learning programming for statistical analysis, while also in the process of transitioning from active-duty military to civilian life. While I was mainly focused on R programming, I knew the importance of learning different platforms and being proficient in a variety of tools. That was when I was tagged by a mentor in a post from The Coders Who Travel Foundation inviting veterans to learn more about python. Not knowing a single thing about python, I wanted to put in the time and learn what I could, this was an opportunity I just could not pass up.

Because of that tag on a LinkedIn post, I spent 2 hours and 40 minutes roughly a week in sessions with an amazing facilitator, instructors, and other learners. Learning the very basics, to more advanced programming within python every step of the way. However, it was not just the lessons being taught that kept me going week after week for 3 months. It was those individuals that made the sessions that much better. I speak on gaining communities, friendships, and partners through out the process of transitioning from active-duty to civilian life, and I found that within this group as well. Programming was the focus, but the shared experience and small community we made with one another was a bonus.

The flow of information, lessons taught, the homework, to the material given to us after each lesson (recordings, worksheets, etc.), showed the dedication and commitment that each of those involved with Coders Who Travel have. They provided me with more than I thought I could have learned, gained, and experienced within this course. 3 months truly flew by with this group of amazing individuals, and I could not have asked for a better group to go through it with. Every day, even the ones I could not make it to, improved my programming skills and my confidence to navigate python. I walked away each lesson with more curiosity and a yearn to learn more outside the sessions. Which says a lot as someone still in the military, in graduate school, and with a family of 5. It was a great way to feed that drive to learn about the different types of programming platforms.

Python was a mystery to me when I first started this course. With a data analysis and visualization process at the very end of the 3 months, I freaked out a little. Was I ready? Did I learn enough? Will I mess this up? While the questions were there, I knew I was in good hands with everyone. The instructors and facilitator addressed each of our questions thoroughly when they popped up and allowed us to develop ourselves even more so as programmers within python. That final project came and passed, amazingly. Let me not forget the accommodation the facilitator and judges had for me due to life. Even though I was not able to be there the day of presentation, they allowed me to record and send my end of semester project to them to review. It was very appreciated and just emphasized more that they were all there for each of us as individuals as well.

Coders Who Travel created an amazing course that I know will continually improve and be utilized by veterans and others that want to learn python. Their dedication to volunteer themselves to create this is truly remarkable. I wish them nothing but success and continually growth in the future. Thank you, Afia Owusu-Forfie , Akua Oseiwah Ahenkorah , William Ampeh , Theophilus Siameh , Jiyad Ur Rehman , Anitha Mutyala , @Sam Chapman, Bob Glass , and Kelsey Farson Gray Without all of you, I would have never learned as much as I had or been as confident using python. You are all truly remarkable and thank you for volunteering your time in and out of those sessions to assist each of us learning from you.

If you are looking for a group to support or looking to learn python, I recommend The Coders Who Travel Foundation They have supported all of us through these last 3 months and helped increase our capabilities using python. I am grateful to not just have learned from them, but to have gotten close to them as well. Truly incredible group of individuals and they deserve nothing but the best.

REVIEW

I could not have asked for a better way to not only learn python, but to meet amazing individuals in the process. Coders Who Travel popped up on my LinkedIn when I was tagged in a post where the group was looking for veterans to learn python. For that tag, I am extremely grateful. Over the course of 3 months, 5 instructors, 1 advisor, and 2 judges for the end of course project, I learned more than I ever thought I could. Within those 2 hours and 40 minutes of classes each week, I walked away with not only learning more about everyone in the program but learning more and more about python and its capabilities. Akua Oseiwah Ahenkorah , William Ampeh , Theophilus Siameh , Jiyad Ur Rehman , and Anitha Mutyala were spectacular instructors that had you leaving every class with something knew, something to think about, and more things to dive into outside of classes. They brought not only platform knowledge, but insight and application of python that can be seen within examples outside the sessions and classroom environment. The amount of time and dedication they volunteered to not only instruct, but to create material for teaching, was phenomenal and assisted in the development of my own knowledge. The materials will now be a part of my toolkit to continue taking with me into the future to continually develop my skills that they laid out the greatest foundation and more for.

While the classes were amazing, filled with information, and laid out in a way that could be understood easily and reviewed later, the facilitation of the sessions were notable as well. Thank you, Afia Owusu-Forfie , for being there every step of the way, learning with us, and ensuring things went as smooth as possible. Your dedication to the group, the instructors, and to the students of this course was welcoming and encouraging. You showed you not only cared for the course itself, but for everyone involved as well. Success comes from a group of individuals that work well together and you and your team really knocked this out of the park. Thank you for also taking in criticism with open arms to allow for continual success of this course.

Lastly, the end of course project. While it may have seemed, at first, like a lot and something that was not easily obtainable, The Coders Who Travel Foundation Who Travel adjusted as necessary to allow for all learners to develop on their specific areas to be able to complete the project with success. It was amazing to see the different approaches that could be taken and how everyone could alter the project to accommodate their own approaches with broad guidance and necessary things needing to be accomplished. It allowed for us to showcase what we learned and what we could do with python and for me, it showed me how I can use it to assist in those applicable situations within the workplace. Thank you as well to Bob Glass and Kelsey Farson Gray for being the judges of the end of course project, your time and assistance is greatly appreciated.