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Kara Luton 🩰👩🏼‍💻
Kara Luton 🩰👩🏼‍💻

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I’m Kara Luton, UI Engineer and Former Ballerina. Ask Me Anything!

Hey CodeNewbies!

I’m Kara Luton: UI @ CrowdStrike and former ballerina. I was excited to join @saron on Season 17 episode 2 of the CodeNewbie Podcast! Listen to the show here...

play pause CodeNewbie Podcast

If any questions about what we discussed on the show or my background came up for you, I’d love to answer them!

Here are a few things about me to kick things off...

  • I’m a bootcamp graduate
  • I love making CSS art on CodePen
  • When I was a kid I auditioned for an Oscar Meyer commercial but refused to sing the jingle

Ask me anything in the thread below after you listen to S17E2. Enjoy!

Latest comments (6)

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gracie profile image
Gracie Gregory (she/her)

Hi Kara! If you had to pick one, what is your proudest moment as an engineer — and as a ballerina?!

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karaluton profile image
Kara Luton 🩰👩🏼‍💻

As a ballerina it was getting a traineeship with The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. A traineeship is the first step to becoming a professional and although I didn't go down that path it taught me so much!

As an engineer my proudest moment is looking back and seeing how far I've come with my skills. Especially when it comes to JavaScript.

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mccurcio profile image
Matt C

Wow, I would love to have sang the Oscar Meyer anthem. haha.

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karaluton profile image
Kara Luton 🩰👩🏼‍💻

My mom was very disappointed in me that I would not sing it 😂

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mccurcio profile image
Matt C • Edited

Just imagine, you name forever linked to the Oscar Meyer wiener ad. LOL.
Could be good AND bad? lol

I saw you are a bootcamp grad. Which one? Did you like it...
Do you think a Bootcamp is worth it? I have always toyed with the idea but the cost put me off. I refuse to spend money on something I can do myself. The down side of personal education is that the "course work" can be less directed than a bootcamp. What do Non-bootcampers miss by not going?
Your thoughts?

Thread Thread
 
karaluton profile image
Kara Luton 🩰👩🏼‍💻

I am! I graduated from The Iron Yard back in 2016. Unfortunately, they are no longer around. Back then there weren't as many online resources to be able to teach myself which is part of the reason why I decided to do a bootcamp. I also had previous experience with online school and having to teach myself and wasn't a huge fan of that.

There are definitely pros and cons to bootcamps. You do get that course work that is predefined so you have a path you're going along which is hard to get with self teaching.

For me personally, going to a bootcamp was totally worth it. Yes, it did cost a pretty penny but the return on investment for me was worth it. I definitely know it was a privilege that I could drop everything and go. Not everyone is able to do that.

Thankfully now there are a lot more resources available online so if you're fine with teaching yourself you can totally replicate the feel of going to a bootcamp!