From DevOps Engineering to Full-Stack Development: Derrick’s Journey at Fullstack Academy

For five years, Derrick Owusu was the person who made sure applications reached production smoothly. As a DevOps engineer, he built the pipelines, managed the deployments, and kept everything running. But every app that went through his hands raised the same question:

How do you actually build this?

That question led Derrick to Fullstack Academy's part-time software development bootcamp. Now he can take an idea all the way from the first line of code to live deployment. Here's how he got there.

At a Glance

A Non-Traditional Path Into Tech

Derrick didn't start in computer science. He earned a bachelor's degree in administration, then moved into DevOps engineering, where he spent about five years working on the infrastructure side of software.

The work taught him a lot about how applications run in the real world: how they're shipped, scaled, and maintained. But he always worked with someone else's code.

I worked as a DevOps engineer, and I was mostly involved in the deployment of applications. And at the time, I just wanted to know how to build applications myself.

He didn't need a career reset. He wanted to finish the picture. Since he already understood the “ops" half of the software lifecycle, learning to develop would let him own a product from start to finish.

Why Fullstack Academy?

Derrick wanted a program that would teach him to build modern applications without making him leave his job. The part-time format let him keep working while he learned.

He also wanted to learn tools that teams actually use today:

For someone coming from DevOps, where tools change constantly, that was important. He wanted skills that would still matter on day one of his next role.

The Bootcamp Experience: Challenging, Then Rewarding

Derrick says the early weeks were demanding.

Initially, it was a bit challenging, as it's a boot camp. There was a lot of information.

Many bootcamp students go through the same thing. The pace is fast, there's a lot to learn, and it's easy to try to study everything at once. Derrick admits that's what he did at first:

I had to readjust my time and also focus on a couple of things, because I think I was just studying everywhere.

His takeaway for future students: don't try to learn everything at once. Prioritize, set a schedule, and focus on what the curriculum asks of you. Once Derrick made that change, things started to come together.

The Highlight: Discovering React

The biggest moment for Derrick was learning React, the JavaScript library behind many of the web's most popular interfaces.

React didn't stay inside the classroom. It became his default tool for the personal projects he's building now.

Learning by Building

Derrick also valued how hands-on the program was. Students weren't just listening to lectures.

Building real applications gave him the practice that turns concepts into skills, and it helped him start a portfolio while still in the program.

Instructors and TAs Who Made the Difference

When asked about the instructional team, Derrick didn't hesitate:

They were awesome. They really took time to explain all the concepts.

He also called out his teaching assistant, who helped him beyond the scheduled sessions:

Derrick's TA didn't just give him answers. He helped Derrick figure out how to learn. For a career changer, that may be the most valuable skill a bootcamp can teach, because the tech stack will keep changing long after graduation.

Career Support That Doesn't End at Graduation

Derrick met Fullstack Academy's career success coach, Leonna, during the program. One thing she told the cohort stuck with him: career support doesn't stop on graduation day.

She was telling us that even after the course, they help you up to a year, which I think is very great, because by then you would have settled and you would know the path you want to take.

Derrick is using that time well. Before working closely with Career Services, he's finishing a set of portfolio projects so he can start his job search with strong work to show. With up to a year of support available, he can do that without rushing.

The DevOps + Full Stack Advantage

This is where Derrick's story stands out. Most bootcamp graduates are new to deployment. Derrick has years of experience in it.

Developers who can also handle CI/CD, cloud infrastructure, and production deployments are valuable on any team. Derrick doesn't hand off his code and hope it ships. He understands the full lifecycle.

His plan for the next stage is clear:

• Keep building: continue working on personal projects, with React at the center.

• Go enterprise: find a full-stack developer role that offers “the enterprise experience to work on larger applications."

• Combine strengths: bring development and DevOps skills together in a way few early-career developers can.

Derrick's Advice for Future Students

For anyone unsure whether a bootcamp is worth it or which program to choose, Derrick recommends Fullstack Academy:

Fullstack Academy is a good institution. The instructors are really good, and the courses use modern tools and technologies.

He also pointed to the collaboration and career support:

It's a great place. You learn to work together, as it's in teams. You have career success, which will help you get a job if you're looking for a job.

And his recommendation is broad:

I would really recommend Fullstack Academy to anyone who wants to go into full-stack development, or I think they have other courses: cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI.

Key Takeaways From Derrick's Journey

1. Your background is an asset. Derrick's DevOps experience didn't become irrelevant. It now sets him apart as a developer.

2. Focus beats volume. Bootcamps move fast. Prioritizing what matters works better than studying everything at once.

3. Hands-on learning works. Building real applications during the program helps the skills stick and starts your portfolio.

4. Lean on your support team. Instructors, TAs, and career coaches are there to help you learn, so use them.

5. Career support is a long game. Up to a year of post-graduation support lets you build a portfolio and job search on your own timeline.

Watch Derrick's full testimonial to hear more about his experience at Fullstack Academy.

Looking for more testimonials from real students? Explore the Fullstack Academy Reviews page.