{"id":51928,"date":"2025-05-05T11:43:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T16:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=51928"},"modified":"2025-05-05T11:43:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T16:43:19","slug":"turning-setbacks-into-strengths-on-the-road-to-tech-meet-2025-graduate-brittany-sifford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/05\/05\/turning-setbacks-into-strengths-on-the-road-to-tech-meet-2025-graduate-brittany-sifford\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning Setbacks into Strengths on the Road to Tech | Meet 2025 Graduate Brittany Sifford\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Brittany<\/figure>\n
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When Brittany Sifford walked back into a classroom at Austin Community College, it wasn\u2019t just about finishing a degree\u2014it was about reclaiming a dream she once thought was out of reach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI originally started at ACC in 2014 but had to withdraw due to medical issues that went undiagnosed for years,\u201d she shares. \u201cReturning in 2021 was my second chance\u2014this time with a clear goal: to finish what I started and build a career in tech.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Now 31, Brittany is earning her Associate of Applied Science in Computer Programming. But for her, the degree represents more than academic achievement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis degree is more than a credential. It\u2019s a symbol of resilience, growth, and the support I found within the ACC community,\u201d she says. \u201cBefore returning to school, I spent nearly a decade navigating health challenges while working in the service industry. I was just trying to stay afloat and searching for a way forward. When the pandemic hit, I was laid off\u2014what felt like a setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise.\u201d<\/p>\n

That moment led her to ACC\u2019s Software Development Bootcamp through the College\u2019s Continuing Education Division, offered in partnership with Workforce Solutions. What started as a learning opportunity soon became something much bigger. Brittany not only transitioned into ACC\u2019s credit program\u2014she returned to the bootcamp as an instructor, mentoring students as they launched their own careers in tech.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was in those moments of teaching and mentoring that I really began to see what I was capable of,\u201d she says. \u201cI wasn\u2019t just learning how to code\u2014I was learning how to lead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brittany\u2019s leadership extended well beyond the classroom. As an active member of ACC\u2019s Women in Tech (WIT) community, she helped organize events and create inclusive spaces for students to connect, grow, and see themselves represented in the industry.<\/p>\n

In 2023, she was the only community college student selected for a prestigious Software Engineering internship at Q2, a major Austin-based fintech company. This summer, she\u2019ll continue her momentum with a Software Engineering internship at CDK Global while pursuing a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Software Development.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so proud to represent ACC and show what\u2019s possible,\u201d Brittany says. \u201cBeing selected for that internship was a defining moment\u2014it confirmed that I belonged in this field and that ACC students are ready to contribute on big stages.\u201d<\/p>\n

With graduation in sight, Brittany stands at a milestone she once thought she might never reach.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis moment represents more than academic progress\u2014it\u2019s proof that persistence pays off, even when the journey takes longer than expected,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019ll always be part of the ACC community, and I\u2019m ready to give back in every way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her advice to others: \u201cDon\u2019t compare your journey to anyone else\u2019s. It\u2019s never too late to start\u2014or restart. Be open to growth, ask for help, and lean on this community. That\u2019s what helped me get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about the program, visit austincc.edu\/csit<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Brittany Sifford walked back into a classroom at Austin Community College, it wasn\u2019t just about finishing a degree\u2014it was about reclaiming a dream she once thought was out of reach. \u201cI originally started at … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3930,"featured_media":51929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13,15,17,19],"tags":[1721,2180,426,4145,4146],"class_list":["post-51928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-and-community","category-current-students","category-facstaff-news","category-news-and-announcements","category-students-and-alumni","tag-computer-science","tag-congrats-grads","tag-information-technology","tag-spring-2025-commencement","tag-spring-2025-graduation"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51928\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}