Even After Earning My Degree
A few years ago, I did something most people wouldn’t expect: I spent months going through an intensive software engineering bootcamp, graduated with a solid skill set in full-stack development, and then… I walked away from it. Not because I couldn’t do it. Not because I wasn’t good at it. I walked away because something deeper, something more meaningful, was calling me—and that was music.
To anyone on the outside, it might look like a strange move. I had just earned a new set of skills in an industry known for stability, great pay, and endless job opportunities. But for me, software engineering was never the final destination. It was a detour that gave me tools, discipline, and confidence—but my heart was always in music.
Here’s why I made the choice to follow that passion, and why I haven’t looked back.
The Journey That Brought Me Here
Before software, before music full-time, I was a U.S. Marshal for a decade. That career taught me a lot—how to lead, how to be calm under pressure, how to work with all types of people. But over time, I started feeling a disconnect between who I was and what I was doing every day. It wasn’t fulfilling anymore. I wanted to create, not just enforce. I wanted to build something that made people feel.
When I left federal law enforcement, I didn’t have it all figured out. I knew I was passionate about audio engineering and music, but I also knew I needed structure. That’s when I enrolled in the software engineering program at General Assembly. It was a way to challenge myself mentally, to sharpen new skills, and to open a door into a new world of problem-solving.
And I loved it—for a while.
Falling in Love with the Process… But Not the Product
The truth is, I enjoyed learning to code. I loved the structure, the logic, and the satisfaction of solving complex problems with elegant solutions. It scratched the same itch that audio engineering had always scratched for me—being in control of a system, shaping it, refining it.
But over time, I realized that while I loved the process of software development, I didn’t love the product. I didn’t wake up excited to build apps or write backend services. I didn’t feel the creative fire I felt when I sat down at my studio to write a song or produce a track. And that’s when it hit me: software gave me skills—but music gave me purpose.
Music Was Always More Than a Hobby
Even when I was in law enforcement, music was there in the background. I’d be up late at night writing, recording, producing for fun—just chasing sounds and stories. What started as a creative outlet eventually turned into a side hustle. And then the side hustle started getting serious.
I began producing for other artists. Writing songs that meant something. And eventually, licensing my music for TV shows and sports networks. Getting my music placed on Love Is Blind on Netflix and during MLB games wasn’t just a cool win—it was proof that this could be a real career. That my sound, my voice, my vision had a place in the industry.
Success Isn’t Always Linear
Leaving the safety net of tech might seem like a crazy move, especially in a world where people are chasing high salaries and job security. But for me, success isn’t just about a paycheck—it’s about alignment. It’s about waking up and loving what I do every day.
Music has given me that. It’s not always easy. It’s definitely not always predictable. But it’s real. I get to collaborate with amazing artists, tell stories through sound, and build something that’s 100% mine. And that’s a feeling no tech job could ever give me.
I Still Use My Software Skills—Just Differently
Just because I didn’t pursue a career in software engineering doesn’t mean that time was wasted. In fact, my coding background helps me run the business side of music more effectively. I built my own music website, I understand automation, I can read analytics, and I know how to use tools to streamline my creative workflow.
More importantly, that training taught me how to think critically, how to troubleshoot, and how to keep pushing when things don’t go as planned. Those lessons apply just as much in the studio as they do in software.
Chasing Passion with Purpose
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. People love to put others in boxes: “You’re the law enforcement guy.” “You’re the coder.” “You’re the musician.” But we’re more complex than that. We’re allowed to evolve.
My path has been anything but traditional. From federal law enforcement to coding to songwriting and producing—it’s all part of the same journey. Every phase taught me something. Every chapter built on the last.
Choosing music wasn’t about giving up on software. It was about choosing me. Choosing the version of myself that feels most authentic, most driven, and most alive.
If you’re standing at a crossroads in your life—between a “safe” path and a passionate one—just know this: you don’t have to choose what looks good on paper. Choose what feels good in your soul. You can always make sense of the path later. But that fire in your chest? That’s worth chasing.
For me, that fire was music. And it’s been the most rewarding, challenging, beautiful decision I’ve ever made.