Before starting the Data Science Bootcamp, each student had a different idea about what it would be like and how it was going to impact their life. Eight weeks later, I can assure you that none of us could have imagined how intense, inspiring and fruitful this experience was going to be. Coming from different countries and backgrounds, we were all very motivated to learn and get the most out of the experience.

The Bootcamp is divided into two periods, the first focused on subjects like math, statistics and programming to learn how to treat, acquire, visualize and understand data with Python. In addition, there are sessions about Agile to teach us how to get organized and work efficiently.

These first few weeks were very challenging. In the beginning we could just copy lines of code and make small changes to feel more like data scientists, without getting dreaded errors in the Python console 20 times a minute.

After seven weeks, the second period of the Bootcamp starts, which consists of SQL and Machine Learning along with improving essential skills like communication and storytelling. At this point, the situation is completely different from day one; we are able to relate the concepts and apply them with perspective as our mind is shaped by data language. We even started making geek jokes about stats and programming! (I’m still not sure how funny they actually are, but it certainly shows that we are enjoying and expanding our knowledge!)

This week, week eight, has been a turning point at the Bootcamp. The lectures moved from online to on-site, so I could finally meet the other students and professors in person! Of course, we made sure to properly celebrate this event by going out for some drinks and socializing outside of the IE University campus. The vibe is incredibly positive and I feel very lucky to be part of such an amazing group.

This week we also had the first internal presentation about the group Capstone Project, as training for Demo Day. Throughout the Bootcamp, we were completely supported and had plenty of help from the professors, so we are becoming more and more confident and feeling more prepared by the day. In addition, the professors provide constant, personalized feedback for every student so that each of us can follow our professional aspirations, which is amazing and incredibly valuable.

Going back to the title, you might ask yourself: why do you consider this experience life-changing? Leaving the best for the end: the answer is because of the resilience lectures given by Rodrigo Aguirre. As one can imagine, this program is based on data, so every detail has been taken care of—which can become very intense and stressful.

During these periods, Rodrigo helped us stop, clear our minds, find perspective and guide us down a path where we subconsciously started reflecting on our lives. He encouraged us to dig into the present, shed light on our feelings, discover our strengths and weaknesses, find purpose, and deal with uncertainty. 

The combination of self-discovery, the outstanding lectures and the career-shaping knowledge I have gained has certainly changed my life.