Darcy

For eight years, Darcy stood at the front of a middle school science classroom, guiding students through labs and lessons. But when the pandemic forced her into remote teaching, she found herself both burnt out and unexpectedly drawn to the technology she was using. This led Darcy to explore the software development program at Wilbur Wright College. It offered the hands-on, career-focused curriculum she wanted.

“I’d already been through school once. This time, I wanted to learn what I needed to get into a job,” she shared. “My professors were focused on exactly that—helping you develop the skills to start your career.”

Wright’s supportive environment also played a key role. One of Darcy’s greatest supporters was Professor Gustavo Alatta, who encouraged her to pursue apprenticeship opportunities and connected her with the Wright Career Center.

“Professor Alatta would tell me whenever something opened up—‘You should apply for this.’ Having someone who believed in me and pushed me made all the difference,” Darcy said.

Darcy applied, interviewed, and was ultimately selected for a yearlong part-time Junior Scrum Master apprenticeship at CNA, a commercial insurance company in downtown Chicago. A Scrum Master is someone who removes roadblocks, keeps the team on track, manages schedules, and helps ensure software development runs smoothly. Her background in teaching turned out to be a perfect fit.

“The role has a lot of coaching built in. You’re helping a team learn processes and work efficiently. My teaching experience translated really well.”

At CNA, Darcy is surrounded by mentorship and support. She meets weekly with designated mentors and takes part in networking sessions and coffee chats designed for apprentices.

Recently, Darcy was invited to speak on a student panel at Wright’s Computer Science Fair. Just a year earlier, she sat in the audience. Now, she was offering advice, reassurance, and encouragement to students hoping to follow a similar path.

“One student came up afterward and hugged me,” she recalled. “They told me something I said really resonated because they were anxious about starting their career. That felt incredible. It really was a full-circle moment.”

With only one class left, Darcy is close to completing her Software Development AAS—and she’s already imagining life after graduation. Her goal? To turn her apprenticeship into a full-time role. Looking back, Darcy is grateful she chose to start over—and grateful for the people who helped her along the way.