Pedro Martin

Software Engineer, Red Badger

London

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, I started as a Science Teacher, then jumped to a charity to improve social integration in the slums. I arrived in London in 2013 and worked as an industrial abseiler to save money to do a Web Development course, which I finished at General Assembly in 2015 and they were crazy enough to hire me as a Teacher Assistant. I am still teaching, now as an Instructor, so the circle is completed.

IN CONVERSATION WITH PEDRO:

What is your favorite technical skill to work with on your own projects and why?

My favourite technical skills to work with on my projects are JavaScript and Rust. Initially, I found JavaScript challenging and "hated each other." Still, I consciously decided to master it for my final project at General Assembly (GA). This deliberate effort transformed it into a skill I deeply value. Learning the fundamentals of languages like Ruby and JavaScript allows one to transition into other technologies because the underlying principles work simultaneously, with only syntax differences. For example, I could pick up PHP and Laravel, even though I had never touched PHP before, and the same for Python and Kotlin simply by applying my knowledge of Ruby and JavaScript.

My favourite technical skills to teach students are JavaScript Development and Front-End Web Development. What's most important to me is how knowledge is provided and the environment in which it's delivered. I believe in exploration education, a philosophy where students learn by doing, embrace and learn from their mistakes, and anchor new knowledge to their own experiences. This approach is crucial because it goes beyond mere content and empowers students to grasp and apply what they learn.

The pedagogical approach and supportive environment are most important to me in teaching technical skills at the General Assembly. As a former science teacher, I firmly believe that the most important thing is "not the content itself, but it's the way you provide that content as well as the environment you provide that content in". GA's focus on exploration education deeply resonates with me, as it encourages students to learn by doing, learn from their mistakes, and anchor knowledge to their own experiences. The learning experience can be "tough" due to constant problem-solving and long hours. Instructors must be aware of and address learning code's emotional and frustrating aspects, fostering a space where students feel comfortable sharing their emotions, code, and questions with peers. This collaborative and empathetic environment is key to helping students overcome challenges and see everything "clicking" in the long term.

My biggest advice for anyone looking to learn technical skills to reach new career goals is to be prepared to put in significant effort and extra hours. These courses, or any learning endeavour, "only give you what you put into it". You must be willing to deal with bugs and frustrations. If you are unprepared for this sustained effort, then learning code "is not for you". Furthermore, to navigate the inherent difficulties of coding, it's essential to be curious and possess both seriousness and a good sense of humour. Changing careers, as I did when I left Venezuela and reset my life, requires a complete commitment and a willingness to embrace new challenges.

Outside of teaching, I highlight my rapid transition into professional software development and adaptability across different technologies. Two months after graduating from General Assembly's Web Development Immersive course, I secured my first professional developer contract as a Support Engineer, working on e-commerce sites built with Ruby on Rails. Subsequently, I worked as a junior web developer for a digital advertising agency. I quickly delivered projects like building Slack bots to automate client recruitment processes. A key highlight is my ability to quickly learn new programming languages, such as PHP, Python, Kotlin, and Rust, despite having no prior experience with them. My foundational understanding of Ruby and JavaScript, taught at GA, allowed me to understand that the underlying logic "works the same" and only the "syntax, or the way you name things, are different". This demonstrates my practical application of core technical concepts and continuous growth as a Tech lead consultant

WHAT PEDRO’s STUDENTS ARE SAYING...

”Pedro was an amazing instructor to have had - couldn’t wish for a better instructor. He was patient, kind, friendly. He took the time for all of us on the course and made my experience very enjoyable. I have learnt a lot and it is down to him.”