This chapter delves into the journey of transitioning from IT contracting to joining the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit, focusing on the speaker's motivation to express creativity through programming. It explores the challenges and rewards of the 10-month course at the academy, emphasizing self-learning and the practical experiences gained through creating apps for portfolios. The chapter also discusses the significance of Swift Playgrounds in easing beginners into coding and app development, as well as the insights gained from teaching Xcode and mentoring students.