Lecture Notes: Interview with Hiroko Nishimura

Introduction

• Host: Quincy Larson, teacher and founder of freecodecamp.org
• Guest: Hiroko Nishimura, special ed teacher turned system administrator turned technical instructor
• Background: Diagnosed with a vascular tumor in her brain, had life-saving surgery, and still lives with disabilities.

Childhood and Early Life

• Born in Kyoto, Japan, moved to the US at age 7 due to father's job.
• Cultural shock upon arriving in the US; did not know English or the alphabet.
• Struggled with adjusting to a new school and culture, eventually learned English quickly after a month of school.
• Education path: Started in first grade in the US, mainstreamed into advanced classes by third grade.

Experiences with Technology

• Early interest in technology and coding was sparked by fandom around anime and fan sites.
• Learned HTML and CSS in middle school but abandoned coding after high school for a career in education due to parental influence.
• Diagnosed with a brain tumor during college, leading to life changes and a reconsideration of career options.

Career Journey

• Completed Bachelor's and Master's in Special Education despite health challenges.
• Initially told by neurologist that she may never work again; defied expectations by seeking a desk job after school.
• Moved to New York City to pursue new opportunities, faced challenges in finding a job with limited experience.
• Worked in IT support roles, eventually realized her potential in technical writing and instruction.

Transition to Technical Instruction

• Started creating how-to articles for personal use, which caught attention and led to opportunities with LinkedIn Learning.
• Focused on teaching AWS certifications and created popular resources for beginners.
• Emphasized the importance of learning in public and sharing knowledge with others.

Impact and Community Engagement

• Created the AWS Newbies Community, helping over 500,000 people through her LinkedIn Learning courses.
• Recognized as an AWS Hero for her contributions to the community.
• Discussed the importance of quality content and the supportive feedback from learners.

Personal Insights and Challenges

• Navigated challenges of motherhood while managing a technical career.
• Discussed financial planning and the importance of health insurance due to medical history.
• Emphasized the need for a balanced approach to spending on family needs versus savings.

Conclusion

• Encouraged being proactive in personal finance and transparency in relationships related to money.
• Stressed the importance of finding a career that aligns with personal passions and strengths.
• Advised potential content creators to consider the risks and benefits of different platforms for sharing knowledge.