Ruth Burger

Ruth Burger, a January 2023 Cybersecurity Engineering graduate from Flatiron School, came from a background in the medical field, but a financial crisis motivated her to transition into tech.

Background

Ruth came from the medical field, holding an associate degree in Medical Assisting and a B.S. in Business Administration and Healthcare. She later earned her Certified Nurse Aide license to care for her daughter with special needs, using her medical background to be both an effective healthcare provider and a strong parent advocate. As her daughter’s needs became more manageable, Ruth began considering re-entering the professional workforce. A serious financial crisis in March 2022, combined with the challenges of being a single mother of three in a high cost-of-living area, motivated her to seek a new career path—one that offered strong pay, rapid upward mobility, and didn’t require earning a second college degree.

What Drew Her to Tech

Ruth has always recognized that technology shapes the modern world and touches every aspect of daily life, though she never imagined herself working in the tech field. That changed about two years ago when she began speaking with a friend who works in cybersecurity as a Red Team Advisor. Fascinated by his work, she developed a strong interest in penetration testing—the process of helping companies identify security weaknesses and determine how to mitigate risks and threats. While the idea sounded exciting, Ruth knew she would need to build additional skills and knowledge before stepping into the cybersecurity field.

Why She Chose Flatiron School

With less than a year before her family’s financial situation would become unstable, she knew she didn’t have time to return to college for another degree.

"Flatiron School's program seemed to meet all my educational needs—a shorter, fast-paced online program designed for beginners like me who were starting a tech career. It also had a strong reputation among technical and hiring professionals."

During the program, she loved learning to collaborate and work with an online cohort. 

"I believe my instructors wanted the best for each one of us in our learning experience and future careers and encouraged me to keep going every time I just wanted to quit and cry."

Job Search

She is often asked if Flatiron School places students into jobs after graduation, and people are usually surprised when she says "no." While employment isn’t guaranteed immediately after completing the program, she greatly values the support of a Flatiron career coach, who helps students navigate the often long and challenging job search process while providing encouragement every step of the way.

Job hunting has been one of the most discouraging experiences Ruth has faced—harder, in some ways, than school itself—but her coach cheered her on, helped her set goals, and kept her accountable.

Reflecting On Her Journey

At 40 years old, Ruth is a single mother of three who took a bold leap to make significant life changes in support of her family and career. Though still early in her cybersecurity career, she takes pride in her achievements to date and believes they will serve as a strong foundation for future success.

Looking back on her time at Flatiron School, Ruth’s biggest takeaway is believing in herself and knowing she can accomplish what once felt impossible.

"Don’t ever give up on yourself."

Her advice to Cybersecurity students is to remain resilient, even when the journey feels overwhelming. She notes that there will be moments of self-doubt and exhaustion, but the sense of accomplishment at the end makes every long day and late night worthwhile.

Summary: Finding Confidence at Flatiron School

Ruth's journey shows how Flatiron School empowers career changers to break into tech with confidence and purpose. Through an immersive curriculum, supportive instructors, and a collaborative cohorts, she not only gained technical skills but also built the resilience to push through challenges and believe in her potential.

Feeling inspired by Ruth’s experience? Take the first step toward your own career transformation and join a community that will cheer you on.

Apply Now and start writing your success story today. Want more real-life stories of people who made the leap into tech? Visit the Flatiron School blog.