The following account was shared by Rudy Rigot, Principal Software Engineer at Salesforce and CodePath volunteer.
I’ve spent years volunteering in the tech community. After CodeNation closed, where I had been volunteering, I found myself without a home. CodeNation’s focus was teaching high schoolers, and when they had to stop operations, it was heartbreaking for everyone involved. Fortunately, through my connections there, I heard about CodePath, and I immediately signed up. Their mission to make tech education accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity deeply resonated with me.
I’ve always believed that education, especially in tech, can be a game-changer for people who may not have had the chance to attend prestigious institutions. The tech industry can be difficult to break into, even for those who are eager to succeed, and I wanted to be part of that journey for students. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer with CodePath’s Technical Interview Prep Coach program.
This program gave me the opportunity to work with students on mock exercises focused on data structures and algorithms—the kind of challenges that come in technical interviews. For five weeks, I coached multiple student groups, guiding them through problems and helping them refine their interview skills. One thing I always stressed to them was that it wasn’t about finding the perfect solution—it was about showing how they think and approach a problem. It’s all about the process.
I was constantly impressed by the motivation and determination the students brought to the table. They showed up eager to learn, and I never had to push them to be present. They were already driven, and if that’s how they approach every challenge, I know they’ll be incredibly successful. It felt immensely gratifying to contribute to their success and be a part of their journey.
Looking back, volunteering has given me so much more than I ever expected. I started doing it out of curiosity and a desire to help, but over time, it became a source of deep fulfillment. It’s now a big part of why I go to work every day. Helping others through volunteering has given my career meaning in ways I never anticipated.
One thing that really stood out to me about CodePath is the incredible support they provide for volunteers. When you first join, there’s a bit of a learning curve as you get comfortable with the content, but the team at CodePath makes sure you’re never on your own. They offer training, documentation, and constant support to every volunteer. Even the students were understanding when I was figuring things out in the beginning. It was a little scary at first, but now that I’ve done it, there’s really no reason to be intimidated. It’s a rewarding experience, and I felt like I could still be very useful to the students, even as I was learning alongside them.
If I had one message for anyone in the industry, it would be this: If you’ve ever wished you had more help when you were starting out, now’s your chance to provide it for someone else. Volunteering can change your life, just as much as it changes the lives of the students you help.