Returning to Madrid, Rewriting My Future — One Line of Code at a Time
7 MINUTE READ
In this article:
🌇 Full Circle in Madrid
Why coming back to a city I love didn’t feel like progress—until I redefined what progress actually meant.
đź“ś Certificates, But No Job
From bootcamp grad to back in the classroom: the emotional toll of doing everything right and still feeling stuck.
📱 The Dopamine Spiral
Instagram, WhatsApp, plans-on-plans—what I did to feel busy before I got truly focused.
đź› Purpose Over Perfection
How a call to my twin and a mini identity crisis sparked this blog—and my plan to turn frustration into something useful.
Sunny, sexy Madrid, and a mini breakdown.
Walking down Madrid’s sunlit, cobbled streets, I felt a flicker of the love I once had for this city. But within four days, the stress of paperwork, flat hunting, and starting over left me overwhelmed—on the floor, emotional, and literally trying to ground myself in this new chapter.
After six years in England, I’d gone from ESL to teaching secondary history and languages. I loved weaving Viking sagas into lessons, talking about civil rights, the Vietnam War, but the pressure—parents, behaviour, endless marking —left me two dress sizes heavier and completely burned out. I didn’t just lose my social life. I lost myself.
Laura from CodeComprende smiling outside Plaza de Toros, bullring in Madrid
Certificates but no job.
I’d always done well in maths and loved project-based work, but coding? That felt like a world reserved for hoodie-wearing tech bros. It never even crossed my mind—until a friend landed a developer job after a bootcamp and I thought, maybe I could do it too. She wasn’t a genius, just determined. And that sparked something: maybe I could build a career that blends logic and creativity—and actually get paid well for it. Sure enough, I went on to complete a six-month bootcamp at the University of Birmingham, a professional certificate in UI Design, and finally a software development course by CodeFirstGirls. Done and dusted right? Nope.
The dopamine spiral
I had the certificates—but no coding job. So why was I back in Madrid teaching English again? It felt like I’d gone full circle… and not in a good way. I genuinely really enjoy teaching English and having my own students, but the mix of lack of career progression and post-move overwhelm quickly turned into hopelessness. Not exactly the vibe you want when trying to rebuild your life.
So, I chased quick dopamine hits: Instagram, TV, WhatsApp chats, over-planning. None of it helped. Eventually, I called my twin (as one does when one has a twin), and she said, “Why not turn this journey into an Instagram account?” Well, I didn’t. But this blog and website? The next best thing.
Purpose over perfection
I’ve learned I feel most alive when I have purpose—when I’m creating something that helps others and builds my future. So here I am: day 4 of being back in this beautiful city, starting fresh with code, and sharing the ride. Stick around for honest, useful posts that don’t assume your tech background—from someone who managed to teach about the fall of Saigon to teens on a Friday afternoon.
