Ending last year, I decided to take part in a round 100 Days Of Code Challenge. To know more about the challenge read this blog post by Quincy Larson or this article by Alexander Kallaway, which also explains in detail the foundations of the associated movement.
My plan is to fill the gaps of knowledge in software development and computer science, while building projects along the way. Also, as part of my public commitment I’ll be sharing my progress in github and will also be posting on Medium, at least once a week.
My background
I started learning HTML, CSS and Javascript in 2014 with tutorials in Codeacademy. At that time, programming seemed so simple with the lessons but horrifly complicated when creating projects. So, I unconsciously decided to stop learning and just do nothing.
Later on 2015, I’ve got interested again and learned python with an entire specialization in Coursera. The simplicity of the language caugth my attention and, even though the professor was really good explaining each lesson, my lack of effort made me lose the way and I stopped my learning again. But this time was different because it wasn’t just learning, it was practicing and sharpening the skills I got on previous courses. I didn’t have enough confidence in myself and in the path I had chosen so I simply left it without explanation.
Moving forward in mid 2016 I went back to learning web developmente with Free Code Camp and at the same time I entered in college in the faculty of Computer Science from Universidad de Oriente. That time I felt I wasn’t so bad in software development: it looked like my plan was going on well because much of the topics covered in class I already knew so it was easy to pass the year. Very wrong. Even with a slow pace in May of past year I throw aside all my projects and I didn’t pass one subject as well.
Last months of 2017 were critical for me and my whole country. College was open but working at half paced. I had time to think about what are my problems, what I really care and what I should focus on.
Entering #100DaysOfCode. Again
I’ve taken this challenge before, and my longest streak was something like 22 days before giving up. Like three times, and once was already this year. But this time I’m not going away and no matter what are the problems I will be facing.
My goal is to grasp as much about web development and computer science in general, and do other stuff along the way as improve my english and college grades. My complete plan is on github and if everything goes well, I’ll expect to get at least a freelance job.
This is the part of the story that becomes a little personal
I am somewhat terrified for the amount of work I decided to do and problems I didn’t choose to get. Things are going very bad here in Venezuela and it’s not going to improve in the short term, and combined with my mental problems this becomes a perfect time bomb I don’t want to exploit. I’ve noticed that programming is my only source of stability in this chaos. Maybe it’s impossible to complete my study plan but it’s something I want to do, I need to do and have to because as hard as it might sound, no one will ever do it for me. And in a way, it is fine.
As there’re factors and situations that determine the kind of opportunities one receive from life, there are also moments when one must make decisions and do the right things to change ones future reality. I don’t even know if someone will ever read this. I only want to look back at this post and said “Oh my… English was so bad and I was so dramatic!”. Of course, this isn’t only a blog post, it’s a public commitment for my current self, a reminder to recall what I really want to become and a motivation to keep coding until this post turn in a congratulations letter from my past.
So, here I go!
Before you leave
If you would love to read even more content like this, feel free to visit me on Twitter a place I usually share my life and thoughts, or just have a look at my website.
I'd love to count you as my ever-growing group of awesome friends! :)
See you the next time!
