For anyone who wants to learn to code the first step can be the scariest.
We begin to ask ourselves questions such as “Is it even worth it?” or “What are the benefits of learning how to code?”.
I know exactly how you feel and I want to share exactly what I did to learn coding for web development.
What led me to this thing called coding?
My journey to learning how to code hasn’t been a simple story to tell.
In fact, it’s more of a rollercoaster ride of inconsistency.
What I can say is…
Whatever I learned in the past has been a building block to where I am today, and where I am going.
When I think back I wonder “where did I get my start in code?” .
Come to think of it I have been working on websites for sometime now.
I would estimate at least 4 years in the world of web and design.
Where it all began
I really got my start in web design in college through a colleague.
As time progressed I made some connections with the founder of 4THPARK who first introduced me into the world of web design.
This was the moment that peaked my interest.
This eventually led to a mentorship with the founder and working on small projects and learning the ins and outs of design.
During that time I began to pick up a few clients and working on my own projects.
I learned to “build” websites from WordPress, at least what I thought was building.
And this is where I really got my hands dirty.
I was completing jobs and digging into the trenches of learning the CMS (Content Management System) of WordPress as well as web design.
Guess this is what you would call getting your feet wet.
Eventually I went on my own to build my own company, named Candysium.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of inconsistent clientele, I needed another way to support my basic needs.
You know, things like where to live, what to eat, that sort of thing.
So I had to get a part time job. : (
Getting caught up I focused a lot on the job and started getting promotions which led to me doing less web design work and projects.
Yet, in the back of my mind I was still interested in the tech world and felt I had more to contribute to this field.
Why I Wanted To Learn To Code
It wouldn’t stop, I kept thinking of how to progress and gain a better quality of life.
I think when it boils down to it there were 2 main reasons why I really wanted to learn to code.
- Make more money
- Feel more valuable in my work
1. Make more money
Let’s be honest coding is a great way to raise your salary and your income, and frankly I was getting tired…
Tired of doing jobs that I felt left me struggling from paycheck to paycheck.
They didn’t even give me the ability to pay my bills without the aid of a roommate.
I heard and did my own research that a job in the tech field, specifically as a coder, allows you to dramatically change your financial status.
Want to find out? Just check out this post on becoming a front end web developer
If I could only increase my income I felt I would be able to live a better life and not have to struggle in every unpredictable moment that happens in life.
A little more cash in my bank account would allow me to be a little more prepared.
And honestly find a little more comfort out of the things we enjoy in life, like buying your favorite brand of milk at the store.
Yes I know I said milk, it’s the little things in life that makes us happy.
2. Feel valuable in my work
Have you ever felt like you were capable of more than what you’re doing at your current job?
That’s how I felt.
I knew I was smart and capable of doing more than what my current job title said I did.
I was tired of cleaning toilets, literally, and wanted to get back into the world of web.
After graduating from college and working at jobs that barely paid enough to support me, I felt like I was failing at life and college didn’t help me to succeed.
Yet, I still knew I was smart enough to have a high paying job and web development was a way for achieving that dream.
However, I felt like I wanted to know and learn more about web design.
Working with WordPress and the different themes I felt limited to what I could do.
Especially when a client had special requests to make any changes to the theme.
The only thing I could do was what theme enabled me to.
It didn’t help neither when I didn’t know how to manipulate the theme well.
I desired to build my own websites, but wasn’t sure what that meant, or how to do that.
Then I discovered I needed to learn how to code in order to build my own website from scratch.
Ironically, I tried once in my early college years, but failed miserably.
I took an online course and found other free online resources.
But I felt as if I was reading gibberish.
I mean none of the content made any sense.
What Hindered Me From Learning To Code
Years have now passed since then and I felt I was ready to tackle on this subject again.
This time I approached it with an open mindset to figure out how this coding thing truly works.
I was tired of just learning different things and wanted to focus on one skill.
I think was the main reason why I never grasped the concepts of web development.
More importantly I didn’t stay committed to devoting my full attention to truly learning how this thing works.
In my recent years I learned two things that enables anyone to learn whatever they desire…
- Consistency
- Repetition
These two words are truly what seperate the greats from the average.
Who is willing to remain consistent in learning something until they truly become proficient in that skill.
The second aspect to becoming proficient in a skill is the art of repetition.
It is said repetition is the mother of skill.
Think about it…
How many things have you done so much that you don’t even have to think about what you’re doing.
An unnoticed skill is driving.
how often do we drive operating many things all while not thinking about changing gears, braking, watching other drivers, texting and making calls.
I’ve even seen ladies putting on makeup while driving, as if texting wasn’t dangerous enough.
But the point is we have done it so much that we dont have to conciously think what we need to do.
Overtime devoting your time to a skill in coding you will eventually understand the basics and more advanced techniques in code will be easier.
Once I understood this I knew what I had to do.
How Learning To Code Finally Made Sense
Yet all in all, it seemed like coding just made sense though.
I think once I set in my mind that I wanted to learn how to code, my brain opened up to grasp the concepts.
Or maybe team treehouse did a great job at breaking down the concepts for me.
But believe me I definitely watched many tutorials many times (repetition).
The Steps I Took To Learn To Code
So with this interest I remembered a learning platform on this website called Treehouse.
I decided to look them up again and see what they were about.
They had a trial version for 7 days so I decided to do it, and I absolutely loved the style in which they teach the material.
It seemed to all just click.
It’s weird, everything I was struggling before just made sense now.
I think it helps how they present the material too.
The membership fee was $25 dollars a month.
Where I usually hesitate to pay for things, I felt this was an investment to my future and I couldn’t pass up on this deal.
Especially with all the great content they provide.
I mean since I been taking the courses I have really begun to grasp the material and I even learned how to create a website from scratch and host it.
Taking the courses I have learned how to code and actually enjoy the idea of building websites.
How long it took me to learn how to code
I think my inner me enjoys finding out how things work and operate and front end web development resonates with me.
So with Treehouse I learned that the track that fits best for what I have been doing for years, and what could help me in the future, is Front End Web Development.
Now I am learning, or am becoming, a Front End Web Developer.
It’s actually fun trying to figure out how to layout a page and even finding problems within the code.
I have even begun to see how code can play a role in everything I encounter in life.
The goal to become a web developer
I haven’t mastered javascript just as yet but I have boarded the ship and am sailing towards that great code.
So, I think that sums it up for now. My start and my progress as it is of today.
Everyday is another building block to this great house of knowledge.
Studying to become a Front End Web Developer is my goal to, dare I say it, YES I will, be great in this field and enjoy it.
Conclusion: Where I’m at now
I want to see how my life turns when I focus on one skill and develop it really well.
I feel this is a good path I’m going down and will help me out for the long term in my life and career.
I’m actually excited to think what my skills in this field can contribute to people and businesses!