Let’s Keep Climbing: My 2017 Coding Journey Recap
“The steeper the mountain, the harder the climb, the better the view from the finishing line.” -Paula Abdul
2017 is done and there is so much to look back on! Nope, I have not yet landed my first software developer role, but I have grown so much and accomplished so many things that I am even more excited and prepared for the day I finally get it.
If you are also on your way to becoming a professional software developer, remember that we all have our own paths, obligations, and obstacles. Remember that you are not alone. Getting a software developer role is HARD AF.
Some can get that software job right after a 3 month boot camp, others after 1 year of a curriculum, and for others like myself it takes a bit longer. It just takes a little more patience, determination, and time to get there. However, this year I had a little mind shift. I started living my dream life by contributing to open source and finding a long term project to collaborate on along other aspiring developers while I continue building up my skills.
2017 Highlights
All of the accomplishments did not come easy. This year I balanced a full time job, my health (mental and physical), relationship, friendships, family, and traveling. There was absolutely 0 downtime this year. But looking back, I am happy that I kept pushing through.
Below are my accomplishments that have gotten me to where I am so far:
- Made 707 Github contributions
- Completed the #100DaysOfCode Challenge
- Received my @FreeCodeCamp’s Front End Dev Certificate (and continued with curriculum)
- Started contributing to Open Source
- Attended my first hackathon
- Got one of my articles published by FreeCodeCamp’s Medium publication
- Attended 24 meetups
- Built 10 web applications
- Bought a custom domain, revamped, and secured my personal website
- Started deploying my full stack applications to Heroku
- Completed Udemy’s “ES6 Javascript: The Complete Developer’s Guide” course
- Read Eloquent Javascript
What do I want to accomplish in 2018?
Within the next year I want to be a software developer at a company where I can focus my energy, drive, creativity, and discipline towards building and enhancing products that empower and motivate lives. I want to continue learning good development practices while collaborating with other developers and strengthening a growth mindset.
2018 Goals (will add more throughout the year):
- Get my first full time software developer job
- Learn React and Redux
- Learn CSS Grid
- Write 4 Technical Posts
- Continue contributing to open source
- Attend another hackathon
I’ve learned that being a developer is continuous learning and growing. I want to push myself physically and mentally every day to be a better version of myself. A better friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend, coworker, engineer, and stranger.
Let’s keep pushing
People usually only see the completed project. But there is so much more to the project than just building. I went through different emotions when I felt like I was not going to be able to finish the project. How could I make something better that thousands of other people have already made? Why can’t I finish it as fast as others? But in the end, all that mattered is that I created it. That I spent the time and learned from building the application.
“Do not be embarrassed by your mistakes. Nothing can teach us better than our understanding of them. This is one of the best ways of self-education.” — Thomas Carlyle
Thanks to communities like freeCodeCamp , #100DaysOfCode, Women Who Code, and many others, I was reminded that others struggle as well and that it is part of the process. As long as you love what you do and enjoy creating, it is worth the commitment.
Cheers to 2018 and I wish you the best in your coding journey! I would love to hear what your learning and career goals are for 2018!
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Let’s be friends on Twitter. Happy Coding :)
