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Author: elorm
June 13th 2024
In January 2019, I decided to focus on web development and become a frontend engineer. I was mostly inspired by one of my friends, cirlorm. This guy was basically a genius. I told myself if he can create these cool things, I can too! I was 💯 motivated.
Without watching any roadmaps or asking anyone for help on how to go about this, I started learning HTML and CSS. Note that I already had a little background in programming. I had been learning Blender and Unity 3D at the time, so I did have some basic concepts down. I also had some basic knowledge of the Python language, but I wasn't consistent with learning them. I was sorta up and down with it.
While learning HTML and CSS, I kept hearing about other technologies that intrigued me. I was so excited to see what people were building with these technologies that I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. However, I had no firm knowledge of some basics required to use those technologies. I decided to learn JavaScript without fully grasping the concepts of HTML and CSS. You can guess it was pretty rough for me. I struggled with JS a lot, and sometimes I didn't even know what I was doing (who does, though?). I was frustrated because when I learned a concept and understood it, I didn't apply those concepts to see if I could truly remember them. I just went ahead and said bluntly, "I am done with JavaScript."
I told myself, "I am done with JS" or "I know JS," but in actual fact, I couldn't even write a common function. It was so stressful that I couldn't understand certain things, so I basically gave up. In 2022, I then decided to learn Java. This was a "must" for me to learn because it was required for Computer Science students, and I was a CS student .I grew fond of it because of its strong typing system and the structured, rule-based nature of the language.. So I decided to focus on Java. I tried learning the basics, but again I was intrigued by the amazing desktop apps people were creating and how cool Spring Boot was!
I decided to watch some YouTube videos to gain some knowledge. I followed some tutorials and felt pretty confident while learning them. The problem was I was learning without practicing. I wasn't building any mini-projects to assimilate what I'd learned. When I finally sat down to build something on my own, I was completely LOST and mostly CONFUSED. This was all due to me not staying consistent. I was determined but not consistent.
This reduced my confidence, and I was giving up. February 2022 was the worst. I had the biggest breakdown. I completely gave up on everything, literally everything. I felt really useless. I told myself that was it for me, I was done for. It was actually hard.
How did I bounce back? I saw that I was behind. It seemed everyone was moving forward, and I was regressing. Again, I saw a project by cirlorm, and I was sort of motivated. I told myself this time I'm going to actually "DO IT". So I restarted watching tutorials on HTML and CSS again. This time, I told myself I would actually stick to it and learn it. Fast forward after 2-4 months, I actually understood what I was doing. I started building out clones of sites, and it was satisfying and amazing!
Then, I started learning JavaScript. Though it was a little bit annoying and kinda weird, it was cool too! I learned so many things from watching tutorials to reading docs. Then I finally had the confidence to learn React and other technologies. It was an easy transition for me, and I'm glad to have gone through all that to get to where I am. I keep learning every single day, and it's so amazing!
The point is learning doesn't stop. You keep learning and progressing. Even the pros still learn every day. So be consistent and determined. Learn one thing at a time, practice, practice, and practice until you're comfortable. There are roadmaps to becoming a frontend and backend developer. Follow them. Get comfortable with one before moving to another.
Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve with this language. Setting clear, achievable goals will help keep you motivated and on track.
Stick to a Schedule: Consistency is key. Dedicate a specific amount of time each day or week to learning and practicing the language.
Master the Basics: Ensure you have a solid understanding of the basics before moving on to more advanced topics.
Build Projects: Apply what you learn by building projects. Start small and gradually take on more complex projects.
Seek Feedback: Don't be afraid to ask for help or feedback from more experienced developers. This can provide valuable insights and help you improve.
Use Online Resources: There are countless tutorials, documentation, and communities available online. Use them to supplement your learning.
Stay Updated: Programming languages evolve. Keep yourself updated with the latest trends and best practices.
Remember, coding is something that should be repetitive. Don't rush it; take your time.
You can also check candies, where I've listed some tools and amazing people I learned from and am still learning from to get started.
Note: Do not be scared to ask for help or ask questions. Learning is always about asking questions.
Alright, see y'all soon. Don't forget to share this :)
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