I am at the half-way point of my 12-week training classes at Code Academy in Chicago. There is so much to learn and so little time. My days, evenings, and weekends are packed, pushing my brain to the limit and beyond. Without my mentor, a brilliant female software developer, I might be lost. Well maybe not lost, but certainly struggling more than I already am.
So you think I’m having a bad time of it, eh?
Not true! I am enjoying the ups, facing the downs, and tickled pink at the “ah-ha” moments.
Struggling is not a bad word in the world of software development. It is a necessity. If you don’t have the patience to commit to the struggle, exhaust the possibilities, ask for help, be humble, and open your mind, then you probably don’t have it in you to be a coder for the long haul.
For those of us who really do like programming, part of the joy is embracing the unknown, overcoming a multitude of obstacles, sharing, collaborating and commiserating, until we finally get to see the end-result, pieced together increment by tiny increment.
Another part of the joy of coding is that we get to do it over and over again, taking on new challenges and hopefully, increasing our knowledge-base. With software development, one can never know it all. It’s a rapidly moving target. There is always more to learn. And most of the time, the change is good.
That’s why I reckon my personal experience so far has been mostly positive, eye-opening, humbling, exhilarating, energizing, and fun. Yes, fun! I think that’s a pretty good start.
