To learn coding is about not giving up
I am now more than halfway through Technigo’s 6-month frontend Bootcamp! I feel excited, happy, thrilled and a bit worried at the same time.
So far there have been many joyful moments and it is sometimes easy to forget how much I have actually learned in only 4 months! It has nevertheless also been moments of frustration when I try to correct my code 699 times and the same error occurs. Or still, feel like Redux is an endless puzzle, I will never be able to solve…
Here are some of my learnings so far:
1. Life becomes all about the code!
My daily routine is a mix of coding problems that I have not yet solved and the current series I binge-watch to calm down after a full day of coding. Right now I am watching Vikings. Let me tell you, this combination leads to some strange dreams at night…
All my plans are only about when what, and how to code in order to finish each week's project. To be 100% involved and dedicated, is both the beauty and the beast. Because it is a great feeling when I am in coding-flow and forget time and space. However, it is easy to forget to take breaks, feel overloaded, and not become too hard on yourself when things do not go as planned.
2. The supporting network is gold.
To go through an intense Bootcamp as amongst other challenges in life requires you having people around that see your efforts, helps you out and gives you energy. That also makes you realize that life is about having a fun laugh, be relaxed and enjoy yourself!
I notice that sharing these feelings with other people outside and within the Bootcamp helps. It can sometimes be difficult to view the progress objectively when you put 100% energy and effort into the Bootcamp. Being part of a community makes me feel more safe knowing, that someone goes through the same thing.
3 In learning to code, you need to talk about code.
This is actually the hardest task for me so far. I went through 5 years of the university being afraid of saying the wrong thing. Some kind of wall has been put up, and now I doubt myself talking about the code I have written. Sometimes I also simply feel so lost I do not even know where to begin to formulate a question.
This is where teamwork and being part of a community make me feel safer. I can express myself a bit more freely and questions about the code, and take advantage of each other knowledge and experiences.
Technigo encourages us to find ourselves a code coach in the program. At first, I was terrified of contacting someone asking them to voluntarily spend their free time talking to me about code….
I am so glad I did because the payoff is amazing. I ended talking to my code coach for two hours over the Easter holiday. Discussing what a fetch from an API actually does… Now we meet for a two hours digital code session every Sunday to talk code. It really shows how supportive the coding community really is ❤
4. Getting used to being outside the comfort zone.
I constantly push myself out of the comfort zone with my fellow code-campers. Where everyone’s “zone of comfort” is of course different.
For me, it is about being able to reach out to people for help. To dare to be vulnerable and not feeling like I am “disturbing” this person. I have many knowledgeable people around me, which I am very grateful for. I am learning more and more how to put these unnecessary thoughts aside and learn not to give up until I solve the coding problem I have been struggling with.
Many of my fellow boot campers inspire me in many ways. I know they are all pushing themselves out of their different “comfort zones”, and mainly, they do not give up. They are okay with showing they don’t understand everything and recognize that it is a journey.
Finally, the most important learning is to laugh when things are a bit rocky. To keep calm and carry on coding.
