Seduced by the Dark Arts of Coding
On one beautiful Chicago evening (a long time ago before the quarantine era) I recall the first time my friends who were either programmers or software engineers started the topic I dreaded. CODING.
“What languages do you know?”
“What language do prefer? Which language do you think is more versatile?”
Java….Ruby…..Perl….Python…..and more alien words were passed back and forth like watching a smooth game of ping pong. I would make a futile effort to understand and join the dialogue only to find myself feeling intelligently inferior. Alas, a friend swooped in just in time and transitioned the conversation to a more inclusive subject (movies!). My poker face game must have been pretty weak, but in this case scenario it actually bailed me out.
Lets rewind:
I always anticipated that I will end up taking a path towards subjects within humanities, such as arts, history, ethics, and literature. Even though STEM subjects always fascinated me, computer and information technology science seemed way over my head and so I kept a safe distance.
In order to continue perusing my degree in the Windy City, I had to wear many hats but, lucky for me my multitasking skills are on the next level. Being a jack of all trades and holding many different roles prompted my major in Business Management to dig deeper into the functional areas of business.
I chose my degree based on my strengths and motivators.
- Gathering the right data and information.
- Having a good approach or system for problem-solving.
My to major in Business Management and my minor in Finance never thought I would actually have the guts to enter the world of coding. One day driving in my car I was listening to a podcast talking about Data Science and I started to think of all my friends who did put themselves through a coding boot camp. That day I promised myself that I would tell my idea of signing up for Data Science Bootcamp out loud to my partner. I figured that once I say it, the idea will transform into a first step. That same week I did research on different data science immersive programs and General Assembly is the one that stood out to me. After applying and interviewing at General Assembly, I was sure that this is the path I want to take. With this brand new confidence and courage, coding suddenly didn’t seem so scary but rather exciting!
One month prior to starting the program, I prepared myself by studying python basics, sharpening my SQL skills, and most importantly, sharing the exciting news with my friends and family. With everyone’s support and encouragement, I knew there is no other option but to succeed!
