What's it Like to Become a Coder?
Before I took the leap into tech and started learning with The School of Code, I was a Chef. Each team that I had been part of within the kitchens had usually been a series of people frantically rushing around the place as though it was on fire - only to do it all again the next day. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy my time as a Chef, in fact some days I loved it, but it was entirely stressful. Being a recent graduate I’ve been fairly naive to any industry outside of hospitality and since starting my journey, something that has really stood out for me is how programmers act. It seems as though they maintain a positive outlook and approach situations with an open mind. Obviously there are always times of stress, that is unfortunately unavoidable, yet as far as what I’ve experienced; a day in the life of a coder seems to be incredibly fulfilling.
Why is it that coding seems to bring an air of collectedness? I believe there are clear reasons why, reasons that I am glad to be merging with my own initial skill set. The secret to coding confidence lies with the ability to break down problems and embrace unfamiliar waters. These are so paramount in a coders day-to-day that assimilation into personal life is something that happens naturally. The two aforementioned macro factors come with a variety of micro factors that are all very useful in life outside of work. I’m talking about being resourceful, planning, teamwork and believe it or not - knowing when to take a break.
With coding comes a large community of fellow coders ready and willing to help if they can. This is ultimately a huge resource that can alone fill a newbie coder with confidence - as we all know - whatever the problem, someone, somewhere has solved it. Thus making Google a coders best friend. I’ve learned that any problem, no matter how big or small, can be broken down into manageable chunks, and Googled. When I was first introduced to this I thought back to prior education when this was seen as cheating. In tests, exams and indeed some lessons, I remember having to abstain from Googling (or at least hide when I was) and instead learn and regurgitate what was only ever a search away. Why struggle to do something that has been previously done, when you could build upon that knowledge instead?
Something that I had always struggled with, was planning. Until learning to code, I never fully needed to plan and therefore didn’t. Perhaps I should have done more in University but I knew what I wanted to achieve, so just got on with it. Coding has taught me that it is a necessity. Without it, it can be hard to totally understand the necessary steps needed to complete the task - from a React viewpoint, how will you know what components are needed? How will you know their place in the component tree? And how will you use them? This one example is something that resonates across the whole coding spectrum. Above all else, a good plan is always there to help you when you think; “Wait, what am I actually doing again?”.
I’ve found that the classic stereotype for a coder (a socially awkward male sitting alone in a dark room) to be a complete fallacy. Yes, the tech scene has been, and still is to some extent, predominantly male dominated. Yet each day I see it develop into a more diverse industry - which is fantastic. The teamwork that I’ve witnessed and experienced has completely dispelled the notion that coders are loners. In fact, teamwork is so essential, that some tasks would be impossible without it. This willingness to help among programmers is another reason why their confidence is strong - it’s nice to feel as though someone has your back. Of course this is not always the case for some, but with the amount of constant practice most coders have with teamwork, it is sure to develop into a renowned skill.
Becoming a coder is much more than learning programming languages. It is personal development as much as it is software development. I’ve found that learning to break down problems, experiencing the unexpected and working within teams has tremendous effects upon confidence and competence. The technological revolution has well and truly taken over the world, whatever your passion, you can follow it within tech. It is also ever-evolving, the capacity for learning & growth is unlimited and if done correctly, learning to code can change your life.
Most of (if not all) of my coding experience can be credited to The School of Code. I want to take this opportunity to thank the incredible coaches, bootcampers and wider community for helping me achieve what I have over the past few months. You are amazing!