Some few years ago, if someone had told me I will be coding now, I would have just laughed, since to me coding was for genius people and I was nowhere near to being a genius. “Anyone can be a software developer, as long as you are willing to learn”, is the one sentence that I have learned and kept in my mind since I started learning to code, and is what drives me to not give up even when I face challenges in this journey.
Despite the challenges, software development is a very exciting journey that invites individuals to embark on a path of innovation, problem-solving, and continuous learning. The moment you decide to be a software developer is the moment you sign up for lifelong learning. Why do I say this? I'm going to discuss the answers to this question in the following paragraphs.
First, technology keeps changing. It is not constant. So to keep up with this pace, you have to be committed to keep up with it, by learning what is new and even unlearning. Yes, unlearning is part of the process! You have to unlearn the old ways of doing things or bad habits, for example, in my case, I had to adopt a new mindset. Traditionally I knew for me to understand something I had to cram it which I later came to learn is not true, take some time to understand something then practice it. Even if you don’t get it the first time, don’t feel sad, practice it the second, the third time as many times as you can. As they say, practice makes perfect, it will eventually make sense and you will understand it. Having an adaptable and growth mindset will help you in this journey.
Secondly, master the art of solving problems. Programming is all about solving problems through code. It involves bringing ideas to life and I think this is the best part about programming. The path is not without its challenges but they make the journey exciting. So I hope you enjoy this journey as I am. The rewards are immense and with more work and practice we will enjoy these rewards eventually.
In conclusion, being a great software developer takes time. Before you and I reach there, let us enjoy the journey by having an open mindset and being willing to learn and even unlearn bad habits. We will make it!