How I Started My Coding Journey in my late 40s

Is it ever too late to start something new? I started this blog to help me stay on track. When you're teaching yourself how to code, it's easy to get distracted by everyday life and all its tasks. So, to make sure I stay focused on my coding journey, I'm writing down each lesson I learn. But first, let me tell you how it all began.

I first tried my hand at programming in my early twenties when I worked at a satellite company and did some tech support. It got me thinking about studying Computer Science in college, but that plan never panned out. A few years later, I was working at another satellite company, supporting field engineers in 2011. That was pretty exciting! I got to use the command line and troubleshoot cable outages. But life has a funny way of getting in the way of your goals if you're not careful. Instead, I was rerouted into the banking industry for a few years.

Then, in 2017, I ended up working as an IT recruiter. Can you believe it? IT Recruitment! I was helping young people get amazing job offers with salaries I could only dream of. Or could I? That's when I decided it was time to learn how to code.

On March 29, 2017, I started teaching myself how to code and created my GitHub account. My first big challenge was FreeCode Camp's Legacy Responsive Web Design, which I still need to finish. It's tough trying to learn to code while working a full-time job. So, my journey has been a long one.

In the years that followed, I took a few online courses here and there, but I felt like I needed some guidance. So, in August 2020, I reached out to a mentor. For four months, I had someone to guide me through coding. It was hard work, but it was really productive. Of course, life still had a way of getting in my way.

Now, let's jump to today.

I'm currently working on The Odin Project, going back to the basics with my eyes set on becoming a Full Stack Ruby On Rails developer. But before I dive into that, I'm working on the foundations, and I'm proud to say I'm 64% through in the Foundations course! I am also supplementing this with a Udemy web dev course, which I really love!

I always remind myself to be patient and kind to myself. Just because it's taken me over five years to get here doesn't mean I can't achieve my goals. So, every day after my coding lesson, I write a short blog post about what I learned, even if it's just a sentence. It's never too late to chase your dreams!

Oh, and by the way, I'm now part of a Software Company! I may not have the official title of a "software engineer," but my foundational coding skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript helped me land a role there. And guess what? I've been entrusted with the task of managing the development queue. So I can pat myself on the back and say that I am well on my way to getting my dream job as a Software Engineer!

What a ride! I can't wait to tell you about what happens in the coming year! Welcome, 2024 I am ready!