Restarting My Journey: Why I went back to the basics

When I first started my journey into frontend development, I was excited, motivated, and eager to learn. Like many beginners, learning the basics, building projects by watching tutorials, and quickly move onto frameworks like TailwindCSS and React.

Everything seemed to be going well. I was building projects, following the official documentation, and feeling like I was on track. But then, life happened.

A long pause in my learning disrupted my momentum, and when I finally returned, I had an important realization: I knew how to use frameworks, but my core understanding wasn’t as strong as I thought.

Why I Decided to Start Over Instead of Picking Up Where I Left Off

At that time I had just begun exploring TailwindCSS and React, carefully following documentation and tutorials. I could implement features, but when it came to building from scratch, I struggled.

I had two choice:

1️.Continue from where I left off and hope to fill the gaps along the way

2️. Step back, strengthen my core skills, and build with confidence

So I chose to restart, it wasn't about abandoning what I had learned before but to truly understand why each piece of code mattered, to ensure that when working with the framework I do it with confidence.

My New Learning Approach

This time, I’m taking a step-by-step approach to solidify my skills instead of rushing ahead.

Revisiting HTML & CSS

I’ve been using Coddy.tech to go beyond just knowing what properties to use. I now focus on why they matter and how they interact to create structured, accessible, and responsive designs.

Befriending My “Alien Friend” – JavaScript

JavaScript can feel unpredictable—one moment, it makes perfect sense, and the next, I’m staring at an error I can’t explain. While I understood the basics, applying JavaScript in real projects was a challenge. Now, I’m focusing on strengthening my DOM manipulation and event handling skills so I can confidently build interactive experiences.

Practicing Through Challenges

I take coding challenges on DevChallenges.io, which not only give me hands-on practice but also track my progress and highlight areas where I need improvement.

Using W3Schools as My Quick Reference Guide

W3Schools helps me refresh my understanding of specific concepts or syntax. It’s my go-to for quick problem-solving. It’s like having a mentor who’s always available.

Solving Projects on Frontend Mentor

Instead of following tutorials, I now challenge myself on Frontend Mentor projects to apply my knowledge to real-world projects. This pushes me to think critically and find my own solutions rather than relying on step-by-step guides and building from scratch exactly what I struggled with before.

Exploring Best Practices on web.dev

To write better, more optimized code, I’ve started exploring web.dev, a great resource for understanding performance, accessibility, and best practices in web development. Instead of just writing code that works, I’m now learning the dos and don’ts to build scalable and efficient applications.

Stepping back to build a stronger foundation doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It means I’ve realized that to move forward with confidence and skill, I need to invest in true understanding.

And honestly? This decision has already made a difference.
Here are some challenges I’ve completed so far:

Project Name: Huddle page with single Introductory page

Demo link: https://huddle-page-chi.vercel.app/

GitHub link: https://github.com/HumairaAisha/frontend-challenge/tree/main/vanilla-projects/huddle-page

Project Name: Clipboard landing Page

Demo link: https://clipboard-tan.vercel.app/
GitHub link: https://github.com/HumairaAisha/frontend-challenge/tree/main/vanilla-projects/clipboard

"Quietly Building, Boldly Innovating."

This is my mantra. I may not always be the loudest in the room, but I’m determined to innovate, grow, and share my journey with purpose.

This is just the beginning! I’ll be sharing my wins, struggles, and everything in between to follow along to get the inside about the Chronicle of an Introverted Innovator.