…the curiosity that brought me here almost injured me

Week 3 of my Web3 development training at Web3Bridge was a whirlwind of learning, coding, and discovery. This week, we dove deep into the world of traditional and decentralized app development and Solidity fundamentals, and let me tell you…it was both exhilarating and exhausting! From grappling with smart contract structures to experimenting with new tools like Remix, Foundry, and Hardhat, this was hands-down the most intense week so far. Oh, and we had the privilege of being guided by our first female mentor, who was nothing short of phenomenal.

The week kicked off with an exploration of decentralized applications (dApps) and how they differ from traditional web applications. Learning about the decentralized architecture, where trust is placed in code rather than centralized servers, felt like stepping into a new dimension of development. We discussed the anatomy of a dApp, its reliance on blockchain, and how smart contracts serve as the backbone of these applications.

Then came Solidity fundamentals, the heart of Ethereum smart contract development. We covered Contract Structures, Smart Contract ABI (Application Binary Interface), Events and Mappings, etc.

This week, we got our hands dirty with some powerful tools for smart contract development and also worked with Metamask wallet. Each tool had its own learning curve, and juggling them all in one week was no small feat. By Thursday, I was dreaming in Solidity code and seeing terminal errors in my sleep! Just kidding, Lol.

One of the standout moments of the week was being mentored by our first female instructor. Her energy, expertise, and passion for Web3 were infectious. She broke down complex concepts like smart contract security and gas optimization in a way that made them approachable, even for beginners like me. Her real-world examples of dApps and her encouragement to question solidity standards when writing secure contracts were impactful. She wasn’t just a mentor, she was an inspiration, showing us that Web3 is a space where anyone with grit and curiosity can thrive.

I won’t sugarcoat it: Week 3 was stressful. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, especially when trying to wrap my head around gas fees or why my contract wouldn’t compile. A friend even had to send me testnet ETH before I could deploy one of the smart contracts that I worked on. But every error fixed, every successful deployment, and every “aha!” moment made it all worth it. I learned that building dApps isn’t just about coding, it’s also about understanding decentralization, security, and user trust. The tools (Remix, Foundry, Hardhat) and concepts (Solidity, ABIs) we covered are the foundation of creating real-world blockchain solutions.

The mentor’s guidance was a reminder that the Web3 community is vibrant, diverse, and welcoming. As I head into the next week, I’m excited (and a little nervous) to build on this foundation. Maybe I’ll write my next smart contract without a single error… hopefully!

If you’re thinking about diving into Web3, my advice is simple: embrace the challenge, lean on your mentors, and don’t be afraid to break things (in code, not in real life). Week 3 was a lot, but it showed me that I’m capable of more than I thought. Here’s to building the decentralized future, one smart contract at a time!