What no one tells you about the future….
Why am I learning programming and whether it is a worthy venture.
If one is to write down a number of things that have been digitized, one could fill a booklet. For example, in Uganda, a few people can notice that a new journey has started. For example, moving from analog TV airing to digital, ATM machines, having the cloud which has enabled people to store their information remotely, the illegalizing of airtime scratch cards, the uprise of agent banking, smartphones, smart cars and smart houses in other countries. A number of applications being developed and being used by thousands of people worldwide. Imagine a future where everything will be controlled by a click or swipe. I literally wouldn’t wish to be left behind in this new journey to the future. A future where everything is programmed.
Programming is the process of taking an algorithm and encoding it into a notation, a programing language so that it can be executed by a computer or Is the process of writing computer programs that help a user accomplish a particular task.
Having prior knowledge about technology from a bachelor’s degree I undertook. I was able to venture into many areas ie. Networking, system administration. During my journey, I picked more interest in programming. Although all my friends used to discourage me. My persistence kept me going. I kept on engaging myself in all programming opportunities around ie. Django Girls, and right now am with Andela women initiative. I also recently read a short story “who moved my cheese?”. The story is about change that takes place in a maze where four characters look for “Cheese”. Cheese represents what we want to have in life be it a good job, big house, good health and so many other things one would term to bring them a better life. The maze in the story represents where we spend time looking for what we want. Picking some of the quotes that were in the story “Imagining myself enjoying new cheese even before I find it, leads me to it.”and “when you see that you can find and enjoy new cheese, you change course”That’s how I got to know that my cheese had been moved and I had to let go of the old cheese in order to enjoy the new cheese(programming).
Being a volunteer teacher, with the help of programming, I have been able to recognize problems in my community which are solvable with the help of technology. Personally, I would love to be the change in our community. For example at a school where I am teaching, I would love to have an E-Library for both teachers and students. This would make research easy. I know with the help of programming, will be able to achieve this. With programming, I have also been able to draw a path for my career. Basically am no longer the “confused graduate”. Programming has also improved by thinking, processing, teamwork and communicating skills. Through the daily challenges given to us and also the daily standups. This is going to help me be more innovative. This means that I am eligible to join the competitive job market. In the near future, not knowing how to code will be comparable to not knowing how to read #justSaying. Right now I know what am capable of turning into (world-class software developer).
Learning programming means that one is able to become a software developer. This means you own your own job, for example, most of the jobs require someone to hire you but with software development, you can decide to develop something and sell it this means that it can also lead to financial success. If you’re employed by someone, you decide whether working from office or working from home, this enables one to maintain a good work-life balance.
learning how to code causes a positive impact on one’s life and in the community in which one lives in. Big thanks to Andela for this opportunity.