My Journey through the path of android programming

Peter Akwa
Aug 9, 2017 · 4 min read

The journey of a thousand miles starts in a day…

ALCAbia2017

Today, I sat down and I thought about my journey through which I became an Android App Developer and decided to share my story with you my fellow beginners in programming, who may be afraid of codes, who have doubts in their mind of not being able to develop applications, who is afraid of not being able to attain the level other great programmers are today.

I was nobody when it comes to programming, I studied computer science but I was just this guy that learns the basics of a programming language that is required for me to pass my examination, I find it boring going through programming codes that people have written, I never believed I could handle much codes that I see people writing online due to fear that I might not be able to reach that level of writing programs with bulky codes. But since I came in contact with Rad5 Tech Hub, I started writing codes which I couldn’t have been able to write on my own.

There is a saying that the only way to start is to start from somewhere…

The Question is; How did it happen?

I had never decided before to become an android developer, it sort of just happened. It was towards the end of the year (December 2016), when I received an information from my friend EZE SUNDAY EZE, about an internship program at Rad5 Tech Hub, and I wrote my application letter to be part of the internship.

A week later, I was called for an interview, and was selected to be part of the 3 months internship and was placed under Android programming section to start lessons on the 9th of January, 2017.

I was assigned a mentor JOHN NNANNA OJI and I started with lessons on introduction to java programming language as a stepping stone to android programming, which I completed in two weeks and did some projects such as ATM card validation project, cat and dog project, Buy-1-Get-1, ATM project etc. It was really challenging and a kind of discouraging when I run my program and I recieve series of bugs, but without relenting, I did my best to debug my errors and took it as a challenge that I must debug my errors by going online to make my research just as my mentor will always say “Google is there for you, go and ask google…”.

After my java programming course, I was moved to start the android basic course through the Udacity course which I completed by designing my first android application, birthday app, coffee app, basketball counter, konga user interface (UI) application and English to Igbo translator application.

Projects Completed:

What fascinated me most was that I was able to facilitate the ALCAbia2017 (Android Learners Community) Meetup with my colleagues PRINCE BASSEY and FREDRICK OKEREKE. Which I was mandated by my mentor JOHN NNANNA, to facilitate the meetup. He said to me “Peter, the success of this ALCAbia2017 lies on your shoulder, make sure you teach them all they need to learn”. I was afraid to take up the task since it was my first time to pass the knowledge to others. But I gathered the courage and I made it, wow.

It takes your zeal and courage to attain any height you want in programming. I urge fresh starting programmers to believe in themselves for the better. The great programmers you see or hear about today started from the same level you are now. The journey of 100 miles started in a day. There is always some challenges, but you can overcome them with an unrelenting effort.

I thank my mentor JOHN NNANNA OJI for pushing me to the level I am today, he really gave me challenges that pushed me so far and very fast. And also to Rad5 Tech Hub for making me part of the internship program which laid the starting point of my success. And finally, all thanks to almighty God who gave me such opportunity and have always been with me through my learning process.

Peter Akwa

Written by

Lead Mobile Developer and Front-End Designer @Rad5 Tech Hub. I am Passionate about inspiring young ones and supporting tech communities. about.me/peterakwa

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