2018: Going the road less traveled and loving it.
It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped — Anthony Robbins
2018 started for me strongly with the event of deciding to no longer pursue my formal education but to plunge into the world of tech professionally. I’d admit, there were some nights after making this decision, I woke up fearful asking myself: “What have you done? Are you crazy?”, but somehow I felt it was the right thing for me at the time and I stuck to it not even knowing how it will unfold as the year goes on.
Enter WTN(Warri Tech Network)
I stumbled on Warri Tech Network from an ad on Facebook, immediately, something in me prompted me to call the phone number on the banner and I did. I then spoke with Paul Okoro the ED(Executive Director) of the Network, he was so enthusiastic about the Warri Tech Awareness week coming up, he kind of sold me on it.
The event held and it was quite a success and it gave me the push I needed to speak to developers and connect with them.
I also spoke on the behest of the network at the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, Delta State during the Awareness week.
It was amazing thank you Warri Tech Network for the opportunity 👍
myPadi.ng
After the tech awareness week, I got a call from CEO at myPadi.ng Joel Amawhe offering me a front-end development role, I was blown away 😀. Got interviewed on the phone as well and by February, I was working with myPadi.ng. Frankly working here has been quite thrilling and challenging.
I moved down to Ozoro in Delta State where the myPadi.ng office was. It has been awesome so far, working with amazing developers and non-tech colleagues.
Had the privilege to be at Startup South Owerri, Imo State representing myPadi.ng with Joel Amawhe where I met my tech mother: Theodora Isola — this woman is super and also the legendary Aniedi Udo-Obong.
Brief love story(Not Romeo and Juliet though)
In 2018, I finally had the nerves to go all in with the girl of my dreams and every day from then on feels like the first time we met. She has really inspired me to be more. Thanks, Blessing, you are the best. 😍😘
Charles Freeborn and GDG
I met Charles Freeborn during the Warri Tech Network’s tech awareness week and he struck me as a person to talk to. His rendition of the Elvis Chidera story and freeCodeCamp resonated well with me. I have read about Elvis Chidera but he made me see it in another light. One word: INSPIRED.
Through Charles Freeborn I have been privileged to speak at the mobile web certification study jam hosted by GDG Warri, a discussion panelist at Google I/O extended Warri, attend DevFest Warri and DevFest Uyo. All experiences were epic! Also met Peace Ojemeh (Perrie) and a lot of cool and wonderful people through him. You rock Charles Freeborn.
A thousand loop of motivation with Forloop Africa 😍
I attended my very first forloop event this year — Forloop Asaba. It was awesome, met for the first time Kati Frantz (the bahdcoder), Biodun Chris, Ehinze Emeka and a host of astonishing developers— these guys really inspired me so much that I went on to speak at Forloop Warri much later after the encounter(article here). Thanks, Forloop, you guys are doing great! Check Kati Frantz article on the event(Spoiler alert!: he also gave away his slides in that article)
Laravel Nigeria — Warri
Had the privilege of giving an intro live coding session to Laravel at Laravel Warri(My first live coding ever!).
Some more scenes….
Back to school?
Ironically, I was also privileged to give a talk on Git and Github at Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro where I didn’t complete my Computer Science ND programme 😏. The host of the program was Ingressive
2018 was indeed a blessing for me. Here are more highlight moments in no particular order.
- Got 5 freeCodeCamp Certifications. See here
- Met Prosper Otemuyiwa and got acquainted with his humor and appetite at DevFest SS in Uyo.😀
- Breathed in the clean air in the beautiful city of Uyo.
- Contributed on to at least 2 open source projects(not really mind boggling contributions though)
- Wrote 26+ articles on Medium and was made writer for both freeCodeCamp and codeburst.io staff account
- 20+ pens on codepen
- 35+ repositories on github.
- Got acquainted and inspired by Sarah Drasner.
- Read about Lydia Hallie.
How about my skills?
I have had practice and loving the following technologies:
- Vue.js
- React
- AdonisJS
- Webpack and front-end toolings
- Vuex and Redux
- Git and Git workflows
- Collaboration on github
- Fundamentals of UX
- Product Design and Management
- Flexbox and grid
- and lots more….
2019
I can see a lot of articles writing and speaking in my 2019. Also making myPadi.ng the go-to solution for off-campus accommodations rental in Nigeria. And also building and collaborating actively in open source projects. making the love of my life happier than she was in 2018 is a priority 😏.
Happily Ever After? Still keep it, Rollin!
Big shout out to Prosper Otemuyiwa, his yearly review inspired this.
Also special appreciations to every developer, content providers, YouTube channels, CodePen.IO authors whose resources I have drunk from in 2018. You guys rock 🤘
To all young aspiring developers and solution providers out there, the world is yours if you want it.
Merry Christmas. Here is to an amazing 2019. Have a daring new year!
