My Journey as an Android developer and How My Tech Community Boosted My Career
Hello there, today, I will be sharing how my immediate software developer community has helped me grow through skills as an Android developer and otherwise. One thing for sure, it will be a bit lengthy but it will definitely inspire someone ou there.
Entrance into the University
I entered the University in 2014 and found my way somehow into Computer Science after my application into the Faculty of Engineering and Technology was turned down. This was rather the first and biggest devastation I got in those days. All I wanted was the excitement that those who leave Upper Sixth have in entering the University.
University days, Quitting school and the Comeback
God-willing, I found my way into the first year of the University studying Computer Science. Long stories short, things happened and I couldn’t afford a laptop to use during this year and when programming Meetups will hold, I couldn’t go because it was pointless. To make matters worse, we had this our famous lecturer ( Of course I won’t mention a name 😃), who will worry those who didn’t have laptops until you will feel demoralized, so I didn’t attend the lecturer’s class then. Things went well and I found myself in the second year, but still, no laptop 😠.
Of course, I convinced myself that this was too much for me. How could I be studying Computer Science and I am in my second year but yet, I had no laptop? I told close friends that I couldn’t continue school anymore with this and combined with rents that I hadn’t paid yet. Guys tried to stop me, but I quit school, went back home.
This was rather when one of those moments that random thoughts went through my mind that I could just hit my head on the wall and rest. I slept for long hours and my problems were still staring at me.I felt what it meant to be bright (as we say it, "boy be get sense" but he saw it vanishing 😠Many coursemates never knew I had quit but long stories short, things happened and I found my way back two weeks later. I used the rent that I had (half by the way) which was FCFA 90,000 to get myself a Dell Latitude D630 laptop in 2015. I was back on track and life at least didn’t knock me out.
Community Events, Jumping from one language/framework to another
I was at the top of my life after I got a laptop finally. I attended every community event about almost every language/framework in the community that I heard of. I tried to practice every language/framework that I heard of at an event. What? Community events that were supposed to build me turned to confuse me instead. I remember a week that I practiced PhoneGap, Ionic and Apache Cordova in a week and I gave up. Seriously this frustrated me as I always felt I will never know anything, but nonetheless, I attended more events and made new friends.
The Android Bootcamp Organized at ActivSpaces made the Difference
After an intro to Android development in class, I heard of an Android Bootcamp that was taking place worldwide(can’t remember but it was either 2015 or 2016) and one of the locations was ActivSpaces Buea. It was not the most effective Bootcamp but this is where I made a decision that I wanted to pursue Android development as a career. I started out from one Youtube video to another, book to book just to get the knowledge. Alongside this, I studied Python as well (most people thought I was the “baddest” Python guy then 😄.
The Andela Scholarship and My First Job as an Android developer
Thanks to the Andela Learning Community (ALC), I was selected for ALC 3.0 which was a partnership between Google, Andela, and Udacity. This is when I really learned Android development and after this, one of my big brothers in the community referred me and I got my first major job as an Android developer at AfroVision Group. I’ll be serious about this, from this day onwards, my life has never been the same. I didn’t spend the longest time there but this was a stepping stone in my career as I had to do more research in order to meet up.
After this, I gained more confidence and I who used to be shy have been able to give talks at various conferences and tech events in the community mainly on Android and Python and as well, in writing like you might have noticed.
One last word, My Developer Community Built Me
I am not where I want to be yet (I am not even 20% through) but I am most grateful to the communities in Buea and environs(Silicon Mountain as it is called) that have helped in building my career to where it is now. I cannot name all but the persons I met at these events either ended up giving me a job or giving my name somewhere that I could do A or B. A big special thanks to ActivSpaces Buea as they have been more than the family I needed since I started, from the people to the Internet I used at the Space during my ALC program till today, I am most grateful to this family and the great communities from the GDGs to Developer circles, the Python Communities and every person that has been a blessing to my life. God bless.
The only promise that I have is that I will give back to the community in the best way I can through Bootcamps and meetups etc.
Fun and out of Context ending
I could make you who read to this point laugh at any time 😂 . Try me and see. For now, it is goodbye from me and happy coding!
