Lessons learned while learning Data Science at General Assembly
I knew it was going to be a very intensive course. I knew it was not going to be easy. I knew I had to be ready for the challenge. It’s been 12 weeks since I decided to follow this road. Going to class from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, daily labs, extensive lectures, group and individual projects made of this course a very challenging one. Attending class 40 hours a day was not enough. Having to set aside between 16 to 20 hours a week for study time sounds more realistic. Dropping off after the first week of class was a thought that crossed my mind several times that week. However, I made the decision to continue and find the ways to make it work.
Learning Python, and keeping up with the material given in each lecture and at such fast pace was difficult but not impossible. Submitting projects, and having to create googe slides to present findings in front of the students and teachers was tough but it was doable. This is definetly when you show who you are made of.
Having to learn from scratch is not as easy as one might think, and having to do it all in 12 weeks was scary. However, it’s up to each of us to decide if we proceed and try or if it’s better to step back and choose a different road. Hmm….. yes, it is up to you.
I’m currently working on my final project for Data Science. I will be talking about breast cancer. Using everything I have learned in class, I will be predicting weather the cancer is benign or malignant. Many hours I have invested in this project and I am not done yet. I have a few more days to get the code and the modeling I want to present the way I want.
The interesting thing is that this course has not only taught me about what Data Science is all about. It made me learn the meaning of punctuality, time management, and even made better with eating habits. The teachers have made such a big difference. They have the passion for teaching and made things easier for us. The experience has been GREAT!!.