Alexis
Alexis
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

Path to becoming a Software Engineer

It all starts with a simple problem: how to reverse a string.

I was learning the Ruby programming language, enthused and motivated to finally fulfill this passion that was hidden. A passion to solve things, anything. I picked up some elementary books, went though online tutorials, build small programs with some help from guides, and I was on my way. But I noticed I couldn’t come up with anything on my own. My girlfriend, who is a Software Engineer, suggested to work on problems. Just get into the swing of solving problems, she said. I listened, and so I did just that.

The first problem was to write a program that takes in a string and reverses it. I simply called the built-in reverse method and printed that out. My girlfriend looks over it, smiles and says, now do it without calling the reverse method.

I stared at the screen for two minutes. I couldn’t do it — but I wanted to.

So I wrote some things down on a piece of paper; how would I go about this in general, how do I step-by-step get to where I wanted to be. I found out that writing it down made it all clear. I take the first letter, assign it to a variable, take the second letter, add it to the same variable but in front of the first letter, and so forth. All it took was to take a step back. It felt refreshing. That was the moment.

So, why do I want to be a Software Engineer?

Well, truthfully, I want to chase that moment, I wan to live in that moment of disengagement, where I can see all the pieces floating in my head and gently eased them into harmony, perfect alignment. Where I can balance stable concentration and diffuseness, almost like meditation, achieving effortlessness. The path of a Software Engineer seems to be filled with those moments. Building and working on applications that require great focus but also a sense of play and creativity, just you know, taking a step back.

You can do a lot of good as a Software Engineer in this world. Building applications that solve real world problems, that shape our views and engage us in different ways. I want to build and work on programs that can make someone else’s day just a bit better, something as simple like an application that identifies toxic plants for your pets.

So I continued, just solving problems on different sites and then I realized something: I had no structure. I just kept on solving problems but I wasn’t building anything, the path wasn’t clear, heck, there was no path.

Now enters Holberton School. My girlfriend saw an ad on BART for this program that takes in committed and motivated students and gives them structure. Kismet, I said. I glance over the site and read reviews, and the more I read the more I want it. There is a strong emphasis on continuous learning, continuous honing of skill and hands-on engagement. It fires up my motivation just thinking about what can be accomplished by applying diligence and concentrated effort, there is no limit. From my understanding Holberton is all about learning by creating, learning how to learn. That’s what I was missing; I was not creating; I was not building; I had no structure, and here was this place named after a woman I heard about three years ago (from my girlfriend who admires her) that takes in students and trains them in all the areas I was lacking!

I am sold, and I am ready, sign me up, here I come!