Why did I decide to learn software development?
The condensed list of reasons why I want to learn software development:
- Learning is my favorite.
- I want to create the impossible.
- Mathematics + LaTex
- I enjoy challenges and beautiful things.
- I refuse to be bored.
- I enjoy dancing.
- Inefficiency is my arch nemesis.
- I dig the people.
- I want to be a leader.
Now, the deluxe version.
Let’s go way back…
I feel most alive while learning. My favorite and most vivid childhood memories involve learning — making up two-column subtraction rules in the basement, learning multiplication tricks and playing cards with my grandparents, attending math bees. Today, I’m committed to life-long learning, daily personal growth, and unending curiosity. I believe coding skills are crucial to live, adapt, and thrive in our technical world.
Building the impossible.
Programmers create infrastructure and applications which are beyond my wildest dreams. My mind is blown by creatives’ ambition and imagination. I want in. I want to believe and create unimaginable things. I want to be surrounded by dreamers and creatives.
Mathematics and LaTex. No more dabbling! Let’s get deep!
I worked hard to earn a B.S. and M.A. in mathematics. Then, I taught at Dakota State University for three years. I am passionate about mathematics and mathematics education.
My educational path didn’t feel complete — I also craved a deeper understanding of software. Luckily, during my studies, I dabbled with various software and languages — Java, MASM, Mathematica, Maple, Stata, MATLAB … most significantly, drum roll, LaTex! It took 8 years of struggle with LaTex and Beemer for me to finally fall in love with LaTex.
I returned to graduate school in the fall of 2015. Fortunately, by September 2015, I had fallen in love with LaTex. After spending most of my semester dabbling in LaTex, I knew I was ready to make a change and dive into coding more seriously. I decided to leave graduate school to pursue a career in tech. I didn’t want to dabble, I wanted coding to be a full time experience.
I appreciate beautiful challenges
When asked why I chose to study mathematics, I explain that I loved the challenge and beauty of mathematics. I studied hard and then I would be surprised days, months, or sometimes years later with understanding. I appreciate similar challenges and beauty while coding.
Boredom is a choice.
My first-year seminar professor told the class that “boredom is a choice.” She said we should simply choose not to be bored. I try to remind myself of that daily. There are exciting things happening around me everyday — why waste my life being bored. I do understand there is monotony and staleness in almost every career. I’m choosing a career to ensure I will not get bored. Technology is always evolving. Every day there will be something new I can learn or explore. I will face a new challenge every day.
I want to notice the little, impossible things happening around me every day. I want to survive and thrive in the daily routine. Care for others. Be aware enough to consider and respect others’ struggles. Check out this transcript.
Programming is a wonderful dance.
I spent a lot of time in dance lessons from age 5 to age 17. I love dancing even though I’m not an exceptional dancer — I never practiced outside of my weekly lessons… and flat feet! Right now, I feel like an unremarkable coder, because I’m still learning the basics. I have the same kind of love for coding as I do for dancing. My skill level doesn’t matter — I feel free and light while dancing and while programming. The world goes quiet. I only have to focus on my limbs and the music or one line of code at a time. Unlike my childhood dance lessons, I do practice coding often. I will continue studying hard to improve my skills as a coder.
Collaboration.
Before embarking on any worthwhile adventure, it may be wise to take a moment to pause and consider a few roadworthy points from those travelers who have gone before you, and what they have to say about the road ahead.
- Eric Saperston with Mirabella Love, Live In Wonder
I’m new to the software development world. In just a few months, I have met several inspiring people through Girl Develop It Fargo, Learn.co, FreeCodeCamp, and The Prairie Den. I hope to have colleagues like these instructors, mentors, and peers. If I am that lucky, these colleagues will challenge me and push me to grow each day. I’m fascinated by the way these people think and I want to soak up as much as I can from them.
