Hey there,
This post might be a bit messy because, honestly, I'm feeling messy right now. I've been feeling stuck for months, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that sharing your struggles can help ease the burden. So, here are my thoughts poured out in words.
Where I’ve Been
Four months. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve truly studied coding. I’ve tinkered with little things here and there, but no real progress. Life’s been chaotic, and I convinced myself I was “taking a break” to focus on other goals, like learning to drive.
I started strong! I got my learner's license on my first try (yay me!), but the actual driving lessons were a different story. My instructor is good, but his way of pointing out mistakes feels harsh. Imagine being criticized for every error until you start believing you're not good enough. That was me—sitting in the driver's seat, almost in tears.
Fast-forward to today: I just failed my second road test. I didn't even make it to the actual road; I failed in the practice area. It feels like a metaphor for my life right now—I can't even get out of the starting zone.
The Light-bulb Moment
After failing my test, I felt devastated and wanted to hide away, but instead, I turned to coding, which has always comforted me.
I decided to try Kaplay.js, a library for making games. Let me tell you—game development is no joke. But when I finally managed to make my sprite move across the screen, something clicked. It wasn’t just about the code; it was about me. I remembered how much I love solving problems, creating things, and feeling that little spark of accomplishment.
That spark reminded me of why I began this journey.
The Plan to Move Forward
So, what’s next? I need structure, accountability, and a way to rebuild my confidence. Here’s my plan:
Start Fresh with The Odin Project
I love the #100Devs community, but I’ve been feeling overwhelmed. I’m going back to basics with The Odin Project. It’s structured, beginner-friendly, and exactly what I need right now.
Document Everything
Writing has always been therapeutic for me, so I’m going to blog weekly about my progress. Maybe I’ll even record my sessions—raw, unfiltered, and full of mistakes—to keep myself accountable.
Build Projects That Matter
I want to build projects I’m proud of, such as a voting app for my sister or a MERN app for my portfolio, and aim to deploy them on AWS because #Goals.
Freelance Hustle
I need to grow my portfolio and confidence, so if you know anyone with a small budget, please refer them to me, and they'll receive my best effort as I improve.
Let’s Do This Together
If you're reading this and feeling stuck too, you're not alone. Whether it's coding, driving, or just life in general, we all hit walls, but we can climb over them one tiny step at a time. I'd love some accountability buddies! Let's learn, build, and grow together. Whether you're on WhatsApp, Discord, or Twitter, reach out! Let's support each other on this journey. So, here's to starting over. Again. Let's go!