monitor showing Java programming

CS50x is an entry-level course to Computer Science ⌨️. With over 1 million students, it’s known worldwide in the technical industry for being a really good starter into the world of programming.  This course teaches you how to think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently. It’s also accredited by Harvard too so it’s making me feel a bit fancy hehehe.

Why?

The main reason I want to learn how to program is that I want to be able to design my own experiences WHY? Have you ever dreamed of building your own world, do you remember Neopets? (I was an addict)  🌍 I’m moving towards the idea of web apps. I’ve already got design skills. If I can combine both and make stuff for myself then maybe…just maybe…I can build my dreams to life 🤩. Before I jump into those crazy ideas, I knew it would be much better if I started from the basics.

The internet has always been my home for as long as I can remember and if I can do anything I want on it then I can be my own CyberGod Muwahahah – I’m starting to sound like a proper loser who doesn’t have a life, IRL 😂. I totally do – ask my friends!

My Struggles with Self Learning

Last year I completed the Javascript course on codeacademy and didn’t really end up using Javascript in anything. I didn’t know how to apply it to day-to-day tasks. So, I had a go at Codewars which was fun but VERY challenging. I only managed to complete 3 tasks. The rest were too hard and then I gave up.

I just don’t think I’m cut out for a developers problem solving mindset 😭

For the past couple of months, I’ve been brushing up on front-end skills. I decided to re-do my mum’s mate’s website from scratch so I learnt how to use the integrated terminal in Visual Code studio and SASS for my project. It actually worked out really well and made things easier and a lot quicker. I also learnt how to use GitHub so I could upload repositories and work on the project whilst I was away on holiday to Sardinia. 🏖 I’m probably not using it the right way but hooo haa. It’s functional lol….

I also have been learning how to use CSS grids because a developer at work told me that media queries were, in fact, a “hack” way of coding. I’ve managed to make a simple site following a Pluralsight tutorial but I found it difficult to integrate my own designs into the template 🙁 I haven’t used it for any projects yet but.

What I’ve taken from this is that I don’t work well learning something without a reason. I need a project to work on and to learn whilst i’m doing a project NOT create a project out of learning. So this is why I’m concerned about going on this cs50x course.

BLOG please motivate me to learn things and actually use it! PRAY PRAY PRAY 🙏🏻

How Long Does it Take? ⏱

Apparently, after extensive researching, you need around 3 months to complete cs50x. That’s if you can dedicate 10+ hours per week to it. Which is a shit ton. I think I spent more time reading up about the course than actually spending time doing it 😂. I was flickering between either doing a Full-stack web development course or a UX Product Design course on General Assembly but they’re both so expensive. One is £3,000 the other is £10,000 !!!!  The main thing that attracts me to these bootcamp courses, where you actually have to show up, are that they force you into a ‘critique’ environment with constant feedback which puts pressure on you to actually complete the tasks LOL. I kinda feel like I need the support and encouragement to develop stronger skills and actually complete the course.

How to Get a Computer Science Degree for Free 👩🏻‍🎓

I found this really old article online how to get the knowledge of a Computer Science degree without forking out the Ps. This is very hard as you would have to put together your own curriculum and super motivated.  That article also gives a basic structure which I’m going to follow. I found an updated post on the same website which has a more intensive course list. I also found this post on Quora on learning Data Science. I don’t actually know what data science is… but I mean it looks interesting. Must read more into it lol.

Earlier this year, I found old forum posts from when I was 13. I don’t even remember writing this but in it, I spoke about how I wanted to get into coding but I had a huge fear of failure. It’s kinda sad that I was scared of failing even at such a young age. I hadn’t even started my GCSEs yet! Reading my old forum post kind of broke my heart a bit how little self-esteem I had.

Let’s hope I manage to hold it down and finish it. Wish me luck!

Resources

 

 

Dear Mr. Supercomputer by Justin Mezzell 

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