Why I Started Learning How to Code
One major lesson I’ve taken from the pandemic is that we need to learn to be flexible in all aspects of our life. Last year, I noticed someone I admire via the internet was learning how to code. Eventually, she became a web developer. I’ve always related to her in a lot of ways and I started to wonder if I should start coding too.
As a freelance marketing consultant, there are aspects of my job that are ever-changing. I typically work with clients who want content creation, strategy, and sales copy. However, I realized a lot of marketers were learning HTML and some were going even further and learning CSS, JavaScript, SQL, and much more.
Although these are programming languages, they are also skills marketers can use. Examples of this are editing emails, making changes to a website, and analyzing data. The marketing industry is changing, and advancing your skillset can help you remain competitive.
In addition to this, I’m also open to the idea of transitioning fully into the technology industry. I decided to work in marketing while I was still in college, and since then my perspective has changed. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing concentration. I chose this specific degree because I think it gives me information I can use in a variety of industries. Since college has ended, I’ve primarily focused on content marketing and sales copy. Most marketers specialize, and these are my specialties.
But, like anyone else, I begin to wonder if I want to continue working in an industry I chose as a college student. In some ways, marketing is my favorite part of a business. Yet, there are parts of me that want to explore the different elements of a business. Ultimately, I like to challenge myself and accomplish new things. I also see how much technology is being used in our everyday life. I’m old enough to remember when dial-up was the norm and now I see toddlers with iPads.
I’m not sure if I want to become a web developer, an engineer, or to work 100% in the technology industry. But, I think learning how to program will give me more options and I like the potential possibilities.
There are pros and cons to consider when you work in each industry. As a marketer and writer, I’ve seen the good and the bad. There are times when I feel like my age is holding me back. There are also times when I see someone else’s work and think “I could’ve done that”. I think about important factors like salary, insurance, job satisfaction, the ability to have a life outside of my career. Work impacts our lives in so many ways. At the end of the day, I want to know the energy and effort I put into my career will bring me great results.
What’s Happen So Far
I actually became more serious about coding last year. I did the #100daysofCode challenge and documented it on my @CodewithOPS Twitter account. At that time, I learned HTML and some CSS. After that, I had to take a break for health reasons. But, because I’d learned HTML and some CSS, I added those skills to my resume. I found employers liked I had programming experience, even if it was minimal.
Then, the pandemic started and I started focusing on the work I already had. Even though the pandemic is still going on, I want to start coding again. I’ve been reviewing things over the last couple of months but didn’t feel comfortable with committing to a #100daysofCode challenge.
Now, I feel like I’m in the right headspace to start coding again. Overall, I really want to master CSS, which intimates me often. And I want to do more projects, even if they’re simple ones. Right now, I use freecodecamp and w3schools to help me learn. In the past I also liked SoloLearn, so I think I will start using their website and app again.
As I continue my coding journey, it’s nice to be able to read other people’s stories. I follow a diverse group of people on Twitter. Some have degrees in computer science, some have degrees in others fields, and some don’t have degrees at all. Regardless of their backgrounds, they’ve been able to do the work and navigate their way in the technology industry. This variety reminds me there isn’t one fixed path when it comes to your career or your life.
