We are at a point in time where our browsers, our Operating Systems, the apps on our phones, Facebook … are all made with code. Imagine if you had the knowledge to help you understand the technology shaping your world.
Coding makes it possible for us to create computer software, apps and websites. Learning coding empowers you to do many things you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. These things include hand-crafting your own websites, becoming a career coder or even starting a technology business.
The demand for coders far exceeds the supply, so you’ll have no troubles finding a job. In fact, it’s projected to grow at a rate of 30% between 2010 and 2020, which is twice as fast as most other jobs. The world is practically crying out for more coders. But why is it that most ladies who want to be coders are less confident than the male counterparts?
Despite having the same abilities as men, many women fail to achieve as highly in the corporate world due partly to a lack of confidence in their own abilities.
There are two things that will do you a lot of good if you want to code. The first requirement is a passion for the work, a deep need to probe the mysterious space between human thoughts and what a machine can understand; between human desires and how machines might satisfy them.
The second requirement is a high tolerance for failure. Coding is the art of algorithm design and the craft of debugging errant code. In the words you need the willingness to fail all the time. You have to generate many ideas and then you have to work very hard only to discover that they don’t work. And you keep doing that over and over until you find one that does work.
You could be one of those ladies who have thought about learning to code—even becoming a software engineer—only to have some little voice of doubt make you think otherwise? Maybe its concerns about not being able to learn everything you need to succeed. Maybe you’re worried about fitting into the infamous “hacker” culture. Or maybe you just don’t think you’re smart enough to work beside those genius developers.
Well, it’s time to shut that voice down.
Yes, learning to code will not be as easy as blinking your eye and it’s not guaranteed that you will immediately find success. But many of the reasons you’ve been telling yourself “that’s probably not for me” are wildly untrue.
Are you worried that you need to be a genius to write code?
The people who write code professionally seem so smart. It is intimidating. But it’s not true that they are objectively smarter. What it takes to succeed as a coder has a lot more to do with creativity, common sense, dedication, and hard work than it does with raw brain power. As a matter of fact, a large percentage of humanity is ‘smart,’ but improving and learning depends on whether they exercise their abilities or not.
Are you worried that you’ll never catch up?
Okay, so maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you are actually smart enough to code, but now you start wondering: How will I ever catch up with people who have been working on these challenges for years and years? The world of programming is vast—it’s easy to wonder how you can possibly learn it all in a short enough period of time to be a viable career option. But here is something you should know, to some extent, every coder is always still learning how to code as standards change and new tools become available.
Are you worried that you’ll never fit into the “nerdy” culture?
Of course, not all coders are nerds, at least not in the traditional sense. I have so many friends who code and their social lives are actually more interesting than those of most people who don’t code. In other words, programmers have all sorts of personalities and interests, so you’re bound to find your people.
So, if you have a passion for code and want to learn code, the time is now. No matter your age or experience, a plethora of tools are available to get you started or to help you refine your programming chops. Best of all, many of those resources are free. You no longer have to spend countless hours trying to deconstruct new programming languages, there are expertly written tutorials, helpful videos, and a wealth of other resources online. If you know someone who knows code, you can befriend them and learn from them as well.
Just follow your dream and let nothing stop you!
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