Hey everyone! I'm turning 33 soon and I'm looking to switch careers and dive into coding. I've signed up for a Python course on Coursera, and I really enjoy it—I'm grasping the concepts and acing my homework. But I'm struggling to see the bigger picture on how to actually become a programmer. Should I dive right into personal projects? Should I focus on more exercises, or is it important to memorize the syntax? I've always had a passion for programming, but my studies took me in a different direction, and I'm worried it might be too late to make this change. I often wonder what path I should take—should I focus on web development, artificial intelligence, or stick with Python and JavaScript? I feel lost in all this and I'm looking for guidance from those who've been through it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Finding a mentor can really change the game! I’m also beginning my coding career in my late 20s, and I've found that having someone experienced by your side helps navigate the overwhelming amount of information out there. They can guide you on what skills to focus on and which ones may not be relevant anymore as technology evolves.
The best way to get started is to keep learning and building projects consistently. I'm currently enrolled in the Odin Project for web development and plan to create a portfolio of my projects once I'm done. That way, I can showcase my skills when I start applying for jobs.
I've also begun my web dev journey with the Odin Project. It's been a game-changer, and now I've been a full-time developer for 6 years!
Thanks for the advice! Do you have any specific mentor recommendations?