Hey everyone! I'm a 16-year-old girl about to start my senior year, and I've always found the idea of cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and programming really fascinating. There was a fantastic dual enrollment program in my area that offered an A.S. in IT, including free certification tests for things like PC Hardware/Operating Systems A+, Networking Foundations, and more. I could have earned certifications up to Security+ along with guiding internships to land a good job right out of high school.
Unfortunately, I didn't take advantage of the opportunity back then because I was a pretty insecure 12-year-old, much more interested in the latest TikTok trends than studying. I wound up choosing nursing and planned to go to med school since I also have an interest in medicine and anatomy. Now, though, I regret not putting in the effort to learn more about IT while I had the chance.
I've switched gears to getting my Associates degree, but I'm wondering if it's too late to dive back into tech as a hobby? I'd love to know what steps I should take to get started, especially since I don't remember much from the courses I took. Do you think I should begin with operating systems and try out Linux on my Mac, or would learning more about hardware or programming be better? Any advice or free resources would be just awesome!
3 Answers
Check out FreeCodeCamp.org! It's an excellent resource for learning coding basics and it's totally free. You’ll find a lot of helpful tutorials there to get you started on your journey.
If you're leaning toward programming, consider doing it as a hobby rather than a full career. The tech industry is a bit shaky right now, and many software engineers are feeling uncertain due to the rise of AI. You can still pursue coding through FreeCodeCamp or The Odin Project while keeping your options open in the medical field, which seems stable. I'm in a non-coding role with a few certs making good money, but I know travel nurses who are always in demand.
Thanks for the insights! So, would you recommend basic coding like Python or Java before diving into operating systems like Linux, or does it not matter which comes first?
I’d suggest diving into both Linux and Programming, starting with Python. It's beginner-friendly and covers essentials like loops and functions. Sites like scrimba.com can help with that. After you're comfortable, play around with Linux, either through a virtual machine or dual booting—it should keep you engaged for a while!
I totally get that! It’s often more fun to do coding as a hobby than under pressure. Professional projects can feel way too dull compared to personal ones.