2023 has by far been my best year in terms of personal growth and career growth. It has been a long and bumpy ride full of mistakes, learning, and unlearning. Here are my highlights for the year.
Career Growth.
Software Development.
My journey into software development began in June 2023, when I got a chance to pursue software development at Moringa School. This was one of my highlights of the year. The bootcamp journey was quite intensive, but I managed to successfully complete the program on December 15th, 2023. I learned how to develop full-stack web applications, working in teams, project management, and soft skills as a web developer. I also made some really good circle of friends whom I appreciate so much.
Technical Writing.
I began writing articles following recommendations from my mentor at Mentorlst, Ian Mugenya. Things got thicker, and I stopped for a while, but this is one field I look forward to diving in in 2024.
Interning at Nova Pioneer.
Nova Pioneer was where I had a chance to kickstart my career, and I am always grateful for the exposure and many lessons learned. I was previliged to work with some bright minds and great people.
My tasks here were not limited to data analysis, staff and student laptop maintenance, teaching students how to write basic code in HTML and CSS, and taking part in JSS Computer Science lessons. I also sat on a STEAM Innovation Week planning commitee, an event we planned to success, with great minds including Mr Harun Nyongesa, Cyrus Wanjohi, and many more beautiful people.
There was room for growth, especially on my side, as I saw a lot of areas I could improve on, and I also made mistakes that I was never proud of. Nevertheless, it was a great learning journey.
Attended Tech Events and Grew my Network.
I attended two tech events this year. This number would probably have been higher, were it not for the code challenges and projects we were working on over the weekends at Moringa School (not complaining, I loved them).
Attending two tech events this year, DevFest Nairobi and DevFest Mombasa, opened doors to networking and friendship. Overcoming my introverted tendencies, I met inspiring individuals, fostering connections that contribute to my continuous growth.
Contributing to Open Source.
As the year came to a close, I began contributing to open source projects, thanks to a 4-week internship program by Tublian. I am still trying to wrap my head around bigger projects, and I believe this is something I will get better at with time.
Personal Growth.
Here are some of my biggest wins for the year:
Became financially independent.
Relocated to a new city.
Almost found a partner (LOL).
Bought a decent workspace.
The Next Phase.
Looking ahead to 2024, I am prepared to take on more significant risks and make bold moves, eager to see where the next chapter of my journey leads.
My heartfelt thanks go to those who made my year a success. Thank you