Annyeonghaseyo👋🏾 My name is Chinonye. As of March 2021, I will have officially transitioned into the world of tech for a year 🥳. However, my unofficial journey into tech began around 8 years ago. You could say I've been preparing for this moment for quite some time.
Initial days
Since I was young, I've had an insatiable curiosity about how things work and the process of building them. I can still remember spending countless hours tinkering with radios, extension boxes, small TVs, and anything else I could get my hands on. Sometimes I would successfully fix them, while other times I would end up breaking them beyond repair. While my interest in these activities eventually faded, my fascination with understanding the "why" and "how" never waned. It's this curiosity that has ultimately led me to where I am today.
Defining moments
Back in 2013, as my mandatory National Youth Service Corp(NYSC) was coming to an end, I became increasingly interested in learning how to code. I remember pestering a friend to teach me the ropes, and after about a week, I successfully wrote my first "hello world" program in C#. Unfortunately, soon after, my laptop suddenly stopped working and refused to turn on. At that point in my life, my main goal was
to obtain a BSc, -> pursue ACCA certification to become a chartered accountant, -> work in consulting, -> explore a few other opportunities along the way -> the end
Consequently, when my laptop stopped working, I took it as a sign to shift my focus toward preparing for my upcoming ACCA exams. After completing my NYSC in March 2014, I eventually got a new laptop. However, I quickly got sidetracked by the pursuit of finding a job and navigating life in general. Eventually, I landed a job in the banking sector in July 2014.
Questioning my choices
Three years into my banking career, I found myself both physically and mentally exhausted from the industry. Each day, I would question the very purpose of my existence, and what began as mere days of questioning eventually turned into hours. The questions were always the same, repeated day after day-
"What have you accomplished, Nonye?" and "Have you made any progress in the past week?" constantly plagued my thoughts. I found myself wondering whether I should resign from my job, and if I did, what I would do next. I couldn't shake the feeling of unfulfillment, and I often questioned why I wasn't happy despite having a stable career
Turning points
In April 2018, I decided to leave banking, armed with only "vibes and Inshallah" as my plan (just kidding, of course! 😂). I considered going back to school, learning a new skill, or pursuing a career outside of banking. Ultimately, I chose to learn a new skill and find a job. I taught myself how to make dresses, learned fashion illustration and pattern design, all while working as a research assistant.
Towards the end of 2018, I was faced with a difficult decision: whether to pursue research or fashion design exclusively. However, I couldn't bear to give up one for the other.
In 2019, I delved into freelance business development, helping startups by writing business plans and creating marketing strategies with revenue projections. This allowed me the freedom to conduct research as much as I wanted while still pursuing my passion for fashion design. It was during this time that I rediscovered my interest in technology. As a business developer, I wrote a plan for an EduTech startup, and I realized that I could combine my passion for ideation, creation, problem-solving, and technology. I began researching how to get started in tech and was pleasantly surprised to find an abundance of resources available to me
I was sold
In mid-2019, I embarked on a self-study journey to learn how to code using FreeCodeCamp, but my progress was irregular due to my involvement in other pursuits such as fashion design, snail farming, and business development. Despite this, I was committed to my learning journey and resumed my studies at Khan Academy a few weeks later.
In November 2019, I participated in a one-month coding bootcamp called "She Hacks Africa" organized by WAAW Foundation. The program focused on teaching the fundamentals of web development, as well as soft skills, ethics, and collaborative work. I was appointed as a representative between participants and facilitators and was proud to be part of a group that placed 3rd in the final project assessment.
Forging ahead
I was filled with a sense of purpose and direction after completing the bootcamp, and I knew that I was on the right path. I wasted no time in making plans and created a roadmap for my "Tech Transition Plan 2020."
In March of that year, I enrolled in an immersive, onsite full-stack development program at Univelcity. The six-month course covered frontend and backend development, as well as UI/UX design. The COVID-19 pandemic had caused a worldwide lockdown, but I refused to let it get in the way of my progress. I remained focused and determined to complete the program despite the challenges that arose.
Current status
By the end of my fullstack program in October, I found myself increasingly drawn to UI/UX design and backend development. Seeking opportunities to gain more experience, I pursued internships and eventually landed a position as a UI/UX designer.
My passion lies in validating ideas, conducting user research, crafting user journeys, designing wireframes and prototypes, and delivering elegant, user-centric designs.
I am grateful for the wealth of resources and supportive communities within the tech world, and I find a great sense of fulfillment in collaborating with others to create value through my work.
What's next?
I am grateful for the skills I have gained and the wonderful people I have met on this path so far. But the journey for me has only just begun. Below are a few things I want to achieve:
Consume more relevant resources.
Document my journey regularly here on this blog
Attend more meetups, conferences and seek /form communities
Be deliberate and consistent with my growth and keep improving daily
Contribute to open-source in design
Inspire others as a UI/UX evangelist
Above all, work hard towards my dream job of "Chopping life"(Nigerian colloquialism)😁❤️
Conclusion
This is just the beginning of my journey, and I'm excited to see where it will take me. I'm committed to discovering who I can be and how far I can go.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you found it interesting, please leave a comment below and let me know.
In the words of St Josemaria Escriva
'' Contra spem, In spem --> Live in certain hope, Against all hope''
See you in my next post 👋🏾.