Hi there!
From the title, you can tell this isn’t your typical deep dive into web development tips or tricks. Instead, we’re switching gears to something more personal, a glimpse into my journey from microbiology to frontend development.
Life doesn’t always follow the path we expect, but sometimes detours lead to incredible opportunities. I hope this story inspires you to embrace change, even when it feels overwhelming, and to explore new possibilities in your own life.
After earning my degree in microbiology and serving my country, my next big goal was to pursue a master's degree in Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology. Little did I know, the journey would take an unexpected turn, leading me to a career in frontend engineering.
I was determined to pursue my passion for infectious diseases. But after facing rejections from four Canadian universities, and turning down admissions from three UK universities due to Brexit uncertainties, I decided to pause my grad school journey. During this break, I came across a Coursera scholarship program sponsored by NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency) on Twitter (now X). That discovery changed everything.
After applying for the scholarship and getting it, I was excited, but also a little lost. I still had no idea which career path in tech to pursue. So, I went on a research spree, exploring everything from game development to backend engineering, before finally landing on frontend engineering.
Frontend made the most sense to me. It felt intuitive, creative, and closely aligned with how I imagined building things on the web. Up until that point, I had zero knowledge of tech, but I’d always been fascinated by computers, the internet, and how they worked. This curiosity became the spark that ignited my new journey.
I enjoyed every bit of the learning process, and in just six months, I was done. Shortly after, I had a conversation with my brother and casually mentioned that I was in tech now. Well, he carried that on his head (literally). Before I knew it, his enthusiasm had rubbed off on me, and I was applying to AltSchool Africa to deepen my knowledge and take my skills to the next level.
Challenges and Breakthroughs
At AltSchool Africa, I was exposed to an intense curriculum that pushed me further than I’d ever imagined. The transition from learning on my own to being in a structured program wasn’t easy. I faced moments of self-doubt, especially when trying to master complex concepts. At times, I wondered if I had made the right decision.
But with each challenge came a breakthrough. I remember building my capstone project, Chatter, and feeling a rush of pride when I saw it come to life. It was moments like these that kept me going. The key takeaway was that every setback was an opportunity to grow, and nothing worth having comes easy.
A year later, I graduated from AltSchool Africa, equipped with a solid foundation in frontend engineering and ready to take on the world. The journey had been challenging, but incredibly rewarding. With my skills sharpened and projects like Furniro e-commerce website and Chatter, among others under my belt, I felt confident in my ability to create meaningful web applications.
Now, I find myself in the job market, eager to apply my knowledge and contribute to the ever-evolving tech world. It’s exciting and nerve-wracking all at once, but I know that my experiences, both in microbiology and tech, have prepared me to navigate this new chapter.
Looking back, it’s clearer now that every step I took, whether planned or unplanned, has led me to where I am today. And I know without a doubt that the journey is far from over.
Thank you for reading, and I hope I’ve been able to inspire you not to let fear or rejection stop you from becoming the best version of yourself.
Until next time, your friendly neighborhood writer, MJ
Bye!!!
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