This is a submission for the 2025 New Year Writing challenge: Retro’ing and Debugging 2024.
The year 2023 ushered in a new era of leadership across Nigeria, yet it was a period marked by profound economic challenges. Rising prices, widespread poverty, a surge in criminal activities, and a deteriorating security landscape cast a long shadow over the nation. The educational and healthcare sectors grappled with significant hurdles, while limited access to modern technology further exacerbated these difficulties.
As 2024 dawned, these hardships persisted. Yet, amidst the gloom, a flicker of hope emerged. I envisioned this year as a turning point, a year of transformation – a journey from darkness to light. Fueled by an unwavering belief in the potential for positive change and a determination to overcome the obstacles, I embarked on a path of personal and professional growth.
Recognizing the critical role of technology in driving progress, I dedicated myself to mastering the digital realm. In late 2023 and early 2024, I enrolled in the rigorous alx-SE (full stack software engineering) program, a demanding yet rewarding journey into the world of software development. Concurrently, I pursued the Google IT Support Professional Certification through Coursera, expanding my knowledge and skills in a crucial area of the burgeoning tech industry.
This pursuit of excellence was not without its challenges. Navigating these demanding programs while grappling with limited access to essential resources – reliable internet access was a luxury, and electricity was scarce—sometimes available for less than four hours across two days. Despite these obstacles, I persevered, using every moment of connectivity and power to learn, grow, and innovate.
Despite these adversities, I persevered. Through dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, I successfully built a strong foundation in IT and software engineering. I earned esteemed certifications from Google (Coursera), ALX (AI Essentials, Virtual Assistant), and Cisco (Data Science and Analytics). My skillset expanded to encompass a wide range of technologies, including Google Workspace, Git and GitHub, Linux, and programming languages such as Python, C, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, as well as fundamental concepts like data structures and algorithms.
While 2024 presented numerous challenges, it ultimately proved to be a year of invaluable experience, profound learning, and unwavering hope. Despite the hardships, I emerged stronger, more knowledgeable, and more prepared to contribute meaningfully to a brighter future. This year, I discovered that even in the face of adversity, human potential knows no bounds.
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