In the early days, I like many had big dreams and wild aspirations. From automotive design to becoming a zookeeper, and everything in between.
But I have a problem. An issue I know I’m not alone in: fixation. I fixate on anything and everything. And it’s only gotten worse as I’ve grown older.
I’ve spent thousands on hiking and camping gear during one obsession, and more recently… spiders and snakes. It started with one jumping spider and spiraled into about 100 different species of arachnid, 12 snakes, and a couple lizards. Super irresponsible, I know but that’s me.
Despite all of that, one interest has never truly left me: computers. I’ve always been drawn to what they can do and the worlds they open up.
I'll never forget the first computer I ever had. It was a kid’s computer—nothing special. No internet access, just games and educational activities. But even before that, I used to take this little toy piano, put it in front of this odd yellow window we had, and pretend it was a computer.
Fast forward, and our household finally got a real computer—and man, was I hooked. At first, I was just consuming the internet. What is it? How does it work? What can I do with it? There were mountains of information, and I wanted to know everything.
That curiosity quickly turned into something more: how can I make stuff on this thing? How can I create what I see here? That’s when my interest in web development really began.
I think it lasted about a year. I was more interested in collecting tools and resources than actually building things—downloading IDEs, syntax editors, and reading tutorials. I dabbled with HTML, CSS, and maybe a bit of Python, but the fixation faded. Eventually, I went back to just being a regular teenager.
Fast forward two decades, and now I’m at a coffee shop—where I’ve been for almost nine years. Mostly because it’s comfortable. And maybe because change can be scary.
But I’m over it. I’m done. It’s not fun. I hate customer service. Sure, there’s customer service in everything, but food is different. People get so angry. It’s draining.
I’ve been done with it for a while, honestly. But I wasn’t sure what to do next. Where to go. What I even wanted for this next chapter.
These past few months in the coffee chapter have been utterly draining. Things are changing—and not in a good way. The higher-ups want more, demand more. And I knew I had to figure something out. But what?
I can't remember exactly what it was that I saw, but something sparked a memory—and coding rose to the forefront of my mind. I started reading around again, and before I knew it, I was diving back into web creation.
Only this time, it wasn’t just a passing fixation. It wasn’t hype for the week. I was locked in. I wasn’t going to stop.
So the journey began. It’s been about three months now, and I’m building new projects almost every day. I’m currently tackling JavaScript—something I’d put off for a while since I’m in the middle of moving, and life’s a bit chaotic.
But the journey continues.
I have big plans and a path laid out for how I’m going to take this seriously and make it work. Of course, I have doubts like anyone would.
AI is changing everything in tech. Some days, it feels like the path I’m on is becoming obsolete before I even get started. That fear creeps in: Am I wasting my time?
But I remind myself web development still needs people. AI is just another tool. Like a calculator didn’t erase the need for math, AI doesn’t erase the need for developers. It just adds another layer.
Still, the doubts are real. It’s scary.
But I’m committed to seeing this through. I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. And even if the path shifts, the skills I’m building will be useful no matter where I end up.
So welcome to the journey. I’ll be sharing this story as I live it—the challenges, the highs, the lows. What I’m learning. What I’m making. And the things I find useful along the way.
Thanks for reading, and for joining me in this next chapter.
Top comments (0)