When people talk about their tech journeys, the stories often sound straightforward: they discovered programming, learned a few skills, built projects, and kept moving forward.
Mine hasn't been like that.
My journey has been filled with pauses, restarts, unexpected setbacks, and new beginnings. Looking back, I've realized that one thing has remained constant throughout it all: every time I stopped, I found my way back.
Phase One: My First Contact with Tech
My first contact with tech was in the summer of 2022.
At the time, it was a completely new world to me. I had never really been exposed to anything like it before. What attracted me initially wasn't even programming itself, it was the opportunity to use a laptop and spend time on the internet without feeling guilty about it. It felt like I had finally found a reason to justify my screen time.
I joined what was essentially a coaching class where I was introduced to frontend development. For about two months, I learned the basics of HTML and CSS and built a few small things along the way.
One of the things I enjoyed most was that I wasn't learning alone. There were other students on the same journey, and it was exciting to be part of a community of learners.
Unfortunately, that phase didn't last long.
School resumed, my schedule became tighter, and another challenge surfaced: I didn't own a laptop.
Throughout that period, I had been borrowing my mother's laptop. Eventually, it was time to return it, and without a device to practice on, my progress slowed to a stop.
That was the end of the first phase of my tech journey.
Phase Two: Rediscovering Tech
Fast forward to mid-2025.
I was rounding off my secondary school examinations when something unexpected happened.
My mum reconnected with someone I had known from childhood: Geekmaros, a frontend developer and tech mentor.
I had known him when I was much younger, long before I understood anything about tech. We eventually reconnected, and through our conversations, he reintroduced me to the world of technology.
Because I had admired him from a young age, it was easy for me to listen to his advice.
I told him about my brief experience with frontend development back in 2022, and through our discussions, I began to understand something I hadn't fully realized before: technology was growing rapidly, and opportunities within the field were everywhere.
The more I learned, the more interested I became.
Around the same time, I was making decisions about my university education. My initial plan was to study Computer Science. However, after several discussions, I realized that many of the skills I wanted from Computer Science could also be learned outside the classroom.
Eventually, I chose Electrical Engineering, a field broad enough to expose me to multiple areas of technology while allowing me to continue learning technical skills independently.
Toward the end of 2025, I finally got my first laptop.
For the first time, I had a device I could truly call my own.
I was excited.
I spoke with Geekmaros about my plans, and although he suggested that AI and Machine Learning were promising fields to explore in the future, he advised me to start with the fundamentals.
His advice was simple: begin with frontend development, understand the environment, build a solid foundation, and then expand into other areas later.
So I did exactly that.
I returned to HTML and CSS, practiced consistently, and even attempted a few challenges on Frontend Mentor.
Things were going well.
I was making progress, learning new concepts, and slowly rebuilding the momentum I had lost years earlier.
Then life interrupted again.
Phase Three: The Unexpected Pause
Early in 2026, my laptop developed a problem.
At first, I assumed it was something minor.
I took it to specialists hoping it could be repaired, but after several attempts, the final verdict came back: it was beyond repair.
Just like that, my learning came to an abrupt halt.
The timing couldn't have been worse.
I had finally found my rhythm, and suddenly the tool I depended on most was gone.
What followed was a break that lasted several months.
From the end of February through July, I was unable to continue coding in the way I wanted.
But something interesting happened during that period.
Even though I wasn't actively coding, my interest in tech didn't disappear.
I attended a few tech events.
I stayed connected to the community.
I continued following developments in the industry.
Most importantly, I never lost the desire to learn.
The laptop was gone, but the curiosity remained.
Starting Again
Today, I find myself standing at the beginning of another chapter.
I have a new laptop.
My exams are almost behind me.
And for the third time, I am preparing to continue my tech journey.
Some people might see the pauses in my story as setbacks.
I see them differently.
Each interruption taught me something.
The first taught me that interest alone isn't enough—you need access and consistency.
The second taught me the value of mentorship and guidance.
The third taught me that passion can survive even when circumstances prevent progress.
If there's one lesson I've learned from this journey, it's that progress isn't always linear.
Sometimes you move forward.
Sometimes life forces you to stop.
And sometimes the most important thing is simply having the courage to begin again.
I'm still a beginner.
I still have a lot to learn.
I haven't built anything groundbreaking yet.
But that's okay.
This article isn't the story of someone who has reached the finish line.
It's the story of someone who keeps returning to the race.
And as I begin this next phase, I'm excited to see where the journey leads.
Final Thoughts
I wanted to share my story because many aspiring developers face interruptions due to school, finances, device issues, or other responsibilities. Social media often highlights milestones and success stories, but sometimes the real challenge is simply staying committed through the setbacks.
If you've ever had to pause your tech journey, I'd love to hear about it.
Have you ever taken a break from coding or learning tech? What was it like when you came back?
Top comments (8)
Good job. Keep it up 👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you ✨
Well done 👏🏼
Thanks bro 🫂
Sharps🙂↔️✨
May your efforts never go in vain
Amin thank you ✨
Nice 👌
Thanks bro 🤗