DEV Community: Simone

Nevertheless, Simone Coded 2022 (can't believe this is my part 4)

Simone — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 18:49:03 +0000

✨ Another year, another Nevertheless or #shecoded and another year older, wiser and happier. ✨

I had a bit of a rough year, coding wise. Can't say why it really happend, but learning a lot of new things at work gave me so much energy and joy the first few months in. But after a few more months it got exhausted. And the fun was gone for a bit. So much so that I was doubting for a split second to switch careers again. Back to something I could already do, because the learning all the time is, well, a lot..
But I geve myself some time and space to think. Paused my home projects, focussed on work and me-time away from screens. (witch sounds easier than it was/ is) And decided to keep at it. Gave myself some topics in the form of boundaries on what to learn. There is so much out there.. but I need to focus and get good at a few things, and fun things.
Decided on React and next.js for now. Aside from my never-ending vanilla JS journey. And of course I still love CSS very much.
To make my life easier, I decided to gift myself a 14inch macbook pro. Had it for a few weeks and never want to go without it. Im proud of myself for installing everything and doing all the setup to program on it myself. It will be my new best buddy through all the learning I have in my future.
Again, I am very excited about what the future will hold. Bring it on!

Nevertheless, Simone still Codes in 2021! (or part 3)

Simone — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:43:27 +0000

✨ As everyone else shares everywhere. I also cannot believe another year has passed so quickly.
It is international woman's day again, and also my birthday tomorrow.

Before writing this, I read my post from last year. I am in such a different place compared to last year. This I knew already, but reading it back is very fun and strange in a good way.
In this crazy different year, I decided to quit my job, take the leap and start the same job at a company I thought would suit me better. It's been 3 months and it's the best work decision I have ever made.

Not sure it is because of the new job, Coronavirus or just me seeing things a bit different because of both. The JS goal I set for myself, I did not make it. But that is okay. I have learned (and am still learning everyday) to be less hard on myself. Studying again really is very intense. I underestimated that for sure. So I decided to be kind to myself, also do what I can and try not to worry and overthink things. Next to the JS I did learn last year, I also learned that thinking about myself is the most important thing.

Also I did learn a lot on my new job. About the company, Git workflow, composer.. a lot of things I need for work, that are not programming. Also I bought CSS secrets, the real paperback, to read for fun. And I am loving it. Reading about CSS casually whenever and study JS one dedicated evening a week.

To stay on topic, the only thing I would love to change at work is that I will get another woman developer colleague. You looking for a job in Utrecht, The Netherlands? Let me know! I know this is a long shot. My goal for next year is getting a bigger network of women, making more friends :)

Happy international women's day to everyone!
<3 Love from The Netherlands

✨ PS from the template :)
My advice for allies to support underrepresented folks who code is... Smile and be kind. Never assume, you can ask anything, if you ask politely and are sincere.

My hacktoberfest 2020 ✨

Simone — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:13:09 +0000

This is my third time joining Hacktoberfest, and every time I take something else away from it.
This year I came prepared for at least one PR! I don't remember exactly how and when I learned about Wes Bos' his uses page. Probably on the Syntax podcast. I was till working on my own portfolio website (and still am). But decided that Hacktober 2020 should be my deadline for that, and have at least that page up so I could add myself for this years Hacktoberfest. And I did!
As I said, my site is not none yet, but isn't a portfolio website always under construction?

Check out https://uses.tech/ and see if you can find me ;)

Also you can add yourself of course, if it's not this year, get it ready for next year!

Good luck everybody, and Happy Hacktoberfest!

🏳️‍🌈 Be here & be proud! 🏳️‍🌈

Simone — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 08:52:44 +0000

Hello! This story will be not so much about DEV but more about Pride. Ever since I joined the DEV community or steered my career in this direction, being gay has not once been an issue for me. I was not sure it would be this way, but am very fortunate it has. So far, because I know you can run into people with different views anytime.
I never had a tough time coming out, which again makes me very fortunate, I am aware of this. I heard a lot of different stories over the years.
That is why hashtags and sharing stories like what we do here is so important! Beginning of this year I visited San Francisco. And want to just remind you all of Harvey Milk. This amazing man and the work he did. And still I think it is so important to show yourself. Be visible! Do not hide who you are because you are beautiful being yourself.
I know the minority I am in has the 'luxury' that we can hide, but I think we should not. How difficult it can be, and follow your own path and time of course. Just know the community is here.

I'm proud of...

It feels like a lifetime ago (2015) that I stopped volunteering after 9 years of work for a LGBT+ organisation for youth. We did (and they still do such amazing work. The organisations goal is that their work will be no longer necessary).
I went to high schools to give guest lectures, there is a buddy project, we held events, meetups, pride days and summer camps and weekends away and so much more.
But what I wanted to say on this, the people I met so many of them, all amazing and different and awesome in their own way. We went through so much with the team of volunteers. Highs and lows, and this year is the first time since its beginnings the summer camp is off (covid..). I am sad about this but also know that times are changing and communities rise up online and support is there. People are there. That is what I am proud of.

I find support in...

All these things to make us visible, big initiatives like pride parades to little things here and there. A little rainbow flag in a profile name. Posts like this with #devpride. People who are friendly and stay friendly after you come out to them. It all helps. Thank you.

❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜

Nevertheless, Simone Coded. Part 2

Simone — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 20:22:50 +0000

I cannot believe it’s already been a year since I wrote my first “Nevertheless, she coded" which was also my fist contribution here.

This year, for my part 2, I chose to write a bit on where I am and where I (think) I'm going. I say this carefully because the last two years getting into coding have been quite a maze and a rollercoaster combined, learning wise. Surprising me along the way, the people at meetups, the community, what I have learned so far and where I am now.

This year, I wanted to pave the learning road for myself a bit better, make a plan or at least choose a direction. On NYE I gave myself the goal to learn JavaScript in 2020 and along the way when I have more insight, I will decide on what JavaScript framework I want to learn for my website. React? Angular? Vue? Gatsby? There are so many routes to take, but first I am working on my basic knowledge. I want a good solid base of JavaScript.

Starting this route, I got me Kyle Simpsons YDNJS books and Wes Bos’ beginner JS course. Both I am enjoying very much. What helps is that I made the decision to take my own time and do this my way. But I also needed a date to work towards. I applied for the Amsterdam JS Nation conference's diversity scholarship, being held from the 3d of June till the 5th of June. Super excited about this, because last week I got the e-mail that I got it! So that will be the date I work towards to learn as much as I can!

I don’t know if I am allowed to share this, but if you also want to apply: https://jsnation.com/#diversity

Let me know if you are also going, maybe I'll see you there?

Tomorrow is my birthday. I know it's a coincidence that it's the day after international women's day (or is it?) I feel sort of honored that my birthday is so close to this day, overthought that might not make sense.
The last couple of years, (maybe also because I chose this line of work?) I became more aware of the need for this day, and what we are still fighting for or where we are going. That is why I wanted to participate again this year and share my story.

MyHacktoberfest completed!🎉 story

Simone — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:47:26 +0000

Spoiler: I added links to the repositories I got my PR's this year 😄

My comment on the article below got a bit out of hand.

Hacktoberfest Completion Thread

dev.to staff for The DEV Team ・ Sep 30 '19 ・ 1 min read

#hacktoberfest

And then I saw I could also create my own post with #hacktoberfest. So here it is!

I started typing and typing and all my excitement that has been with me ever since I completed the 4 PR's yesterday is still here, and is not going away.

I love how this challenge became so much more than "I'm here for the t-shirt". It inspired me to learn more, keep at it and I might even say I am proud of myself. (This I barely ever say).

Here is my comment from the post. I'll add to it a bit. This will hopefully make it easier for you to read.

I did it! This is actually the second year that I join Hacktoberfest. Last year I was a real noob, a few months into my first developer job and just stoked I managed to get a GitHub account, not get too lost there and completed 4 pr's (how, I have no idea anymore). But during last year, I was always a bit hesitant to wear the awesome shirt I got, because I felt like I didn't really earn it. (imposter syndrome much? The 🐞ladybug podcast ladies told me about this, silly me. Anyhoe, if you haven't yet, go listen to their podcasts!)

This Hacktoberfest I set some goals for myself.
1) I wanted to use GitHub desktop to do a pull request and
2) I wanted to really contribute to at least one open source project.
I achieved both these goals and along the way learned even more, and got more exciting about coding and learning and basically this path I am on since I started this all about 2 years ago.

While achieving goal 1, I found this great first timers repo.

firstcontributions / first-contributions

🚀✨ Help beginners to contribute to open source projects

Which includes a tutorial on how to use Visual Studio Code (which I had just decided to make my go to editor a month or so ago) in combination with GitHub like this. Mind blown, I had no idea. Now I learned this and I did all the other hacktoberfest PR's this way.

Then I found a repo that was just awesome and fun. We are making a CSS Zoo.

xaca / css_zoo

Proyecto para recolectar código en html y css para crear imagenes de diferentes animales

I really love this project, it's easy for beginners and super friendly and fun. I translated the Readme file to Dutch (voor de Nederlandse lezers, ik heb een typfout achter gelaten zodat je deze kan fixen met een PR ;)) and added an animal too.
That does leave my goal number 2.. Really contribute.. I don't know why but there are no Hacktoberfest events here in the Netherlands this year (maybe next year I should organise one myself.. Goal for 2020?!). That is why I went to Dusseldorf, Germany yesterday for a Meetup from a React group who did have an event. Got up early, drove east and I am so happy I went. I met a lot of inspiring people, made friends and one 'gave' me a bug he found for my last PR in this repo:

tech-conferences / confs.tech

List of tech conferences: JavaScript / Design - CSS - UX / Ruby - iOS - Android - PHP - Data - Devops and more.

where I also had my first experience with React and Typescript. Goal 2, check! But not only that, I have been meaning to learn React, so this is great! Now I have an example project I can learn from, and I already contributed a bit. 😄 Even though I 'only' fixed a sponsor picture in the footer, I am super excited about it!

Hacktoberfest 2019 was already amazing, teaching me new things, I met so many super friendly people and got inspired to push myself and get out there. Thank you @digitalocean and @devteam, thanks a lot.

But Hacktober is not over yet! Now I want to see how I can maybe help others, any questions other beginners have, I am happy to help! 👋

Now I was just thinking, writing this post now, I am learning how to write and edit a post here using Jekyll front matter. Another thing I am learning this Hacktober 😄 The learning never ends!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go put on my hacktobershirt from last year and wear it with pride 🏳️‍🌈

PS Will you go and make a CSS animal to add to our zoo?! 🐴🐍

Nevertheless, Simone Coded

Simone — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:03:47 +0000

I continued to code in 2019 because...

I want to solve problems, make life easier and make pretty things.

I was thinking about this answer for a while. Overthinking it, probably, because that is what I tend to do. But then I realised that is why I opened this in the first place. To start small and start from where I currently am.

I am new to coding and new to dev.to. Started to learn to code about a year ago through free recourses online, and am still amazed by the community, the people and all the information and passion we share.

I deserve credit for...

The fact that I keep going. I put in the hours and am eager to learn. Also curious about where I will end up in a few years.

I hope to see my work...

Grow, just grow and get better. I really feel like I am planting seeds with all these different topics I read about, hear about and watch YouTube video’s about.

And concerning the community..

I plan to contribute. I feel like I need to learn more, but also know I have learned a lot already. Still a bit shy about it, because it doesn’t seem like much. It seems like a house made out of cardboard, when I am looking at mansions other people created. I will be proud of my cardboard house!

(P.S. this is my first post here. Hope all goes well with posting it.)