Front end developer specialising in JavaScript and React. Experienced in all aspects of modern front end development. Passionate about making accessible, secure and performant software.
I think it's fine to try out a few things at some point and see what you like. You mentioned things like machine learning, mobile development, networking, etc. Feel free to spend a week or a month on each, but I don't imagine it's possible to progress past "junior" unless you focus on one of them for a significant amount of time. Anywhere from a year to a couple of years. Seriously, not even the smartest person on earth could "master" web development in under 2 years, and that would be if they had like 250 IQ or something and did only that all day.
But I think if you're really not sure what you like, trying things out early is super good. It's much better than doing something for 3 years, realising you don't like it, repeat.
In terms of earning money: I would challenge the assumption that you need to know front end to pick up freelancing gigs. Perhaps you could just learn WordPress with a page builder or something and get gigs with that? From what I understand custom development is more suitable to a medium term contract or a permanent job. Then again I don't know a lot about this so...
To anyone starting out I would say:
Look at what jobs are available for what you want to do. For example don't learn "language no one has heard of before" if it won't have jobs.
Laser focus on something. Everything is viable, but I think it's inefficient doing many things at once.
I think it's fine to try out a few things at some point and see what you like. You mentioned things like machine learning, mobile development, networking, etc. Feel free to spend a week or a month on each, but I don't imagine it's possible to progress past "junior" unless you focus on one of them for a significant amount of time. Anywhere from a year to a couple of years. Seriously, not even the smartest person on earth could "master" web development in under 2 years, and that would be if they had like 250 IQ or something and did only that all day.
But I think if you're really not sure what you like, trying things out early is super good. It's much better than doing something for 3 years, realising you don't like it, repeat.
In terms of earning money: I would challenge the assumption that you need to know front end to pick up freelancing gigs. Perhaps you could just learn WordPress with a page builder or something and get gigs with that? From what I understand custom development is more suitable to a medium term contract or a permanent job. Then again I don't know a lot about this so...
To anyone starting out I would say:
Hope that helps. Best of luck!
Wow... I think I really needed to hear this. Thanks you