Hello W—

I never liked that phrase, those two inescapable words every new programmer is instructed to use in their first console.log, for their first function's return value, as the content of their first HTML element, or what have you.

My earliest encounter with the immortal phrase came from my cousin, a childhood friend, always (and still) much more savvy and capable with tech than myself. I don't recall exactly when I first beheld the words, but presumably I saw them in some bit of programming my cousin showed me, probably when we were in middle school. Something about it always struck me as silly or frivolous in a way I found off-putting—though I never could put my finger on exactly why.

Now, many years later, I am the new programmer, typing those words myself as I begin to learn JavaScript, React, and other things in rapid succession at the Flatiron School. As I do, I can't help but feel that phrase take on new meaning for me. I'm acquiring new skills to take a new tack professionally, and in so doing I will re-introduce myself as something of a new person. Despite my lingering dislike for the phrase, I am indeed saying a new hello to the world.

Or at least here I am saying hello to you.

For the record, though, any test console.log of mine will always say 'oink'.