Hey everyone,
If you've read some of my previous blogs, you'll know that I enjoy building projects — from a Gym Scheduler to contributing to open source.
But here's something that might surprise you.
Almost everything I've used to build those projects wasn't taught to me in school.
In fact, my school barely taught programming at all.
We had the occasional computer class where we'd use things like Microsoft Paint, Excel, or PowerPoint — but I never really got exposed to what software development actually looked like.
If I had only relied on school, I'm honestly not sure I would've discovered how much I enjoy coding.
A Course Changed Everything 🚀
I had always been interested in computers thanks to my dad, who introduced my brother and me to some simple programming challenges when we were younger.
But the point where coding became something I genuinely wanted to pursue was during one summer break in 7th or 8th grade.
That's when I started the Zero to Mastery Complete Web Developer course by Andrei Neagoie.
Looking back, that course completely changed how I viewed programming.
Instead of random topics, everything followed a logical progression:
- HTML & CSS
- JavaScript
- Backend development
- APIs & databases
- Deployment
- Career advice
For the first time, software development felt like one connected journey instead of dozens of unrelated concepts.
Why Structured Courses Worked Better For Me
What I liked most wasn't just the content — it was the structure.
Every module naturally built on the previous one, so I never felt completely lost.
The courses also included:
- ✅ Hands-on projects
- ✅ Downloadable resources
- ✅ Real-world examples
- ✅ Clear progression from beginner to advanced
There was always a feeling that I was moving forward instead of jumping randomly between tutorials.
The Difference It Made
Later, I also completed a MERN Stack course.
That course introduced me to concepts like CRUD operations, which became the foundation for several of my own projects:
| Project | Concepts Used |
|---|---|
| NGO Management System | CRUD, authentication |
| Gym Scheduler App | CRUD, user data, scheduling |
Those concepts weren't just theory anymore.
I was actually using them to build applications.
Looking back, many of the projects I've written about on this blog probably wouldn't have existed without those courses.
My Advice To Beginners
If you're just starting your programming journey, I'd recommend investing in one well-structured course rather than constantly jumping between random tutorials.
YouTube is an amazing resource — I still use it regularly — but I personally found that structured courses helped me build a much stronger foundation.
The projects, progression, and organization made learning much less overwhelming.
Final Thoughts
I'm definitely not saying courses are the only way to learn programming.
Everyone learns differently.
But for me, they provided the structure that school never did. They gave me:
- A roadmap to follow
- Concepts I still use today
- The confidence to start building my own projects
And honestly...
building projects is where the real learning begins.
See you guys in the next one! 🚀
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