This is a submission for the WeCoded Challenge: Echoes of Experience
The journey into coding is often filled with curiosity, challenges, and moments of pure excitement. Looking back, my path into web development has been no different. From my first encounter with HTML to building interactive experiences, every step has been a learning curve—one that has shaped my skills, mindset, and passion for creating on the web.
How It All Started: A Gamer’s Frustration
I had dabbled in various areas of software tech—app development, game development, and web development—before finally deciding to major in web development. My ambition? To conquer the software industry one step at a time, starting with the web. But here’s the funny part—I never liked coding in the first place.
My entry into the tech world started long before I even knew what a website was. It all began with game development. As a kid, I loved video games—especially soccer and war games. They simulated real experiences and fueled my love for technology and entertainment. But here’s the thing—no game was ever perfect. There was always something missing, something I wished I could change.
I kept scrolling through app stores, searching for the perfect game—one that had everything I wanted. But no matter how many I tried, there was always some flaw, some missing feature. That frustration became the seed of something bigger.
The Moment of Change: Eyes Open, Mind Blown
At that time, my only way of coping was writing reviews and commenting on game forums, hoping developers would magically read my mind and improve their games. But after a while, even that felt pointless. I resigned myself to just accepting the flaws in games and forcibly focusing only on their bright sides.
Then something unexpected happened.
One day, while scrolling through the App Store, I stumbled upon an app called Grasshopper. It claimed to teach JavaScript in a fun, interactive way. I misinterpreted it as some kind of math puzzle (which I loved), and that curiosity made me explore further.
Not long after, I came across another app called Programming Hero, and a simple yet powerful sentence changed my trajectory:
"Learn to code and build a game."
That was all I needed. If I couldn't find the perfect game, maybe—just maybe—I could build my own.
Copy-Pasting My Way to “Success” (The False Pride Phase)
With zero coding experience, I did what any beginner would do—I followed tutorials. But not just any tutorials, I copied code word for word from them, pasted it into game engines, and called it my project.
And guess what? It worked! I had games running that made me beam with pride. But deep down, I knew the truth—I didn’t actually understand what I was doing. It was false pride, built on copy-paste programming.
As I kept experimenting, I dabbled in different languages. I started with Python, hoping to create games with it. But then I stumbled into Java and got stuck there for the longest time, trying to figure out its most relevant use. Eventually, Java led me into app development—a huge detour from my initial goal of building games.
How a Challenge Changed Everything (Or, How My Cousin Accidentally Made Me a Web Developer)
My journey into web development wasn’t something I planned—it was triggered by a challenge. My cousin had built something visually stunning with HTML and CSS, and when I saw it, I had two thoughts:
This is really cool.
Why can't I do this?
Until then, my focus had been on game and app development, but seeing how easily he could shape a webpage sparked something in me. Unlike the complexity of game engines, web development felt instant and satisfying—write a few lines of code, refresh the page, and boom! Magic.
Coding on a Tablet: The Start of Something Beautiful (Literally)
With nothing but a tablet, I started learning HTML and CSS. Watching simple lines of code turn into beautiful designs felt creative and rewarding—like art mixed with logic.
Then came JavaScript. If HTML and CSS made things look good, JavaScript made them do things. The moment I got my first button to actually work, I felt powerful. It was like I had unlocked a new superpower.
Books for Brain, Videos for Biceps
As I dived deeper into web development, I realized something:
Books put concepts in my brain. They gave me understanding—the why behind everything.
Videos were my practice gym. I used YouTube tutorials like workout sessions, following along and applying what I learned.
This combo of reading + doing became my ultimate learning strategy.
Freelancing? I’ll Pass (For Now…)
Most beginners create a portfolio early in their learning process, but I was hesitant. I actually made one dummy portfolio, but deep down, I knew I wanted real projects before making a marketable one.
At one point, I considered freelancing, excited by the idea of earning through my skills. I browsed job listings and imagined landing my first gig. But here’s the thing—I never applied.
It wasn’t that I lacked skills, but I lacked confidence. I kept questioning whether my work was good enough, whether I had enough experience. Because I had tied my success to freelancing, this hesitation drained my enthusiasm.
Project Paralysis: When Finishing is Harder Than Starting
The deeper I went into web development, the harder it became to finish projects.
I started countless projects, only to abandon them halfway. It wasn’t because I lost interest in coding—it was because I didn’t have a clear direction.
UI/UX: The Roadmap I Didn’t Know I Needed
That’s when I decided to learn UI/UX design. Instead of jumping straight into code, I began creating mockups and prototypes first. This changed everything.
I knew exactly what I was building before writing a single line of code.
My projects felt polished and structured.
I found new motivation by engaging with communities and sharing my work.
This shift reignited my passion and gave me the push I needed.
No Rush for a Portfolio—Quality Over Speed
A lot of people create a portfolio as part of their learning journey, but I’ve decided to hold off on a proper one until I have a collection of strong, meaningful projects—including my submission for the WeCoded landing page.
I want my portfolio to showcase real, marketable work, not just rushed projects.
What’s Next? The Bigger Picture
With my passion for web development stronger than ever, I now have a clear goal:
✅ Master the Web – Learn both frontend and backend development to become a full-stack software engineer.
✅ Freelancing with Purpose – Build up my portfolio and return to freelancing, this time with confidence.
✅ Entrepreneurial Goals – Eventually, I want to create SaaS tools that solve real-world problems.
I’m incredibly grateful for everyone and everything that has helped me along this journey—especially my family, who have always believed in and appreciated my work.
To every coder out there: keep learning, keep building, and never lose sight of your passion. Good luck! 🚀
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