Staring at the ceiling all night and staring at the black screen all day. This is me trying to figure out what I was thinking while choosing to study web development. They were telling me to try writing some codes and use collaboration platforms, but for the first two months, I was officially lost. I was swimming in an ocean, seeing no shore.

As a matter of fact, I have always had an unending passion for technology, especially when it comes to the work that is done behind the scenes. My journey as a junior web developer started six months ago, but my technological passion started ages before that. Lucky me, I have been chosen by SISTECH (an NGO that helps women in tech sectors). There, I had the opportunity not only to access many educational platforms and create an educational plan but also to receive mentoring and tech consultation from experts. Having all that assistance encourages me to be more confident in my skills by appreciating my effort and to swim, and swim happily in that ocean with great hope of reaching the shore.

Throughout a journey of six months, I would never neglect how many times I got anxious and disappointed, but I did never stop. I was walking slowly, appreciating myself whenever I accomplish something, no matter how small it is. I kept swimming, but my feet are much more stable, my steps are wider, and my footprints are clearer. The third and fourth months were epic. I noted that I do not sway anymore. I have more confidence and the information is dancing in my mind. I can deal with two languages of programming; I can use some collaborative platforms; I am building my networking strategy; and I am adding new technological terms to my mental library.

The fifth and sixth months were the core of the program. Here, I can see the shore clearly, so I speed up my swimming steps. Finally, I started to think, solve, and apply. Not to mention the slew of questions I've been generating. The final days are approaching and my target is almost achieved. I feel the positivity and the relief. Finally, I can enjoy the whole process.

Ultimately, having experienced such a journey would not only increase my hard skills as an aspiring web developer but also help me to improve my soft skills by building an effective networking strategy.