In between the paragraphs that follow, the Ruby syntax emphasizes what I’m absorbing each day of the bootcamp.
There is much to consider before coding full-time for 15 weeks: health, bills, work, home, etc. Above all, consider you and where you are inside as you envision the possibilities ahead.
Day 1: class << def num_points_scored(player_name), cd, ls, cd .., pwd, mkdir, git clone, code ., git commit -m ‘hello’, git push; me << excitement; society << justice
Day 2: class << class Superhero, attr_accessor, def initialize(name, power), def power=(new_power); me << energetic; society << race
Day3: class << @@all_superheroes = [ ], @@all_superheroes << self, def self.all; me << curious; society << coup
Day 4: class << one to many relationship, many to many relationship, batman = User.new, Tweet.all.select{ |tweet| tweet.user == self}, binding.pry; me << bewildered; society << equality
Leading into 2020, the efforts and advancements at my jobs were no longer having the impact I personally had envisioned. A full-time coding bootcamp was a thought that kept being pushed away by more immediate responsibilities and, of course, money. As the year came to a close, the bootcamp opportunity presented itself again in an email and this time I dove in. Signing up, passing the interview and assessment, and completing the pre-bootcamp material were the bricks I started laying onto the path of 2021: obtain the new skill to dream and shape a different world.
Day 5: class << ERD, .map, .select, doctor — < appointment > — patient; me << confused; society << unity
Day 6: class << student — < course > — tutor, Course.all.select { |course| course.tutor == self }; me << determined; society << hate
Day 7: class << code challenge, CREATE TABLE, DROP TABLE, .help, .schema, .quit, SELECT * FROM [table_name] WHERE [column_name] = [some value]; .headers on, .mode column, .width auto; me << anxious; society << pandemic
Day 8: class << customer — < review > — restaurant, restaurant_id, customer_id, belongs_to, has_many, .uniq, foreign key, INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, FULL, ORM; me << disappointed; society << vaccines
In the course, when code passes with green words of success that fill my terminal window, it blows away haze that surrounded prior error messages; the frustration and will to solve methods are rewarded with confetti on my screen. My calm returns, smiles of success shine, and the next set of methods in another lab await me. Doing this process over and over again is even more fulfilling when I join my classmates in study groups, pair programming projects, and discussion boards. There are no drawbacks to asking for help in the bootcamp; it can only benefit everyone involved. I am encouraged by my classmates, coach, and instructors who share any wisdom that leads to greater understanding.
Day 9: class << ActiveRecord, Rakefile, Gemfile, Gemfile.lock, migration, bundle install, rake -T, rake db:migrate, schema.rb, class CreateArtists < ActiveRecord: :Migration[4.2], t.string :name, rake console; me << creative; society << masks
Day 10: class: CRUD, seed.rb, rollback, has_many :through; me << happy; society << guns
Day 11: class << gem install tty-prompt, rake start, prompt.select, puts “Welcome, #{@user.username}!”, gem ‘faker’, pair programming project pitch; me << optimistic; society << bias
Day 12: class << pair programming project; me << exhausted; society << storms
Each of my classmates have lives beyond the laptop screen that we constantly stare at for hours each day. During live video lectures or pair programming, the screen can add pressure to present an image different from what’s going on inside me. This same screen is also creating bonds among all of us in the class. These bonds were generated because of code and have the chance to flourish with positivity for each individual and their worlds they will influence.
Day 13: class << pair programming project; me << useless; society << land
Day 14: class << pair programming project; me << successful; society << food access
Day 15: class: code challenge retake, pair programming project presentation; me << relieved; society << unemployment
Coding exposes my brain cells that have been on vacation for a while and demands practice, practice, practice, especially when new to it. There are times when I question my commitment to the course because spaces needed for problem solving and if statements are currently filled with leftover debris. However, my motivation comes from wanting change in my life and the life of others; this is an opportunity to give back to me and to communities that face challenges accessing this information. I may not always be in the optimal mindset in the mornings nor after a lecture, but I don’t question the images at the end of the tunnel, I want to alter that tunnel to better suit my learning.
Consider you and the tunnel you build towards your goals.
Thanks to everyone in the cohort.
