Becoming a Python wizard ??
Hi everyone!?
I have this dream of becoming a Python wizard. Programming skills are highly sought after in STEM jobs, but as a research scientist, I know that Python could help me process and analyze data more efficiently.
Though finding the time to learn has proven more challenging than I’d expected.
It wasn’t because I was going it alone. When I first joined Synthace and met Luci—naturally, sparks flew—we bonded after she told me that she, too, had been struggling to put aside time to develop her Python skills. So, we decided to team up and work toward our goal.?
First, we created a study group. We scheduled a weekly time slot where people could commit to independent learning. The idea was to hold each other accountable, and motivate each other to show up.?
Sounds like a good idea in theory, right??
Except it didn’t work out too well. People got busy. Other tasks often took priority, and people slowly lost momentum. In the end, they stopped showing up altogether.?
Next, we tried joining the same online course, aiming to lean on each other for support. In some ways, working through the same Python course was useful. We were able to ask each other for help and track our progress, which improved our motivation.
But again, we lost momentum over time, because we both repeatedly prioritized other tasks.
Both experiences helped us appreciate that learning a new skill is almost a full-time job.
Though we also struggled because we felt that we couldn’t justify the time. Looking back, learning Python was most effective for me when I applied it to projects that I was working on. The time I spent learning felt more productive, as I could see that it was having a direct impact on my day-to-day tasks. Even when I had a lot on my plate, it helped me dedicate guilt-free time to learn.
Of course, it’s not always as straightforward as that for everyone. You may not be in a position to integrate your development into your current role.
Luckily, though, persistence is just as important, and making some progress is better than making no progress at all. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. Maybe I’ll come back to you with a magic fix once I'm a Python wizard.
Catch you next time,
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