Crossing over to tech, ep 2: The Battle plan

Back in April, after I managed to develop the functionality for my first app (an outfit generator, my personal tribute to Cher Horowitz's iconic wardrobe software in 'Clueless'), I posted a selfie on Instagram with this caption:

"The first time I ever saw a computer was in 1990 at my local youth centre. It had a wooden CRT screen. There were about 20 kids in a room, fighting the strong sunlight that made the dusty screen, on which our tutor wrote some Pascal code, even darker. It took another 3 or 4 years until I had the chance to actually touch a computer. Of course, it was for playing Solitaire, as no one had taught me anything else until high school. I detested Computer Science to the core and nearly failed it.?

In 2018, during my MA in France, I had two modules where I had to design and update a website featuring imagery created by us using Adobe tools. The tutor was nice and truly dedicated, but all menus were in French. I attended classes and stared at the projection screen, trying to grasp the logic behind his every move. I was the only student not taking notes because it was hard for me to engage with something I simply loathed and to understand it after working with English menus my entire life. Put me in front of a computer with Romanian menus, and I could manage to connect every label.?

However, when I finally realised I understood the logic behind my tutor’s actions, I went home and searched for every tutorial I could find to help me complete my assignments. My web design experience in France taught me that with the right guidance, I could not only overcome deeply ingrained fears but also transform them into assets.

In November 2023, I started learning Python. After my whole world fell apart on March 5, 2024, Python became my closest ally—a friend on whom I relied for mere survival. As I’m about to finish my first app (yes, something to do with styling), I treated myself to orange roses, symbols of admiration. This is the second time I’ve done this, and honestly, I’m starting a tradition. Because there’s nothing more admirable than overcoming long-held limitations and mental blocks.

Indeed, I bought myself orange roses and accompanied the selfie with REM's 'Man on the Moon,' which I obsessively played all day because it somehow reflected my feelings of finally overcoming the belief that I lacked the intellectual capacity to grasp anything related to computers. I doubt I’m the only one haunted by such limiting beliefs about their potential or ability to turn their lives around, so I’m grateful for any tips and tricks to navigate our escape from self-imposed mental barriers. As for my own strategy, in no particular order:

1. Discover your learning style:

When reflecting on our competencies, we may recognise scenarios where we can explain concepts through various approaches or examples. However, some of us may struggle to pinpoint the exact strategies that yield the most knowledge absorption. I first encountered VARK learning styles at age 35. Memories from law school, where I aced Criminal Law exams by treating the Criminal Code like an Agatha Christie novel (homicide and fraud must be fiction, who does that in real life?!), suddenly came alive. We may be blessed with multiple cognitive pathways for assimilating information, but awareness of our learning style can be the superpower we all need in this battle.

2. Place newly acquired knowledge in context:

One of the most thought-provoking lectures during my MA days in Nice focused on popular science, or as the French call it, 'vulgarisation scientifique.' Accessing scientific concepts in an engaging manner beyond one's academic background is one of the greatest blessings of our time. In recent years, I've developed a habit of listening to neuroscience authors on general-format podcasts. I recall Dr. Tara Swart discussing her work as a psychiatrist in the NHS, where she encountered people attempting suicide after losing loved ones. Through their stories, she explained the physiology of their forthcoming experiences as they coped with separation and developed resilience. I can't recite the formula for falling in love, but podcasts have taught me more about oxytocin and vasopressin than biology classes. YouTube offers explanations on any topic of interest, unfolding in ways that are understandable if not tangible. One of the greatest revelations from podcasts came from Sam Harris, who noted that fear and excitement share similar physiological responses, but we tend to conceptualise them differently based on our narrative. Let’s shift our perspective and shout in excitement, instead of biting our nails.

3. Find content creators who speak your language:

When navigating psychology and self-development content, I realised that although they offered intersecting or nearly identical perspectives, I preferred certain authors and content creators. My interest in some waned as I found them too rigid in defending their ideas, lacking tact in their stoic stance, or too energetic to follow because their enthusiasm prevented thoughtful reflection. My experience with self-development and psychology content taught me how to search for the right YouTube resources. I binge on Mariya Sha 's , John Elder 's, and Corey Schafer 's channels and remain indebted to one of my best friends for introducing me to Dr. Angela Yu 's courses. The downside of relying on content creators in your self-taught journey is that unless they structure their videos in coherent series, YouTube algorithms may lead you from one unrelated subject to another. Structure and a systematic approach to knowledge are critical. However, placing each new concept in context helps in understanding its frequency of occurrence and ramifications.

4. Remember, problem-solving is fundamental:

Each of us can name at least one tech entrepreneur who built an empire without writing a single line of code. Most come from marketing or business strategy backgrounds, reaffirming that languages are tools for expression and problem-solving. In one of her courses on designing appealing apps, Dr. Angela Yu advised us to sketch (even by hand) some wireframes before starting work on our app (including coding). What is the app's purpose? How will it change the world? Once you clarify your vision, you can easily identify the functionalities to prioritize. Nevertheless, when structuring your vision into a coherent plan, always consider the user's experience. For example, in e-commerce, think about the customer journey map. This perspective helps identify how certain functionalities influence others and shape the app's structure.

This represents my personal journey in building resilience while transitioning to tech from journalism at age 40. However, each of us has our unique journey. As long as we understand ourselves and the strategies that work best for us, we're on the right path.