Queer Conference, Feeling like a Stewpid Potato while Learning, and some Motivation
Hey there! 😄 Let's talk about some awesome experiences I've had recently.
In this newsletter, I’m gonna write about 3 things:
Out for Undergrad Conference - The Best Conference for Queer Folks 🏳️🌈
Feeling Like a "Stewpid Potato" in CodePath's IOS101 Course 🥔
Finally, Some Motivation for Y’all 🚀
1/ Out for Undergrad Conference - The Best for Queer Folks 🏳️🌈
Link: https://www.outforundergrad.org/
Last weekend, I joined the Out for Undergrad Digital Conference. Here's why I'm absolutely in love with it:
💙 Inclusive Community:
Everyone, from students to organizers and sponsors, is part of the queer community. It's like a big, welcoming family. Making friends here is a breeze compared to other conferences, where networking can feel forced. People here genuinely support each other.
🌟 Job Opportunities:
This conference gives you a unique advantage. Companies review your resumes separately, increasing your chances of landing a job or internship, which is especially important as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
🎉 It's Free!
Yes, you heard that right. Unlike most tech conferences, this one doesn't cost a dime. They cover everything from travel to meals, even for international attendees. They even gave me $150 for local travel this year in NYC, where it was hosted.
How did I apply?
Well, I initially applied for the O4U Business conference and got turned down. This conference is pretty competitive. But this time, I crafted a more thoughtful essay and reached out to the O4U campus ambassador at my school, who kindly gave me a referral.
A quick note:
This event is for our LGBTQIA+ community, so if you're straight, please respect that. This is to create opportunities for those who genuinely need them.
2/ Feeling Like a "Stewpid Potato" in CodePath's IOS101 Course 🥔
Link to CodePath courses: https://www.codepath.org/courses
I'm currently tackling CodePath's IOS101 course on iOS development, and let me tell you, it's freaking hard! My first project assignment made me feel like a stupid potato after hours of struggling but still don’t understand the codes (*cry*).
I even had to schedule a Zoom meeting with a Teaching Assistant to seek help. It still feels like a foreign language, but guess what? The TA assured me that this project is much tougher than the last course, and he wouldn’t be able to do this when he first started learning. So, I'm not alone!
But I still consider myself lucky because this challenge pushes me. Learning programming can be tough af.
Why do I recommend this course?
Real-time Projects: You get to work on real projects, which is crucial for learning programming, even if it's challenging (and it often is - *crying again*).
Incredible Support: There's a Slack channel where you can ask questions and connect with helpful people who may even set up a meeting with you.
Exclusive Access: As a CodePath student or alum, you get access to their exclusive events.
Networking Opportunities: You can also network with other students and instructors there. They all have very impressive backgrounds.
Keep an eye out for CodePath's Spring classes; the application process is straightforward, and doing the pre-work assignment should do the trick!
3/ Some Motivation for Y’all 🚀
Computer Science can be tough, and the industry is always evolving. Here are two things that keep me motivated, and I hope they inspire you too:
a) I'm Bad At Coding ... (My Software Engineering Journey)
This guy didn't start as a genius, but he pulled through. So I believe we can too.
b) Reddit Success Story:
I can't find the exact Reddit post, but I have a screenshot of an inspiring thread where someone landed a dream job at a big tech company. It really made me wanna study and work harder.
WHAT’S NEXT?
That's it for this edition of the coding newsletter! I'd love to hear from you. What topics excite you the most? Do you have any recommended resources or papers for my learning journey? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions on anything I’ve discussed. Let's keep the conversation going and connect with each other.
Happy coding!
From Bytes of Growth 🌱
What do you think of today's newsletter?
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