Q: Tell us about yourself

My name is Josh. I am currently in Hawaii! Ask me anything!

Q: Why did you decide to learn to code?

I have tried a few times learning to code on my own. I am definitely very self-motivated to learn to code. It’s sometimes very hard to pass a few hurdles all by yourself. I am interested in using the ability to code as a creative tool. HTML/CSS is a great start for beginners because you can actually see the immediate effects in the browser.

Q: What’s your habit of learning online?

I try not to give myself too much pressure. I make sure I am learning something new every day. Over the years, I tried to learn how to learn. I try to learn consistently every day after work. I commit about 12 to 18 hours per week.

I have learned a special technique in learning. Typically, I code for 20 minutes and then take a five-minute break. I also record my coding schedule on a graphing paper to gamify this process visually. When I complete one graphing paper, that would be 200 hours of work. I recommend the book Atomic Habits to learn more about building habits.

Once you’ve developed your own habit of learning, it almost feels like a routine. Learning on Altcademy is turning into my routine and hobby.

Q: What do you like about Altcademy?

I like that the projects are really real-world like. Projects in Altcademy are not easy, but they are also not overly difficult. They are fun challenges. You get to develop the ability to have a good approach towards solving challenging problems. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, break down a big problem into smaller problems that you are able to solve. For me, I would break down a problem into pieces small enough such that I can solve in my 20-minute sessions.

I like that the curriculum gives me exposure to different technologies that may sound too intimidating if I am just learning by myself.

I’d be very happy to finish each assignment and ultimately the whole program!