Welcome to our member spotlight for August. She Code Africa Abeokuta was launched on June 1st, 2020 and seeing the progress made by our community members has being really exciting for us and what better way to appreciate them than by bringing them to the spotlight?? Do take a seat as we get to chat with a budding web developer in our community.
She Code Africa Abeokuta:
Hello Rachael, would you mind telling us about yourself and how you got into web development?
Odejobi Rachael:
Sure. I am Odejobi Rachael, a graduate of Computer Science and Mathematics from the Federal College of Education, Osiele.
I didn't venture into coding because I had an interest in it, in actual fact I may have dabbled into the tech industry because my geeky friend refused to do my coding assignments for me despite my promise of financial remunerations.
She Code Africa Abeokuta: hahaha, you can't be serious!
Odejobi Rachael:
Lol, don't judge me! It always seem like my lecturers were speaking French and the coding assignments always seem impossible to do.
Regardless of my plea, my friend remained adamant and that inadvertently pushed me to asking him to teach me how to code.
Well, of course he didn't teach me directly but he introduced me to a web development training center in town and that was how I joined the coding gang. Yay!
She Code Africa Abeokuta: Wow, that is some story! What would you like to make out of web development.
Odejobi Rachael:
Uhm, I would like to get a B.Sc in Computer Science and I am waiting for the pandemic to be over so admission processes can start but while that is yet to happen, I am currently focused on frontend development but I would like to delve into backend development soon.
I am having a tough time understanding JavaScript. "Ah, JavaScript wan kill me!" but I won’t give up. I am still learning but I would really love to work with it and have a training center where i can tutor people who are also interested in web development.
She Code Africa Abeokuta:
Oh my, we can't wait for you to finally figure it out so you can build more cool stuff...
so tell us, what is your typical day like?
Odejobi Rachael:
The past months has been quite free and lazy for me but that will change in September as I hope to start the web development training back.
Basically my day now will start with me taking some kids tutorial till 12PM, then I will proceed to where I take my web development training. One of the perks of the place is that I am allowed to stay back for as long as I want - even without my tutors around - all that is required of me is to lock the office after me. I also enrolled for GADS and I am at the third stage so I also dedicate time to that.
She Code Africa Abeokuta: A queen making moves, well done Rachael! So, we are curious, tell us the fun and the not so fun part of your journey so far in software developement.
Odejobi Rachael: Hmmmm, well everything about it is fun until I get stuck with a bug or bugs! Oh my, debugging can be a nightmare!!! I think another thing that drives me nut about coding is my inability to listen to music while at it. I always have to work in silence just to concentrate and that makes it not so fun, so sometimes you will see me leave my work so I can listen to music and dance. lol
She Code Africa Abeokuta: Hahaha, you like to dance?
Odejobi Rachael: I really do! I can dance ehn! Don’t let me brag oooo!
She Code Africa Abeokuta: Lol, please do!! So what other fun stuff do you do or you only code all day?
Odejobi Rachael: Ahhh, nooo! I actually love to read novels, sing, swim and of course dance!!!
She Code Africa Abeokuta: Wow, we have been here a while now but before we end this conversation, do you mind sharing with us the main lesson you have learnt so far since you started this coding journey?
Odejobi Rachael:
Of course! When I first started out, someone told me about how I should never stop practicing and so far that has helped me a lot. Practicing was what brought about the project I shared with the community actually.
So yea, I think it is important to keep practicing and putting one's best in all the side project one does, it may take your time but in the end it will help you become better at it.
She Code Africa Abeokuta: This is very true, it is not enough to watch a tutorial or read a book and believe you are now a ninja in it, you also need to practice, in fact practice twice as much as you learn!
Thank you so much for your time Rachael, we are immensely proud of your progress and really glad to have you as a member of our community. We really can't wait to see the more awesome things you will do.
Odejobi Rachael: Thank you so much for this!
Footnote:
Thank you for reading our member spotlight for the month of August.
We are on twitter as She Code Africa Abeokuta also we have a Peer Learning Group going on in our community where we have experts in the different tech tracks teach the community members an important concept in their field each week.
We would be glad to have you as part of our community, join our community by filling this: She Code Africa Abeokuta Membership Form .
We hope to see you next month!