Hello!

My name is Brandon and this is my first blog post on Hashnode! It's so exciting to finally begin a blog dedicated entirely to what I'm learning about the world of web development and other programming technologies!

A Bit About Myself

I'm an aspiring web developer currently based in Pittsburgh, PA.

Later this year, I will be relocating to Portland, ME to continue to pursue a career in web development.

I've been self-teaching for about a year and am about to start a coding bootcamp with Flatiron School in March. During the course of the bootcamp, I'll write posts to document my experience and share advice and tips related to those experiences.

Why Did I Want to Become a Web Developer?

Like most people who graduate from high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. I went to community college a few times and audited a few courses on MOOC sites like edX. However, I always had trouble balancing the demands of life with the course load. While I enjoyed what I was learning, I was too burnt out to absorb the information.

I knew I wanted to do something in technology but I didn't know exactly where I would fit. Last year, however, I discovered the amazing world of web development through freecodecamp.org. If it wasn't for their amazing curriculum, community and resources, I probably would have just dropped it altogether.

Coding is hard and can be very discouraging at times. But as I pushed through the curriculum on freeCodeCamp, I began to realize that it was possible for me to learn this.

Everyday code struggles can also be incredibly rewarding; I love the feeling I get when I've finally solved a problem. I also like being creative, and coding is an extension of my creativity. The design --> develop --> deploy workflow allows me to tackle problems in creative ways.

Why Am I Going to a Coding Bootcamp?

Despite a year of progress in self-teaching, I realized that I didn't have the self-discipline to hold myself to deadlines and deliver on what I learned in the form of projects.

I'm also going to a bootcamp for the structure. I found that I was wasting too much time reading about programming technologies and concepts but not enough on actually applying what I learned. Learning with others, I've found, can be far more enjoyable than going it alone.

Another reason is because I wanted to become more active in the developer community; my city doesn't really offer that many meetups that relate to my specific tech stack. I want to build and maintain a network of incredible people who will inspire me to take my skills to the next level.

What Specifically Will I Be Blogging About?

My Dev Diary will be a place where I will document and share my experiences at Flatiron School along with tips/ tutorials about various trends and concepts in web development.

Where Else Can I Be Found?

Currently, I have a portfolio projects in the works but in the meantime, you connect with my on GitHub, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Until next time!