As I reflect on my first semester in college, it's hard to ignore the whirlwind of emotions that accompanied my decision to step away from school. It felt like I was diving headfirst into the unknown, leaving behind the safety net of academia for the unpredictability of the real world. It was a massive shift, one I hadn't fully prepared for.

When I graduated high school just a year prior, I was convinced that I had everything mapped out. College was the next logical step, a place where I could explore my passions, make lifelong friends, and pave the way for my future career. I had it all planned:

• Maintain my grades and aim for Dean's List each semester.

• Take part in extracurricular activities : Writer's Club, Business Club, and Computer Club.

• Land great internships and learn everything I could.

• Build meaningful connections with my peers and professors.

• Embark on study abroad adventures and take advantage of exciting post-grad opportunities.

Like I said, I had it all planned out. But life as usual had other plans.

The Pivot

The new year was about to start and I found myself with no job, no school and no idea what to do. So what did I do? I pivot. When plans go completely wrong, you must be able to act quickly in order to make something of whatever you have left. As I looked to start the year, I looked at what I had in my hands. And what I could do with it?

Here's what I had :

• A knack for research.

• A love for marketing and business.

• A keen sense of resourcefulness.

• A hunger for knowledge and growth.

• And, perhaps most importantly, a support system that never wavered.

With those tools at my disposal and a new found love for tech, I was able to figure out my next move.

What I Did: The Highlights

As soon as the semester ended, I began searching for opportunities everywhere. Google was my best friend with LinkedIn and Instagram coming in a close second and third. Through maximizing these social media sites, I was able to find internship opportunities, hackathons and resources to learn and grow. Here I highlight a few of my favorite opportunities that I had a chance to experience:

My First Hackathon: Hack Violet 2021

Description: During a one day Hackathon my team and I created Inclusivity; a one-stop mobile hub of opportunities(scholarships, fellowships etc.) tailored towards underserved communities in tech. Though my team and I didn't come out on top, the experience we gained from creating this application was invaluable. At the time, I knew nothing about coding but I was still able to contribute valuable resources to my team in order to make the app a success. Through this experience, I learnt the importance of time management and working under pressure to get a job done to the best of your abilities. This experience would've taught me many principles which I used in my second hackathon.

My Second Hackathon: 4 Day Founder

Description: During this hackathon, my team and I created Eco-Quest: a mobile application that educates children and young adults about sustainability habits through a reward based system. During this project, I created the wireframes for the app as well as conducted all the research to complete the pitch deck. My focus was Marketing and my team and I worked seamlessly using our different skillsets to make the idea come to life. This later earned us the esteemed bragging rights of saying We won! And to this day, this will be an achievement I will forever treasure.

My First Internship: Marketing Intern at Port.dev(DevRel Company)

Description: While at Port.dev I was responsible for crafting blog posts and social media copy for the company. This taught me technical writing skills and introduced me to the Developer Relations and Community Management Community. I loved that their product was people based and so I enjoyed writing about it and teaching others how to use it.

Tips for Navigating the Tech World

These experiences were the highlights of my start in tech. With each one,there came new found knowledge that left me wanting to explore and grow more. Looking back on this journey, though, there are a few things I wish I could whisper in my younger self's ear that would've gotten me a little further than I am today. These include:

1. Start early: Don't wait for the perfect moment to begin your journey. Start now, with whatever tools you have at your disposal. The tech world moves REALLY fast, and every day you spend hesitating is a day lost.

2. Embrace the challenges: Hackathons, internships, side projects—they're all opportunities to stretch your wings and prove what you're capable of. Don't be afraid to dive in headfirst and get your hands dirty. That's where the real learning happens.

3. Lean on your community: You don't have to go it alone. Seek out mentors, peers, and fellow travelers who can support you along the way. Together, you'll go further than you ever could on your own.

4. Keep learning: The only constant in the tech world is change. Stay curious, stay hungry, and never stop pushing yourself to grow. Whether it's through formal education programs or online tutorials, there's always something new to discover.

5. Try again: Rejection is a part of life. Look at it as a chance to learn and do better. So what if you got rejected from that job? Reach out to the hiring manager and ask them how you can improve your application and when they give you a response, take the constructive criticism and work at it to come back stronger another time and another time and another time, if needed.

When things don't go as plan, it's easy to feel lost or uncertain about what to do or what path to take, but with a little grit and WHOLE lot of heart, you can turn even the most unexpected detours into opportunities for growth and discovery. I pray that with these tips your journey will be a little bit easier than mine was. All the best in your coding journey!

Sincerely,

Safia M.

Cover Photo by Desola Lanre-Ologun on Unsplash