Alumni Story - How to overcome Imposter Syndrome and Escape the Tutorial Hell?
Why learning how to learn computer programing alone is not ideal?
Hussein Mohamed is currently a full-stack engineer at Som Digital Solutions, a software development company based in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Early passion for coding and challenges
Despite having a strong enthusiasm for technology and the industry, Hussien was plagued by self-doubt about his ability to succeed as an engineer in the field of software development prior to enrolling in the Fikrcamp coding bootcamp program.
"I felt that mastering how to code would involve a lot of difficulties, time, energy, and a firm foundation of the basics, which I felt I was lacking at the time," Hussein says as we sat down with him earlier this week to learn more about his journey.
He mentioned that his passion for coding sprang from his passion for movies. "In movies, characters with coding skills/abilities are frequently depicted as geniuses. They were the ones regarded they possessed mystical skills to solve problems in novel ways, despite the fact that everyone was reliant on them and had no idea what they were doing. The Matrix and Sword Fish were two films that drove me. The hacking sequence in Sword Fish, where Hugh Jackman needs to obtain information while coding quickly, was like my wow moment, the moment when I fell in love with computers.”
During the Program
Hussein opted to explore the field of computer science after completing his undergraduate studies by enrolling in online classes. He was able to grapple with the basics, but he never had the right mentorship and environment to break free from the tutorial loop and move on to greater challenges.
That's when he came across a Fikrcamp banner on Instagram and decided to join our program. Hussein had heart in the right place, but he overlooked important fundamentals, such as a good path of technologies to master. He immediately adjusted to the atmosphere, where he was held accountable for delivering exercises by the Fikrcamp instructor, mentors, and fellow cohort members.
"The Fikrcamp bootcamp environment was really different; I like the sense of flexibility and the ability to engage with other people." Fikrcamp, on the other hand, did not place a high value on attendance or exercise delivery, but instead placed the entire burden of responsibility on the student, which was a big shift in mindset for me. Being on time and acing tests are more important at university than gaining knowledge. The opportunity to be provided with resources, lectures, a learning path, and a sense of community was a superior experience all the while I was dealing with far more complex challenges on a regular basis, hence the rigorous bootcamp program.” After graduating from our cohort, Hussein secured a job as a junior software engineer at Som Digital Solutions.
If a person is given all of the necessary tools, skills, mentoring, and community, learning to program is as simple as learning any other skill. All of these resources, combined with patience, curiosity, and daily input, are all the ingredients to make it as an engineer if you are just initiating out in the field.
Impact of programing in life
Hussein remarked that no matter how much he has enhanced his capabilities, imposer syndrome has always tormented him. Imposter syndrome is a feeling of not being confident in your abilities coupled with a ripping conviction that your current skills are not enough. He confirmed that he had figured out how to deal with the imposter and keep it at bay.
"Learning to program helps you become more rational in the sense that you can break down and solve all of your problems in life piece by bit like an algorithm." It offers you a completely different perspective on life.”
Next Steps
Hussein is working on adding mobile development to his arsenal of coding skills using React Native to build cross-platform applications for IOS and Android.
He also has aspirations to work for companies in Europe and North America remotely, he is currently working on growing his network through talent companies across Africa. Hussein is also building a strong social presence on LinkedIn, Twitter, Discord and other social platforms in which he is also leveraging to improve his communications skills.
Well done firkcamp!
Af Somali ma jiro miya