Journey to Front-End Web Development
Tags: webdev, javascript, html, beginners
Published: 2023-05-16 20:57:07


### Jump to Section

- [Learn the basics](#learning-the-basics)

- [Create projects](#create-projects)

- [Immerse yourself](#immerse-yourself)

- [Networking](#networking)

- [Burnout/Imposter syndrome](#imposter-syndrome)

My first introduction to programming was exciting. At 12 years old, roughly, I was a part of a community that was [modding](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/modding) a [MMORPG](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mmorpg), and such my passion for programming was born. 

Getting more practical, I became interested in web development after following along with a friend in the U.S. Air Force who was teaching himself web development in his free time. It has been almost two years since then and I am excited to share some of what I have learned to make the process flow more smoothly for you.

## Learning the Basics

New, shiny things can be very tempting to use. The same goes for the latest and greatest new framework or library that is being released. While it is beneficial to learn new frameworks and libraries, for the sake of starting out - I recommend working to master **vanilla JavaScript**.

Make sure that you are very familiar with the **basics** of the front-end, such as **vanilla JavaScript** and **HTML**. Once you have a solid familiarity with the **basics**, the rest comes more easily. Always remember to start off perfecting your **basics**!

Some of my favorite **_free_** resources to learn & practice are as follows:

- [Udemy](https://www.udemy.com/)

- [CodeCademy](https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/javascript)

- [LeetCode](https://leetcode.com/)

- [Youtube](https://youtube.com)

Please keep in mind that while free resources are great, if you have some extra money to put towards paid resources, it may prove more helpful. 

## Create Projects

Perhaps the best way to showcase your newly learned knowledge - **projects**. As an added benefit, you will even learn new things along the way. Personally, I utilized **projects** as a way to build on what I already knew.

A professional portfolio page showcasing information about you is a great way to start. You can implement **JavaScript**, **CSS**, and **HTML** while utilizing **[Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery(CI/CD)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CI/CD)** tools like **GitHub**. 

![Screenshot of Clif's professional portfolio page](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/rvh2gdonoegcrhz12qtk.png)

With that being said, don't be afraid to make **mistakes** along the way. You have probably heard millions of times that everyone makes **mistakes**, but it's true. We all make **mistakes** and we will continue to do so. **Mistakes** can be your greatest learning opportunity. 

![My Mistakes](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/j0dohaappfmaw9xzd7xc.png)

## Immerse Yourself

While you are learning, consistency is key. An easy way to stay consistent is to **immerse** yourself into the culture. I have found that by doing things like listening to **podcasts** and signing up for **forums/chat channels** I have learned more. Listening to leaders in the industry can teach you things that you would not have even thought to learn yourself. **Experience** in the industry should not be taken for granted, as you can learn a lot from someone that has seen a lot. 

My personal favorite has been a podcast that was recommended by a mentor of mine: [Front-End Happy Hour](https://www.frontendhappyhour.com/). You can find this podcast virtually anywhere that you listen to podcasts, I use Spotify. They have a bunch of episodes with some amazing people that touch on everything front-end and more. 


![Screenshot of Front-End Happy Hour podcast page on Spotify](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jhtebvb5ws9924gydc9p.png)

### Resources

- [Front-End Happy Hour Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Giuw6eNbTzP9CDZODDrA2)
- [Stack Overflow Forums](https://stackoverflow.com/)
- [Discord Chat Channel](https://discord.com/invite/aBx8dcu)

## Networking

_One of the most important pairs to learning is **networking**_. Learning can only take you but so far, and that is where your **networking** skills come into play. I would argue that having the right people in your corner is a **instrumental** factor to advancing as a developer.

Personally, I found a non-profit organization through [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/) that was perfect for my current situation. [#VetsWhoCode](https://vetswhocode.io/) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping U.S. Veterans breach into the world of web development. Since becoming a part of #VetsWhoCode, they have helped to sharpen and broaden my skills.

![Screenshot of the #VetsWhoCode webpage](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hcq4ugy97zauguly3vjw.png)

As I said before, I found #VetsWhoCode on **LinkedIn** while networking. **LinkedIn** is an amazing tool for networking professionally, and I would highly recommend **creating yourself an account** if you haven't already to assist in your **job searching/networking**. 

### Check out :

- [Why and How to Network On LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/networking-linkedin-why-you-should-how-do-tzufit-herling/?trk=pulse-article_more-articles_related-content-card)

## Imposter Syndrome

Something that should be more normalized to be discussed  (in my opinion) is [imposter syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome) as a developer. According to the Wikipedia link, **imposter syndrome** can be defined as a psychological occurrence in which people doubt their _skills_, _talents_, or _accomplishments_ and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as _frauds_.

I myself have dealt with similar fears of feeling **out of my depth** on certain things, or like I was **learning too slowly**.. There is a huge **ever changing** bank of knowledge out there that can be sometimes overwhelming without proper direction. Once again, I recommend the **Front-End Happy Hour** podcast but this time, a specific episode. [This episode](https://www.frontendhappyhour.com/episodes/imposter-syndrome-these-are-not-the-drinks-youre-looking-for/) touches on this exact topic and is a very good listen in my opinion.

## Conclusion

It is a long, and challenging road to becoming a **web developer**. With many **obstacles**, **huge stores** of knowledge, and primarily **impersonal** computer work, it can be easy to get lost in the mess of it all. Use your **resources**, stay on **track**, perfect your **basics**, and meet new **friends** along the way! I can't stress the importance of **enjoying** the learning process, because if you do not, you will **burn out**. 

Thank you for reading! If you stuck it out this far, reach out to me on LinkedIn [here](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clif-beale/). 

## Resource Recap

Learning:
- [Udemy](https://www.udemy.com/)

- [CodeCademy](https://www.codecademy.com/catalog/language/javascript)

- [LeetCode](https://leetcode.com/)

- [Youtube](https://youtube.com)

Community:
- [Front-End Happy Hour Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/0Giuw6eNbTzP9CDZODDrA2)
- [Stack Overflow Forums](https://stackoverflow.com/)
- [Discord Chat Channel](https://discord.com/invite/aBx8dcu)

Networking:
- [Why and How to Network On LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/networking-linkedin-why-you-should-how-do-tzufit-herling/?trk=pulse-article_more-articles_related-content-card)