Elixir Powered Dreams
Tags: elixir, beginners, devjournal, programming
Published: 2022-09-27 13:28:51

I joined the DockYard Academy as part of the beta cohort. To someone outside looking in, it probably looks like a fluke. Maybe chance, maybe a little luck. I started learning to code in the early months of 2016 with only the thought of getting a better job. While I still haven't landed that coding job, That dream continues to stalk me, almost drags me along at times, even when I've burned out or lost some faith in myself. Now though, something has changed. 

I'm really excited about the opportunity to participate in this, and my words can't really convey the rush I feel being able to do this. One of the things that this experience has taught me so far is that I really needed structure in my learning. It's one thing to go through a Udemy course and work through material, it's quite another to have daily access to an instructor who is just as passionate about teaching as we (myself and the people in the cohort) are about learning. Not only do we have really high quality instruction, but we also have each other to push each other/practice with. 

I am no longer alone.

Some of us are coming to this as our first language, some of us have been programming/learning to program for a bit. We all bring things to the table that help each other. Some with knowledge of elixir, others their enthusiasm and super powered willingness to learn.

Each of us have different challenges learning a functional language. For me, getting used to a different style of syntax has been a little bit of a challenge, as well as some of the concepts. My gray matter automatically attempts to use the knowledge of other languages and apply it to Elixir, even when that doesn't work.

Day 4(today) has been a bit of a "aha!" moment for me though, as things are starting to click, and I'm able to work through the exercises a bit more, even if it takes me slightly longer than I would like, though speed will come with more practice. It's only been 4 days :D

I've been in "learning to code" mode for 4 - 5 years, and I can honestly say this is the first time I've been truly excited about learning a language and I sincerely hope that at the end of these three months I'll have the chance to work in the Elixir space.

What brought me to this opportunity would seem to be a series of fumbles. From trying my first language, trying and failing at a dozen more, to starting a podcast (thanks for the inspiration, Eric Van Johnson and crew! I owe you one!) which eventually led me to the Elixir Newbies podcast and interviewing Brooklin and getting involved with the Dockyard Academy. For me, I don't believe that it's been fumbles, but a subconscious searching for an opportunity. 

I don’t believe in complete chance. I believe that when one door closes, another opens. I can’t get into what door closed to bring me here, not at the moment at least. But the one that opened has shown me a wide world of dreams. I don’t dream in code, but I dream of it. The initial dream that started me on this journey, -getting a dev job to support my family- is still there, just as strong as the day it was born. But it’s also not the entire dream anymore. 

Now I also dream of building stuff. Bringing all the ideas that my brain constantly throws at me to life. Show my son that not only can he dream, but he can build too. Show my wife that the man she puts her trust in is worthy of it. Not that she’s ever doubted me. She’s the one that has always stuck by me and cheered me on despite my failings.

All these thoughts and more have flooded my head as I sit down at my computer each morning, wrestling with the excitement of starting each day’s session.

Maybe, just maybe, the Elixir that powers the software I log into every day to learn to code will be the Elixir that powers my dreams.