Programming in High School
Published: 2022-04-14 18:26:26

Hi there, 

First, I acknowledge that you are about to take some of your precious time to read this, and I am grateful. Hover on - I promise you'll love it.

So, this is a fast-track back to 2018, when we just started having Developer meetups, physical code sessions, and all stuff creative ah ... nerdy! Yeah, that's the word. Ask me about it - wena, every weekend was worth having. I mean, the feeling - when everyone else hoped into chilling for a swim or clubs, Code meetups just happened to be a new club I found.
![giphy](https://media.giphy.com/media/zrf4NNpm1rDXfRAamt/giphy.gif)

Ooops, sorry, I almost forgot. First things first, shall we?

![Giphy](https://media.giphy.com/media/vRK3oxuVgG17Dqstyk/giphy.gif)
> Thanks 

```Hello world,``` I am [Blessed Jason Mwanza](https://github.com/blessedjasonmwanza),  passionate about solving problems using lines of code. In simple words, I write colored text for a living. :-)

Allow me to take you back a bit, just a bit. You have my word it won't be that many years back.

![Time Travel](https://media.giphy.com/media/Z9DlegMUudXLH8TjsI/giphy.gif)

Great, and thank you, you just time traveled. You're officially in High School. Weird news, your current location is in Lusaka, Zambia. It happens to be that since childhood, you have had a keen enthusiasm for creating innovative solutions that could one day, hopefully, one day, help people through their everyday life. Unfortunately, no one believes in this crazy imagination of yours. By no one,  I mean not even your classmates - they all think you're crazy anyway. And worst-case scenario, not even your parents. But remember this, you tell yourself. The moon - an object so essential to supporting human life, shines the brightest when it's dark or when things are tough (in your current situation, you refer). To get the frustration off your head, you read a few lines from the next chapter of a book you're holding, and it quotes; 

> "Scientists have discovered in recent years, along with the other startling discoveries such as radio, television, mastery of the air, etc., that any man may achieve practically any end which he may set up in his own mind as a definite chief aim. It is literally true that a man with a definite purpose, and with full faith in his ability to realize that purpose, cannot be permanently defeated. He may meet with temporary defeat; perhaps many such defeats, but failure, never!" - _Napoleon Hill [From the book - The Magic Ladder to Success]_

![Ah huh](https://media.giphy.com/media/BWD7HsmNxN4R6rwLdV/giphy.gif)


Ah huh! I might not be that crazy it seems, - you say in affirmation by reading the quote for a second time. **Wee Woo!!** The siren wails - it's time for your assembly. The school headmaster is ready to address the school.

"In conclusion," the headmaster announces his final statement. - "as you all may be aware, the nation has adopted the IT curriculum as a mandatory subject to be taught in schools. In these regards, today, we'll have a guest from BongHive, and he's going to share his journey and how some of you may benefit from the programs they're offering. Please do the courtesy of settling in the DH (Dining Hall) post class hours at noon." Oh wow, "this must be one of the most interesting assemblies I've had at this school," you tell your brain in excitement.
![waiting](https://media.giphy.com/media/brHaCdJqCXijm/giphy.gif)

It's time, the session is running, and you have this wide arc on the lower section of your face (AKA - a smile). Simultaneously, this gentleman talks about how he started his journey in software development (You can relate already, and so you begin to engage by answering most of his questions)- At this point, it seems like another version of you is in the room, finally. He proceeds by sharing how they partnered with Facebook, now Meta, to help bring aspiring developers together to bridge the innovation gap innovative wannabes like you have been facing.
![Conclusion](https://media.giphy.com/media/xT1R9FappYaIa7Q0qA/giphy.gif)

Concluding into the bargain, the guest (his name is [Mbuyu](https://twitter.com/mbuyu_), by the way) announces an event coming in a few weeks, and you're all invited. They'll be launching a community called the ForLoop and ... "Wait a minute, my stomach is ice cold in excitement now" your brain goes on blushing to the unfathomable energy-driving events of the day.

Humbly, you pack your bags, heading home to prepare. However, what you did not know is that - the events and opportunities that will come after attending these meetups will change your entire life, future, and career. We'll discuss them in part two of this journey.

So, the person in this article described as you, is - [Blessed Jason Mwanza](https://github.com/blessedjasonmwanza). I decided to share my journey and hope to continue doing so - with anticipation that you might either;  relate or find something from it. Please let me know your thoughts if you like me to continue with part two.

![any question](https://media.giphy.com/media/03g9zDwQ95MyB08oc0/giphy.gif)

### To be continued...

> Connect with me on
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mwanzabj)
- [LinkedIn](https://Linkedin.com/in/blessedjasonmwanza)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/blessedjasonmwanza)