From Zero to Code: How I Found My Passion in Software Development

Cynthia Emeka’s inspiring journey reflects a remarkable transformation from a background in Plant Biotechnology to becoming a tech enthusiast. Encouraged by a friend, she ventured into technology by joining a paid tech community on WhatsApp and learning coding through YouTube tutorials. Her pivotal moment came with the Women Techsters Bootcamp, where she honed her skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while balancing a full-time job. Today, Cynthia embodies resilience and innovation, ready to share her skills on social media and inspiring aspiring tech professionals to embrace challenges as opportunities for extraordinary growth, highlighting the importance of community in achieving success. Read on to learn more about Cynthia’s story.

My name is Cynthia Emeka, a fashion designer and currently a National Youth Service Corp member working as an administrative staff member at News Engineering Nigeria Ltd in Abuja. I am from Enugu State and grew up there. I graduated with a degree in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State.

My entry into the world of technology began unexpectedly after completing my final year project in 2022. A friend suggested I put my laptop to good use by learning software development, but I paid little attention to that since I wanted to become a content creator. One day, I stumbled upon a tech community on WhatsApp, which I paid to join. The community motivated me to start learning how to code on YouTube, which I found incredibly interesting, and I made up my mind that this was the path for me.

I learned about the Women Techsters Bootcamp 3.4 training through a friend. Understanding my interest in immersing myself in technology, he shared the registration link with me. Seeing it as a unique opportunity, I applied and was fortunate to be selected. The Women Techsters Bootcamp provided an excellent foundation, equipping me with essential knowledge. Throughout the training, I acquired valuable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, among others. My facilitator, Abba Adamu, was amazing and very patient with us.

Balancing the Women Techsters Bootcamp program with my 9-to-5 job was quite challenging. It was not easy trying to juggle work with attending my bootcamp classes. Although I had the option of choosing the evening batch, I decided to join the morning batch to avoid issues with power or internet failures. However, I often got distracted by office work and almost gave up. Nonetheless, I had already resolved that quitting was not an option for me. I am incredibly grateful to the other women in the Bootcamp program who have been supportive, demonstrating resilience through their determination to help me whenever I needed further clarification.

My participation in the Women Techsters Program has helped me make significant progress in my career and improved my skills in software development.

I will continue practicing what I have learned to perfect my skills and leverage social media, particularly LinkedIn, to showcase my abilities.

My advice to anyone considering a career in technology is, “Do not give up. The journey might be rough and sometimes overwhelming, especially as a beginner, but stay determined. In the end, you will realize that it is truly worth everything. Remember, nothing good comes easy.”

Thank you so much for the opportunity, Tech4Dev. I am grateful.