Equipped with no prior knowledge of computer science, I have bravely ventured into the CS50 Harvard course. The intention of walking down this path is because I want to be able to work remotely, do something worthwhile, be relevant, and make money.

The first part of the course got me truly excited as it transformed the way I approached this challenge. Initially, my mind was prepared to not comprehend anything and I foresaw myself reading, talking to people, doing another easier course side by side to grapple the content of CS50.

However, David (lecturer) explains the way computer language works in such an engaging, simplistic, and enthusiastic manner that I found myself enamored by the whole process. Learning to code is so essential to understand how the world works around us.

Coding is a way to communicate. The language isn’t the focus but rather the thought process behind it. Understanding the tools and how we can use them to solve problems is the core essence of what I’ve learned.

Each language follows a pattern. Break the pattern down and understand the logic enables anyone to pick up any language and master them over practice.

At this stage, I have started with C and what I find interesting is how my thought process has loopholes in them. The ability to break down each step to its core essence and create a logical pattern has been tough. When I look at a problem, I get overwhelmed.

What I do now is: I break down each problem into steps and then I leave it alone. I take time to process what I learned and the issue I have at hand. Sometimes the solution comes to me and other times I reach out to people who know better and provide me with hints to trigger the thought process.

The biggest challenge for now at week 4 is that I’m still far off from developing a logical mindset to work through problems. The simple steps in solving a complex problem doesn’t come easy to me. A long sabbatical from working and being a mother has somewhat changed the way my mind works. There’s lots of work to be done and I’m excited to see how much there’s to learn.

Once I finish week 4, I will update further on how I tackled the problems I faced. I have missed making notes on the first 3 weeks but from now on, I’m going to write down chronologically as I want be able to look back at this and see my growth as a coder.

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