How It All Started: The Accidental Discovery 🤯
I knew absolutely nothing about web development. Like, literally zero. Writing code? Designing websites? That was for hackers in movies! But fate had other plans.
One of my friends was studying Computer Science, and he absolutely hated writing his lab records. Being the kind soul I am (okay, maybe he bribed me with food), I took up the task. As I copied his notes, I saw all these cool things—HTML tags, CSS styles, colorful fonts—and my curiosity kicked in. "Wait… how does this actually work?" I asked him. He shrugged and said, "Check out W3Schools."
And that, my friends, was my rabbit hole moment. 🕳️🐇
The First Steps – W3Schools & YouTube 🎬
I opened W3Schools and saw my first HTML lesson. I changed text colors, added headings, and suddenly, I felt like a coding magician ✨. It was so much fun! But then… CSS came along, and I was like, why is my button running away from me? 😭
Just when I started doubting my life choices, I went back to my native place, where my brother had also started learning web development. So, we teamed up—he had a sharper mind, but I had unstoppable consistency. Together, we learned from YouTube tutorials, failing miserably at times (hello, missing semicolons), but we kept going.
To this day, I'm thankful for all those YouTube instructors who saved me from throwing my laptop out the window. 🤣
The Struggle of Switching Careers 💼➡️💻
Switching to web development from a different background wasn’t easy.
There were times when I felt stuck, overwhelmed, and frustrated. "Why do I need a semicolon? Why won’t my CSS flexbox just flex?!" But I kept going. And that’s what I want to share with you—a clear, step-by-step path so you don’t feel lost like I did.
The Web Development Roadmap 🛣️
🚀 Step 1: HTML & CSS – The Foundation (2-4 Weeks)
Where to Learn: W3Schools, MDN Web Docs
YouTube Channels: Traversy Media, FreeCodeCamp
Practice: Build a simple webpage – a portfolio or a basic resume website.
💡 Tip: Don’t get stuck perfecting CSS at this stage. Make ugly websites first; beauty comes later! 😆
🚀 Step 2: JavaScript – The Brain of the Web (4-6 Weeks)
Where to Learn: JavaScript.info, FreeCodeCamp
YouTube: The Net Ninja, Codevolution
Practice: Make a simple calculator, to-do list, or a color-changing background app.
💡 Tip: JavaScript will confuse you at first. Stick with it, break it down, and Google EVERYTHING! 🧐
🚀 Step 3: React – The Game Changer (4-8 Weeks)
Where to Learn: Official React Docs, Scrimba, Udemy
YouTube: The Net Ninja, Codevolution, Academind
Practice: Build a weather app, movie search app, or your own mini portfolio.
💡 Tip: React will feel like magic at first, then like a nightmare, and finally like power. Keep pushing! 💪
🚀 Step 4: Build Projects & Create a Portfolio (Ongoing)
Start with small projects and gradually move to real-world applications.
Contribute to GitHub projects.
Apply for internships, freelance gigs, or entry-level jobs.
💡 Tip: Showcase your work! Having projects on GitHub and a live portfolio increases your chances of landing a job.
Final Thoughts 💡
If you're switching careers to web development, know that it’s not easy, but it’s possible. I struggled, but I made it, and you can too!
Just stay consistent, keep learning, and build projects. Follow this roadmap, and soon, you'll be building amazing websites like a pro. 🚀
💬 Got questions? Need guidance on your journey? Book a mentorship session, interview prep, or career guidance with me here: Book a Session 🚀
📢 Follow me for more! I will continue sharing my journey, top HTML interview questions, and more valuable insights through future blogs and LinkedIn posts. Like, share, and comment to support! 🙌
