My Journey to Building Confidence in Coding

I always thought literacy was all about reading and writing, until I came across another language which wasn’t spoken but typed: programming. My experience in an unfair Information Technology (IT) class taught me that language isn’t about reading or writing, it’s also about learning the language of computers. Programming showed me that real literacy means solving problems and creating new things with code. Unlike spoken languages, programming is a way to communicate with computers, turning ideas into reality through code. My journey of learning web development, however, was not so easy. It was developed by struggles, moments of hesitation, and finally, a fresh passion that changed my perspective on learning.

In 11th grade, I was supposed to be introduced to the new world of technology through my IT class, but it turned into an unfortunate experience. This class was a mandatory part of our academic curriculum so that we could gain knowledge about technologies. I was so excited to meet with my IT teacher and hoped she might be supportive, but instead, she was biased towards her students who attended her private coaching sessions, as they paid extra to be her favorites and receive good grades. Students like me, facing financial crises, were unfairly underprivileged, making us feel like a burden. However, I tried my best to be her favorite student as well by studying hard, but she rarely noted my efforts. Whenever I struggled to understand a concept, her feedback was neglectful. She would ignore me rather than offering support. She made me feel as though my efforts didn’t matter at all.

“Why can’t you understand a simple topic, you are not giving your best at all!” she said to me one day when I asked for resolution on a coding assignment. Those words made me feel so vulnerable. My confidence crashed, and my anxiety spread to other subjects as well. I avoided asking questions in any class, afraid of being humiliated. I convinced myself people were simply talented at IT, and I wasn’t one of them. But then, something changed. My sister noticed my drastic drop in grades and was determined to help me regain my confidence. 

“Don’t make yourself feel down, no matter what happens I will support you,” she said one night. Together, we explored online tutorials and beginner-friendly coding exercises. Programming felt frustrating at first, but the more I practiced, the better I became. Unlike the classroom, online resources didn’t judge me, allowing me to learn at my own pace. I started small, writing basic code and fixing errors, gradually building my confidence. That’s how I was introduced to web development.

I started building basic websites, and exploring different programming languages. Each project became a source of my pride. I wasn’t chasing perfection but progress. With every line of code I wrote, I felt like I was moving forward. It felt like an achievement after passing through several challenges. I learnt that breakdown is a necessary step in the learning process. Each mistake, every moment of doubt, every challenge, was a chance to make myself better and stronger. Knowing that each challenge I overcame, I was becoming more skilled and prepared for the next.

Reflecting on my past, I am thankful for all the difficulties I went through. If my IT teacher had been supportive, I might never have increased my efforts and pushed myself beyond the classroom. This experience taught me education isn’t bordered within what’s just guided, but also what we choose to learn ourselves. My experience in that IT class revealed how bias and unequal access to resources can discourage students from pursuing technology, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Online resources, open-source communities, and coding platforms create areas where anyone with a computer or a laptop and internet access can learn, create and contribute.
My experience with programming has helped me see challenges in a bright way. Instead of giving up, I embraced the difficulties with the help of my sister and moved forward. I discovered success couldn’t come from neglecting challenges rather by adapting to the difficulties and having the passion to grow more. Each challenge became a step toward my destination for becoming a web developer. Through this journey, I started to understand the true meaning of literacy. It was not a smooth path but a track of error and I worked to find solutions in those moments.