Introduction:
Hey there, I'm Simel, and I want to share my story with you. It’s a tale of resilience, trial, error, and ultimately, finding my path to becoming a software engineer. If you're considering making a similar leap or just want some inspiration on your own tech journey, I hope my story can help.
Chapter 1: The Starting Point
In 2019, I was admitted to the University of Nairobi (UoN) to study Microbiology and Biotechnology. It wasn’t my first choice, but life had its plans. I was on a scholarship from Tata Chemicals and received HELB support for pocket money. Things seemed like they were on track — except, I was secretly passionate about technology and wanted to work in IT, specifically software engineering.
My grades weren’t enough to get into computer science at UoN (I scored a B+, but they required an A-), so I had to settle for a course that didn't align with my dreams.
Chapter 2: Exploring Alternatives
Frustrated but determined, I turned to the internet to figure out how I could study what I loved. That's when I stumbled upon Google’s Grasshopper app, which offered gamified coding lessons focused on JavaScript. It was my first taste of programming, and despite its simplicity, I was hooked.
But coding was just the beginning — I also wanted to dive into cybersecurity, data science, and web development. So I began bouncing between these areas, learning a little bit here and there but never really settling on one path.
Chapter 3: The Struggles and Learning Curves
Like most beginners, I hit roadblocks. I dove into machine learning and data science with a 10-hour YouTube video — only to get overwhelmed and abandon it when the math got too complex. Then I tried cybersecurity, doing CTF challenges, but my low-performance laptop couldn’t handle the tasks. It was frustrating. I needed something that would get me to the market faster.
Chapter 4: Discovering Web Development
A breakthrough came when a high school friend introduced me to Sololearn, where I began learning Python. I wasn’t sure how to apply it to real-world problems, but I enjoyed learning it. Soon after, I fell in love with JavaScript and decided to focus on web development. I found FreeCodeCamp, which became my go-to platform for learning HTML, CSS, and eventually, React and Node.js.
Chapter 5: Building Confidence
As I completed my courses, I became more confident and ready to look for work. I created profiles on Upwork and Fiverr, but for months, I didn’t land a gig. It wasn’t easy, but I kept learning and applying myself.
Then, I took a Udemy course that gave me more structure and advanced knowledge of web development. I reached out to senior developers, asking for advice. Some told me to keep pushing, others told me to work on building a portfolio — and that’s exactly what I did.
Chapter 6: The Breakthrough
In December 2022, a friend who had landed a job in tech told me that his company was hiring for Zoho Developers. At the time, I had no experience with Zoho, but I had a little knowledge from a previous internship. I updated my CV to include Zoho and sent it to the company.
In January 2023, I got a call from the HR department for an interview. I felt confident because the interview felt natural — and I ended up getting an internship with a starting salary of 25K.
Chapter 7: Learning and Growing
During my internship, I learned a lot about Zoho CRM and its customization. It was my first job in tech, and I was hungry for more. I kept working hard and learning about different tech stacks, moving on to frontend development, and later, software engineering.
By mid-2023, I had my first full-time offer with a 40K salary and gained more experience in frontend development.
Chapter 8: More Challenges and New Opportunities
Later that year, I moved to another company with a 75K salary, but after three months, I was let go because the employer changed their plans for my role. While it was a setback, I didn’t let it stop me. In fact, I immediately found a new opportunity that paid even more and has been fulfilling to this day.
Chapter 9: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
I’m now a Software Engineer, living proof that perseverance pays off. I’ve been through a lot — juggling studies, multiple job offers, and uncertain paths — but I made it through by learning from every setback.
I believe that if you’re willing to put in the work, ask for help, and never give up, you can achieve anything in tech. I want to help others just like me, who are starting from scratch, to get into the field, stay motivated, and build a career in tech.
Final Words:
If you're considering starting a career in tech or just want to learn more about my journey, feel free to reach out! I’m always happy to help others who are serious about making that leap into the software engineering world.
If you found this story helpful, join me on my Buy Me a Coffee page where I share regular tech tips, career advice, coding tutorials, and motivational content to help you kickstart your journey in tech. Plus, I’ll be offering exclusive content to help you take your skills to the next level!
Let’s make this journey together!