I've spent the last three months preparing for the bootcamp and it paid off this weekend with the pre-bootcamp coursework. Yesterday I completed the introduction chapter and the algorithm problems. The intro chapter consisted of explanations on how the lectures work, setting up important tools, the importance of learning full-stacks, and tips on how to maximize time at Coding Dojo. The algorithm problems consisted of outcome predictions, like what do you expect from console.log(x) when var x = 5, and coding challenges, like finding the max value in an array. As you can probably guess from the previous sentence I had to write everything in Javascript. I used Javascript in college and spent the last three months solving similar problems in it so this assignment was very easy and I completed it in under two hours.
The tasks for today were to complete PHP and Javascript tutorials in Codecademy. It just so happens that I did the Javascript tutorial two months ago so that's done. Perhaps in the future I should do the assignments even if I did it before the bootcamp. It'll be important for developing the right habits of doing everything I am given. Also, much of what I'll learn will be from repetition. For now though I'm pressed for time. As for PHP, I've only ever used once before for an assignment in college and I had very little recollection as to how it works so I started fresh with that one. It is easy but just takes time to complete, which was something I didn't give myself enough of today. I'm about a quarter of the way done with the PHP tutorial and I'll try to get a little more done before I head to sleep.
While I took care of the Javascript tutorials on Codecademy I didn't have enough time to complete those tutorials on W3School as instructed. That's what I get for signing up the weekend before the bootcamp begins. I looked through it and most of it is the same except with the addition of showing users how to insert Javascript into an HTML file. I'll have to pick that up in the following week.
For the rest of the blog I'll be making entries at the end of every class day. There won't be any lectures on weekends but I'll be coding those days and make entries if there is something of interest to write about.
On the night before a new school year begins I'm usually very nervous but in this case I'm actually excited to get started. To be fair, this isn't like any school I've ever gone to and for all I know this might be the best thing I could do for my post-college life. That's what makes this more exciting than nerve-racking.
I'm setting aside my personal life for the next three months do focus entirely on this endeavor. The key advices I got for the bootcamp are:
- Believe in yourself
- Connect with your classmates
- Focus on one task at a time
- Dedicate 70-80 hours a week on coding
- Don't think about finding a job until the very end
- Sleep well, eat well, and stay in shape
I better get a little more PHP done before sleep. So until tomorrow.
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