Introduction
We have stepped into the second quarter of 2023, it's hard not to feel like time is flying by at an alarming rate. With a quarter of the year already behind us, it's a perfect time to reflect on the lessons I've learned so far.
In this blog post, I'll be sharing my own experiences and insights from the first quarter of 2023, and discussing how they have shaped my perspective moving forward. So grab a cup of coffee and join me as I take a deep dive into my first 25% of the year and the things I learned.
January: The First Month
Exploring DevOps
The beginning of January marked the start of my journey into the world of DevOps. As a tech enthusiast, I've always been interested in learning about the principles and practices that enable teams to deliver high-quality software at a rapid pace. I dived into various online resources and started learning about different tools and techniques used in the DevOps world. The more I learned, the more I became convinced of its importance in modern software development.
Prioritized Twitter as a Tool for Self and Professional Growth
In addition to my other January goals, I decided to improve my Twitter communication skills.
I recognized that Twitter was a powerful tool to connect with experts in my field and stay updated with the latest industry trends. So, I started following key influencers and actively engaging with their content through likes and retweets and I was able to know more about like-minded professionals and expand my knowledge base through their learning insights.
This helped me stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the Tech world.
Learned Golang Basics
Mid-January was when I decided to expand my skill set by learning Golang.
I was fascinated by the simplicity and efficiency of the language and wanted to try my hand at writing some basic programs
I started by learning the syntax and basic concepts, and I wanted to challenge myself by writing some basic programs.
Writing My First Technical Blog
Towards the end of January, I felt confident enough to share my knowledge with the world by writing my first technical blog titled "DevOps is the Change!" about DevOps. It was quite a challenging yet rewarding experience as it demanded me to be very clear and concise while explaining DevOps and how it's the new change.
In my blog post, I started by introducing the concept of DevOps, explaining its significance and the impact it has brought to the industry.
Throughout the process of researching, writing, and publishing the blog, I learned a lot about DevOps, and how it's changing the game for software development.
The experience made me realize the value of sharing my knowledge with others and how it contributes to my professional development.
In conclusion, January was a month full of learning and growth. From exploring the world of DevOps and learning Golang to prioritizing Twitter as a tool for personal and professional growth, and writing my first technical blog, I was able to expand my knowledge and skill set in various areas.
These experiences have taught me the importance of continuous learning and sharing my knowledge with others.
February: The Second Month
Building a Second Brain for Enhanced Productivity
At the start of February, I was introduced to the concept of building a second brain, a system of organizing information and ideas to enhance productivity and creativity. I dove into various resources and started implementing the principles of building a second brain in my daily routine. It was a game-changer for me, as I was able to store, organize, and retrieve information more efficiently, which saved me a lot of time and mental energy.
Mastering Git and GitHub
Mid-February was when I decided to deepen my understanding of Git and Github. While I had some prior knowledge and had used it before, I knew there was more to learn. I dived into various online resources and started learning about more advanced features like branching, merging, and rebasing.
Learning CCNA and Networking Fundamentals
In the latter half of February, I took up a CCNA course to deepen my understanding of networking fundamentals. I learned about the OSI model, TCP/IP protocols, routing, and switching. It was fascinating to learn how data travels across different networks and much more.
By the time I finished the course, I had gained a solid understanding of networking concepts.
Overall, February was a month of deep learning and personal growth. Building a second brain, mastering Git and Github, and learning CCNA were all valuable skills that enhanced my productivity and made me better than before.
March: The Third Month
Focusing on Semester Exams
March was a busy month for me, as I had to prepare for my semester exams. I had to dedicate most of my time to studying and revising for the exams, which left me with little time for learning new things. However, I made sure to keep up with my coding practice and continued working on projects using Golang.
Learning the Basics of Linux
In the little free time I had, I decided to start learning the basics of Linux. As a DevOps Enthusiast, I knew that having a good understanding of Linux would be valuable in my future.
I started by learning about the Linux file system, navigating the terminal, and performing basic command-line operations.
Although March was not a month of significant learning, it was a necessary period of focus and dedication to my academics.
I made sure to continue my coding practice and use the little free time I had to learn something new.
April: The Fourth Month
Explored the World of Open-Source and Learned the Importance of Contributing
Being a self-taught individual who is always eager to learn new things, I was relieved to have a break from the hectic semester exams and could finally focus on my learning.
At the beginning of April, I started exploring the world of open-source and how I could contribute to various projects. I realized that contributing to open-source projects not only helps in giving back to the community but also provides an opportunity to learn new things, improve coding skills, and network with other developers. With this realization, I started making small contributions to various open-source projects like docker docs, helm, semver, and Linkfree and became an EddieHub organization member on GitHub.
The contributions I made were basic, like adding links for redirection to the specific area of the file, or license, but it was a great way to start.
I learned the importance of documentation and how it helps in making the project more accessible for everyone.
It also taught me the importance of following the best practices while contributing to the project, such as writing clean code, following coding conventions, and properly documenting the changes.
Improved Writing Skills by Sharing Knowledge through Blogging on Linux Basics and made Open-Source Contributions
After having completed my Linux basics, I decided to write a blog titled "Linux Prelude and Some Basic Terminologies" and published it on Hashnode on April 6, 2023.
The blog helped me in improving my writing skills and made my concepts even stronger.
The process of writing the blog also helped me in understanding the topic in more detail, and I learned a lot from the research I did for the blog.
The contributions to open-source projects continued, and I created my repo on GitHub for documenting my Linux learnings and creating resources for beginners. I spent time effectively writing the README file for a better reader experience and included step-by-step guides, examples, and explanations.
On April 11, 2023, I published my second blog on Hashnode titled "10 Most Basic Linux Commands & Installation of a Linux distro on VirtualBox (Guide resource)". The blog was aimed at beginners who were starting with Linux and provided a detailed explanation of the 10 most basic commands used in Linux and how to install a Linux distribution on VirtualBox.
Explored Web Development
After attending college as the new semester commenced, I took out some time, maybe an hour, and learned about the fundamentals of web development. This part of the tech industry always fascinated me, and I would love to explore it more in the future. I learned about various technologies used in web development like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Building a Personal Brand on Twitter
During my learning journey, I realized a weakness I had in January, which was not commenting on people's Twitter posts and engaging with content. I discovered this weakness and made it my strength by starting to post my learnings, creating threads, and making some more tweets.
Slowly and gradually, my followers count increased on Twitter, and I started building an audience. It was an exciting journey, and I learned a lot about personal branding, and networking.
So overall, April was an exciting and productive month for me, where I learned a lot about open-source contributions, Linux, web development, and personal branding. The month helped me in developing new skills, improving existing ones, and networking with the community.
Conclusion
Now it's time to Wrap Up the Blog!
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and learn about my learning journey in 2023 so far.
I plan to continue my learning journey and explore new areas of interest in the coming months.
I hope that my experiences have inspired you to continue learning and growing in your journey. I would love to connect with you further, so please feel free to follow me on Hashnode and Twitter for more updates and insights. Your feedback is always appreciated, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions.
Together, we can continue to learn, grow, and make a positive impact in the tech community.
