I started learning Python back in 2018. This was after I had learned enough of R to the extent that I believed I was a pro. It was time for a new challenge, so I thought. After all, what else can stop me if I had mastered R?
Python was on a new level, trust mea. R had taken a few months to learn about it. Python took me close to a year to even grasp the basics. Remember, at this time, the first code that I had ever done was months earlier – only R.
The challenges I faced while learning Python
A couple of reasons contributed to this long process of learning Python. First, I was a self-learning python. At this time, I was learning through blogs on the basics of Python and some PDFs that I had downloaded online. It wasn’t easy, though. You might ask, you should have used YouTube. I was so broke during college and sought a cheaper option.
The second reason was that Python was a new trading ground. I remember there was a time I had learned the basics and wanted to install a package. This was hard. It took me a few weeks to learn that if I wanted to install Python, I had to go to the command prompt (I used Windows back then). Why was this hard? Well, you see, to install a library, you just type the command to install a library in R’s console. Coming with the same mentality, it was kinda hard.
Another reason for this long time was the lack of mentors or friends with the same ambition. Remember, I come from an actuarial science background. These people are not programmers, especially those without a degree. Finding people who we would find and share the same challenges was hard. I was on new ground, and the challenges I faced were unique only to me. I had to research further. Learn the places I can get help. Stackover flow saved me a lot during this time (there was no ChatGPT).
Does that mean you give up on learning Python?
Despite the challenges, I was ambitious about learning Python and always put in an effort. At the same time, I wouldn’t say that I spent certain hours a day learning Python. I did spend a considerable amount of time learning it. There was that burning desire to know more, and I would say I liked coding life.
Why am I telling you this?
You see, learning new software such as Python is not easy. It takes time, effort, and determination, especially if you are self-taught. You will make a lot of mistakes and even follow the wrong roadmap. But this should not deter you from achieving your goals. We were all there. We didn’t know anything.
Do I have a path that you can follow?
Honestly, no, and yes. Here’s why this is tricky. First, your situation and mine won’t be the same. We face different challenges. But I can tell you for free if you want to learn Python quickly. It’s related to the projects and challenges that you tackle. You can read all the blogs and do all the examples, but you might still find it hard to grast. Here is my advice: how you learn Python, R, or any other software is related to the quality of your projects. It’s that simple.
Finally, remember your head is not a soaking machine. Try to make learning as active as possible. Enjoy the process, and forget about being a guru for the next week or month. Being a pro is a journey.