As I sit here, typing away on my laptop during a rare quiet moment, I can’t help but reflect on the whirlwind of changes and challenges that have defined my life over the past month. For those of you who’ve been following my blog, “theprincipal.io,” you know that I’ve been documenting my journey of learning to become a programmer while continuing my career as a school principal. But recently, I’ve added two more significant roles to my life: a new father and an aspiring iOS developer.
Why iOS Development?
You might be wondering, “Why iOS development?” It’s a valid question, especially considering my background in education and my previous dabbling in web development. The truth is, the allure of creating mobile applications has always fascinated me. The idea of building something that people can carry in their pockets, something that can potentially make their lives easier or more enjoyable, is incredibly appealing.
But more than that, iOS development represents a new challenge, a way to stretch my cognitive abilities and push myself out of my comfort zone. As educators, we often preach the importance of lifelong learning to our students. By embarking on this journey, I’m not just talking the talk; I’m walking the walk.
The Codecademy iOS Development Career Path
After much research and deliberation, I decided to start my iOS development journey with Codecademy’s iOS Development Career Path. This comprehensive program promised to take me from a complete beginner to someone capable of building my own iOS applications. Now, less than a month in, I find myself immersed in the world of Swift, Apple’s powerful and intuitive programming language.
The Excitement of Learning
There’s something incredibly exciting about learning a new skill, especially one as dynamic and powerful as programming. Every day, as I delve deeper into Swift, I feel like I’m unlocking new possibilities. The language’s syntax is clean and expressive, making it a joy to work with. I find myself eagerly anticipating each new concept, each new challenge.
One of the most thrilling aspects of this journey is the tangible progress I can see. With each passing day, I’m getting closer to my goal of developing my first application. The thought of seeing something I’ve created running on an iPhone or iPad fills me with a sense of anticipation I haven’t felt in years.
The Challenges of Balancing Multiple Roles
Of course, this journey isn’t without its challenges. Balancing my full-time job as a principal of a large school, my new role as a father, and my commitment to learning iOS development is, to put it mildly, complex.
Time Management: A Constant Struggle
Time has become my most precious commodity. As a school principal, my days are filled with meetings, decision-making, and problem-solving. The responsibilities are vast, and the work often extends beyond traditional office hours. Add to this the demands of caring for a newborn, and you can imagine how little time is left for personal pursuits.
Yet, somehow, I manage to carve out time for my iOS studies. It often means sacrificing sleep, waking up before dawn to squeeze in an hour of coding before the day begins. Other times, it means studying late into the night, after my family has gone to bed. It’s exhausting, but the sense of accomplishment I feel with each new concept mastered makes it all worthwhile.
The Mental Challenge
Beyond the time constraints, there’s also the mental challenge. Switching gears from educational administration to programming requires a significant mental shift. There are days when, after hours of dealing with school issues, the last thing my brain wants to do is grapple with coding concepts.
But I’ve found that this mental exercise, challenging as it is, is also incredibly rewarding. It’s keeping my mind sharp, forcing me to think in new ways, and providing a refreshing change of pace from my day-to-day responsibilities.
Doubts and Insecurities
I’d be lying if I said there weren’t moments of doubt. At 36, I sometimes find myself questioning whether this endeavor is worthwhile. In a field often associated with young prodigies, it’s easy to feel like I’m starting too late.
There are days when the imposter syndrome hits hard. I look at the vast amount of knowledge I still need to acquire and wonder if I’m cut out for this. The tech industry moves at breakneck speed, and sometimes I worry that I’ll never be able to catch up.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
But then I remind myself of a few key things:
- Age is just a number: Many successful developers started their journeys later in life. My life experience and skills from my current career are assets, not liabilities.
- The tech industry values skills over age: What matters most is what you can do, not when you learned to do it.
- Learning is a lifelong process: Even seasoned developers are constantly learning new technologies and techniques.
- My unique perspective is valuable: As someone with a background in education and leadership, I bring a unique viewpoint to app development that could lead to innovative solutions.
These reminders help me push through the moments of doubt and refocus on my goals.
The Temptation of Web Development
I’ll admit, there are times when I’m tempted to return to web development. My earlier experiences with freeCodeCamp and The Odin Project were positive, and the web development field is vast and ever-evolving. The lower barrier to entry and the ability to see results quickly are certainly appealing.
Why I’m Sticking with iOS (For Now)
Despite these temptations, I’m committed to seeing through my iOS development journey, at least for the foreseeable future. Here’s why:
- Focus is key: Jumping between different areas of programming might hinder my progress. By focusing on iOS development, I’m giving myself the best chance to gain deep, practical knowledge.
- The iOS ecosystem is thriving: With millions of iOS devices in use worldwide, there’s a huge market for innovative apps.
- Personal interest: I’ve always been fascinated by mobile app development, and iOS offers a great platform to explore this interest.
- Quality over quantity: While web development might offer quicker results, iOS development allows me to create high-quality, polished applications that can make a real impact.
- Future possibilities: The skills I’m learning now could open doors to exciting opportunities in the future, whether that’s freelance work, a career change, or even starting my own tech company.
That said, I’m keeping an open mind. The skills I’m learning now – problem-solving, logical thinking, and programming fundamentals – are transferable. Who knows? In the future, I might expand my skills to include web development or other areas of programming.
Looking Ahead: My Goals and Aspirations
As I continue on this journey, I’ve set some goals for myself:
- Develop my first app: Within the next six to nine months, I aim to develop and launch my first iOS app on the App Store. It doesn’t need to be complex – even a simple utility app would be a huge accomplishment.
- Contribute to open source: Once I’ve gained more confidence in my skills, I want to contribute to open-source iOS projects. It’s a great way to give back to the community and improve my coding skills.
- Blend education and technology: Given my background in education, I’m excited about the possibility of developing educational apps that could benefit students and teachers.
- Network with other developers: I plan to join iOS developer communities, and attend meetups (virtual for now), and possibly even tech conferences in the future.
- Continuous learning: The tech world never stands still, so neither will my learning journey. I’m committed to staying updated with the latest in iOS development.
Lessons Learned So Far
Though I’m still in the early stages of my journey, I’ve already learned some valuable lessons:
- Consistency is key: Even on days when I can only manage 30 minutes of study, it’s important to stick to the routine.
- Embrace the struggle: The moments when I’m struggling with a concept are often when I’m learning the most.
- Community matters: Engaging with other learners and experienced developers through forums and online communities has been incredibly helpful.
- Patience is crucial: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is programming expertise. It’s important to celebrate small victories and not get discouraged by the long road ahead.
- Real-world application aids learning: Trying to apply what I’m learning to potential real-world scenarios helps solidify the concepts.
A Call to Fellow Late Starters
If you’re reading this and finding yourself in a similar situation – considering a dive into programming later in life, or while juggling other significant responsibilities – I want to encourage you. It’s challenging, yes, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
Don’t let age, current career, or other life circumstances hold you back. The digital world is full of opportunities, and it’s never too late to seize them. Whether it’s iOS development, web development, or any other area of programming, the important thing is to start.
Conclusion
As I wrap up this post, I’m filled with a sense of excitement for what lies ahead. Yes, the path I’ve chosen is difficult. Balancing my roles as a school principal, a new father, and an aspiring iOS developer is no small feat. There are moments of doubt, moments of exhaustion, and moments when I question my choices.
But there are also moments of pure joy – when a piece of code finally works, when I grasp a new concept, when I envision the apps I’ll be able to create in the future. These moments make every late night and early morning worth it.
So here’s to the journey ahead – to the challenges I’ll face, the skills I’ll learn, and the developer I’ll become. And to all of you reading this, whether you’re considering a similar path or cheering from the sidelines, thank you for being part of this adventure.
Stay tuned to “theprincipal.io” for more updates on my iOS development journey. Who knows? Maybe the next post will be about my first app launch! Until then, happy coding, and remember – it’s never too late to learn something new.