Four weeks ago, myself and four other soon-to-be-kick-ass developers embarked on an epic journey into the magical land of JavaScript computer programming. It began at Portland Code School, and it is here that we will spend the next few months preparing to become ninja-like internet-warriors under the guidance of our sensei, Whitney Young. We came to this place from different walks of life, but we all share one major commonality. We wish to immerse ourselves in this computer language, learn its ways, and harness its power to create an idealistic environment in which we can be successful and happy human beings.

I asked each of my classmates how learning to code has had a positive impact on their life thus far, and this is what they had to say…

Kali

Learning to code has made my life better because…

"I...really enjoy changing variables in my day, and I like the fact that living a life that is completely foreign to me gives me a chance to consciously do that..."

Deciding that I’m going to be someone who is good at technology makes me take care of the technological aspects of my life – making sure my computer is backed up, that I’m aware and utilizing time-saving software, and just that I’m deliberate about that stuff as opposed to haphazard.

This one is hard to verbalize, but the thing that I guess you could say I’m most grateful for would just be the greater dimensionality in my life. The things that I usually pursue, which are really physical and emotional, contrasted with the way you have to use your brain to code, creates greater amplitude in feeling on the entire spectrum.

I’m really enjoying the space at PCS, and my bike-ride to school makes me the happiest person when I get to do it – like irrationally happy. I also really enjoy changing variables in my day, and I like the fact that living a life that is completely foreign to me gives me a chance to consciously do that, and weigh how I feel afterwards.

Check out some of Kali’s awesome coding projects on Github!

Andrea

Learning to code has made my life better because…

"You can’t be a sloppy thinker when you’re a coder..."

I think it has given me both awesome confidence and humbleness. The confidence comes from the fact that you are constantly learning how to problem solve, and every time you find a solution you feel great and successful.

But there is also so much to learn. There are always other tools you could use, and other ways you could solve that problem better, and that’s humbling. It just helps you think better, too. You can’t be a sloppy thinker when you’re a coder, as everything has to be very concise.

Check out some of Andrea’s awesome coding projects on Github!

Austin

Learning to code has made my life better because…

"It has been really humbling – it really forces you up against your own intellectual limitations."

It has been a great source of entertainment and challenge, it has given me more structure in my life, and it has taught me a lot of new ways to look at problems – which have carried over into problem solving and pattern recognition in life in general. This hasn’t happened yet, but I’m hoping it will give me a means to support myself, which would be rad – because it would be a cool thing to do.

You want more? I can go deep about coding. I’ve met a lot of different people from different walks of life that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It has been really humbling – it really forces you up against your own intellectual limitations. I don’t think there is a single time I’ve sat down and haven’t felt like I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m always amazed when I get stuff to work. It is like this fun cycle I’ve been going through every day lately.

Check out some of Austin’s awesome coding projects on Github!

Leslie

Learning to code has made my life better because…

"I feel like myself, and like I’m taking ownership of my life in a way..."

I think this programming thing has been a venue for me to be myself. I have always tried to do what other people thought I should do, and I decided I kind of need to pave my own path. I feel like myself, and like I’m taking ownership of my life in a way – like an avenue to do the things that I love to do, including building stuff, figuring stuff out, designing stuff. I also love the people I’ve been meeting in the community.

You know the word congruency – being who you are in different areas? I struggled with that for a long time, and in programming I feel like I am congruent with me.

Check out some of Leslie’s awesome coding projects on Github!