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Finding My Path in Tech
A Beginner's Guide to Learning Data Analytics
Over, and over again, life has taught and is still teaching me that sometimes you have to lose your way to find your way. Here I am, two years down the lane, and I think I have finally found my path.
Let's rewind to 2022. I was all hyped about Technical Writing, thinking it was my ticket to the tech world. But reality hit hard – to write about tech, I needed to understand it first. So, in 2023, I embarked on a journey to learn UI/UX design. Spoiler alert: it didn't click for me. However, despite my initial enthusiasm, I found myself struggling to grasp it fully.
Feeling a bit lost, I took a step back and decided to explore other avenues within the tech space. I did some research and spoke with a few tech-savvy friends. That's when I stumbled upon a treasure mine: Data Analytics. With a few nudgings from my friends and a quick scroll through Alex the Analyst's YouTube channel, I decided to give it a shot.
I went to Coursera and signed up for their Google Data Analytics course, brimming with enthusiasm. I dabbled in it for a bit but found myself overwhelmed and disheartened by the sheer volume of information. I went far ahead of myself and burned out real quick. I learned an important lesson: slow and steady wins the race.
Then came January 2024, I decided to begin again. I discovered Victoria, a Data Analytics guru in a group I belong to. I reached out to her on WhatsApp and sought her guidance.
She graciously agreed to mentor me and helped me find my place in the field before I even started. I committed to sending her a weekly report of what I learned each week. I was glad because this was what I knew I needed- accountability. With Victoria's support and a newfound sense of determination, I set out on my learning journey once more.
Here is how I got back to learning again:
I went to Coursera and searched for the Google Data Analytics course. I applied for financial aid on January 15th and had to wait for about two weeks for their response.
While waiting for Coursera's response, I started reading about Data Analytics and watched YouTube videos. I watched videos from Alex the Analyst, Luke Barrouse, and Mo Chen on how they would learn Data Analytics if they had to start all over again.
I went to Chat GPT and made it my Study Buddy. I asked it to teach me the basic concepts of data analytics. As I learned, I wrote in my Learning journal to document my progress and insights. It was during this period that I also learned the difference between data science and data analytics.
Each week, I shared my learnings with Victoria, who in turn provided invaluable feedback and supplementary resources to aid my growth. (I will share my weekly reports in subsequent posts)
Finally, on January 30th, Coursera gave the green light and approved my financial aid. By then, I was head over heels in love with Data Analytics.
So here I am, Titemi Jasmine, proudly embracing my newfound identity as the latest Data Sis on the block. My mission? To harness the power of data to craft innovative learning solutions for individuals and organizations alike.
Join me as I travel through the field of Data Analytics, one insight at a time. Let's embark on this adventure together!