I’ve been dreaming in JavaScript for the past few weeks.
Part of my training with Sabio includes “pre-work” by taking online classes in HTML, CSS and Javascript (you can take the classes yourself here). And just about the time when I wonder whether or not I’m getting it, I find myself putting my friends and errands into JavaScript functions in my dreams.
Some of my friends have asked me about what coding is “like” so my impressions are as follows. HTML and CSS are cool because they are easy to learn, understand and see in action. We all have seen lots of websites and these languages enable you to change how websites look, so there’s that instant gratification and understanding of what you’re doing.
JavaScript was a bit more complicated. On the one hand, I’m glad I’d taken a little bit of logic (math) and advanced math because I feel like that helped me to understand what was going on. And while JavaScript was definitely much more challenging (to me) and difficult than the other languages, because I was working on my own, it forced me to learn to problem shoot and figure things out on my own.
As one Sabio fellow told me recently, “You get used to being frustrated.” It’s a lesson I’m glad I learned on the front end, rather than later on.
Aside from learning all of the coding stuff — an exciting journey to be sure! — I’ve learned a lot about other things about programming, too.
For one, anyone can learn to code. I’ve heard Gregorio (Rojas, Sabio co-founder and principal instructor) say this many times, and now that I’m actually playing around with code on a daily basis, I see how he is right. I’ve done things that are more difficult than learning to code — going to college, learning calculus, learning to write in Spanish — so I see it as a do-able challenge.
It also occurred to me that we should have many more Latino programmers than we do. Think about it: if you can build a house, if you can fix a car, if you can run a business — you can code! It would seem to me that building a house with the plumbing, electrical and structural knowledge bases you need is more difficult. Or even fixing a car, given that there are different countries, different parts, systems and computer components that, at least in my mind, mean that programming is easy by comparison.
So where are all the Latino programmers? As best I can figure it’s a lack of access to computer classes, computers in the home, and a familiarity with technology as a career. Though, I’m sure there are many more issues involved here.
What I can say is that, after a few classes’ worth of coding, I’m excited to learn more. I’ve come to realize that, for better or worse, this is something I should have done a long time ago, but I feel lucky that Sabio came along because I’m determined to make a go of it.
If you want to learn more about Sabio, visit them here, if you want to follow my coding journey you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram, and here on Más Wired. Here’s our newsletter sign up.
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Sara Inés Calderón is a journalist and writer who lives between Texas and California. Follow her on Twitter @SaraChicaD.
