Embarking on the Data Journey: A Fresh Graduate's Perspective on Python Development and Data Analysis
Part one: A Brief Overview of My Background
This is my first time writing an article and I hope you enjoy the journey I am about to embark you on. What you are about to read is an ongoing journey into becoming better at what I love to do, and I wish to share the journey, so you could accompany me along the way. This article marks the beginning of a narrative that intertwines my growth, challenges, and lessons as I navigate the field of Data. With each word, I wish to leave the essence of my enthusiasm for Data. Whether you are a fellow enthusiast, professional, or someone who is just exploring similar paths, I invite you to share in the experiences that shape my journey. Together, let's delve into the currency of the digital world "Data". So without further ado, let this journey begin!
Hi, I am AbdulWaheed Adedayo AbdulSalam, I prefered to be called DayoSalam, I recently graduated from the university of ilorin where I studied computer engineering. I am passionate about data; I love every aspect of data. Data analysis, data collection, data visualization, and using data to power machine learning models. Before I delve into my journey into data it is important to understand the foundation that peaked my interested.
As a young boy, I loved superheroes, my favorites were spiderman and ironman, I loved spiderman because he was a very relatable character and I wanted to be that athletic and smart. But I enjoyed ironman more because of his imagination and brilliance, he found himself in the worst moments in his life and his life was also in danger, but his imagination kept him alive also him being a super genius. He created a piece of extreme technology out of the barest minimum to escape a really bad situation, that fascinated me, I wanted to build my own iron man suit, that was when I fell in love with technology especially smart technology. I researched a lot on it, I did mini projects using microcontrollers like Arduino and ESP's to grasp the concept of embedded systems and Internet of Things (IOT), that was when I decided to study computer engineering to learn more about how I can finally build my own ironman suit.
On the summer of 2017, after finishing my high school and awaiting my acceptance letter from the university, I started learning how to program and has every self taught programmer, the first thing I learnt was HTML and CSS. I did learnt frontend web development, however it never clicked in me, and every youtuber back then always said writing HTML and CSS does not make you a programmer, then I learnt about python, one of the best programming languages out there. I wrote my first line of 'Hello World' on the python 3.4 IDLE and it clicked for me, I finally found it, I did not know what "it" was then, but I felt it in me just like an instinct. I learnt the basics on the SoloLearn platform, and I knew how to do basic operations in python, but what was I going to use this language to build, I had no mentor, no direction to go towards so I abandoned it and left to study in the university.
After four years in school, learning concepts that I do not know whether I would use, finding out my deep hatred for Java (would want to learn it later on though). I was lost in the vast sea of knowledge, not entirely sure how to piece together the puzzle of my aspirations. It wasn't until during my internship at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCIAR) that I encountered the captivating world of data, but instead of focusing solely on building my Iron Man suit, I found myself captivated by the intricate and powerful world of data. At NCIAR, my perspective shifted as I delved into the realm of data analysis, collection, and visualization. The vast datasets we worked with became the raw material for uncovering meaningful insights, guiding decisions, and fueling the development of intelligent systems.
Thus, my journey into the realm of data began. It was not just about numbers and statistics; it was about unraveling stories, solving problems, and, in a way, building my own version of the Iron Man suit—a tool powered by data and imagination. This realization gave a new purpose to my programming skills, aligning them with the dynamic field of data science and analysis.
In this blog series, I'll share the milestones, challenges, and lessons learned as I navigate the exciting landscape of data. From mastering Python for data manipulation to exploring machine learning algorithms, each step is a building block in constructing the metaphorical Iron Man suit of my data-centric dreams, so stick with me, read along and get better with me. Leave a comment down below to say whatever. Thank you for reading!
Connect with Me!
Let's continue this journey together! Feel free to connect with me on: