Welp! I Better Start Somewhere

The Start of Something

Today is the day of reckoning. I am determined to blog despite my ego. I have so many unfinished drafts and absolutely nothing posted. This journey that I'm on is so new to me. I want so badly to become a Software Engineer, but I can't afford to go back to college.

Lucky for me, we live in 2025 and YouTube University is thriving.😂🥹

I initially planned to create my personal website/blog from scratch, but I quickly realized that being able to code and being able to design are two different things. I am utilizing Visual Studio Code, HTML, CSS, to draft my posts. Hopefully, My page will evolve over time. In the meantime, I will be using Blogger because it is open-source and I won't have to deal with those silly drag and drop templates from other website providers. I will discuss more about why I named my blog the Pragmatic Empiricist, but for now, consider it a Manifestation thing.

I have a perpetual list of things that I plan on doing because every time I conduct any kind of research, I end up down yet another rabbit hole.🐇

✅Today's challenge was to complete my first post using Blogger. (I have extreme analysis paralysis and I intend on breaking out of it.)

Additionally;

I will update my blogger account utilizing my old drafted post, despite my fear of being judged; I'm so excited to be on this secret mission of mine and maybe one day it will mean something. Someone like myself may see this Archived Journey and feel inspired to pursue the unknown like me.

Oh did I mention that I am 40 plus. Yep, I have to not only fight my extreme ADHD, Analysis Paralysis, but also Arthritis (LOL jk). No but seriously, one's brain works differently at 40. Not to mention our egos are unmatched because by 40 most people have mastered whatever field they've worked in. I fully understand that I will be forced to interview along side 20 somethings, but I have already convinced myself that my age is my advantage. I have 10 plus years in a professional career and have gained transitional skills that are unmatched. Also, despite me not having a clue about the tech world, I am very open-minded, motivated, optimistic, confident and determined to figure this out.

Reminder to self: Have unwavering faith in your ability to accomplish anything on this earth, it make take a little hard work and dedication, but in most cases, it has already been done before. (Rarely, is someone the first) Use your resources and use the examples of others to guide you on this journey. It's all uphill from here. LOL

Exhales....

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Greetings from the Webmaster

Welcome to The Pragmatic Empiricist: A Midlife Journey into Full Stack Web Development

Hello and welcome! I’m Dyyanna Draw, and I’m excited to kick off this blog — The Pragmatic Empiricist — where I share my journey learning to code and transitioning into tech in my 40s. After more than a decade (12 years, to be exact) working in the federal government, I’ve decided it’s time for a major shift. I’m diving headfirst into the world of full stack web development, and I’m inviting you along for the ride.

Why "The Pragmatic Empiricist"?

The name reflects how I approach this journey: with practicality, curiosity, and a willingness to learn by doing. I believe in testing ideas, iterating fast, and embracing mistakes as stepping stones — values that align beautifully with both scientific thinking and modern software development.

Changing Careers After 40: Why Tech?

As a woman in her 40s starting over, I know the doubts that can come with learning to code later in life. But I also know the strength that comes from years of problem-solving, team collaboration, and systems thinking. The tech world thrives on adaptability, and those of us making a midlife career change bring valuable skills and perspectives to the table.

Tech isn’t just for twenty-somethings. It’s for anyone willing to learn, grow, and build. I’m here to show that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself — and that includes becoming a developer over 40.

Inspired to Start Now, Not Later

After reading an inspiring post on DEV (Blogging Your Learn to Code Journey), I realized I didn’t have to wait until I became “job ready” to start documenting this journey. In fact, that’s the whole point. This blog is my digital journal — full of lessons, challenges, resources, and progress updates as I level up my skills.

What You’ll Find on This Blog

• Reflections on learning programming over 40
• Project walkthroughs as I build my portfolio
• Reviews of helpful coding resources and tutorials
• Career change insights for those transitioning into tech careers
• Real talk about the ups and downs of learning to code

🧿Purpose of this Blog

The Pragmatic Empiricist Blog will serve three purposes; 

1. **To catalogue my thoughts**

1. Rants, Reflections and Revelations 

2. Manifesto - redefining myself

3. Accountability Log - to keep track of my evolution (no matter how small)

2. **To publicly bookmark**; 

1. Tech Resources

2. Books

3. Music

4. Movie

3. **To serve as folder for my main website**; 

1. Where I document my journey through the tech world; 

2. Where I remind myself to stay inspired; 

3. Where I brain dump ideas for my Web Portfolio.

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