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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📚BOOK REVIEW: Sams Teach Yourself: Beginners Programming in 24 hours

Sams Teach Yourself: 

Beginners Programming in 24 hours 

Sams Teach Yourself : Beginners Programming in 24 hours 

by Greg Perry and Dean Miller 

Pearson Textbook (4th Edition)

ISBN 10: 0-13-583670-0

Where to Buy: https://a.co/d/b2TLimv

Goal: 

Was hanging in the library, decided to check this book out on the whim. 

Felt overwhelmed by the internet and the amount of information I was bumping into, so I decided to look at the Text Book section to figure out if there was anything that could help me figure out my career goals. I figured I wouldn't have a chance to become easily distracted with a book. 

Hope: 

I hope that I can gain an understanding of programming with python benefits. 

minimally, I can create a few things (projects) and add it to my list of higher level languages learned. 

I hope it all makes sense in the end. 

Outcome: 

OMG. Somehow I landed on Python. LOL But guess what, this book inspired me to keep going. the HTML, CSS stuff is fun and all, but I've always been curious about what Programming really looked like. 

I can officially add PYTHON to my things to do list. 🤣🤣🤣

📗 YES, highly recommended. (for all adults learners)

📕NO, for kids and anyone that hates technical manuals

📙 MAYBE, as a reference book

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📚Book Review: The Pragmatic Programmer

The Pragmatic Programmer

by Dave Thomas and Andy Hunt

ISBN 13: 978-0-13-595705-9

Where to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-Journeyman-Master/dp/020161622X#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor 

Goal: 

Ironically enough, my blog wasn't originally inspired by this book. But, I am happy to say that the title alone caught my attention. 

Hope: 

I hope to gain a better understanding of Pragmatism and how it correlates with Programming. 

Outcome: 

Honestly, I wasn't able to complete this book. I returned it to the library, but I intended on purchasing it or checking it out again. It seemed to have some excellent tips for Programmers when making decisions in the workplace and when dealing with projects. 

I will definitely be circling back around to this one and providing better updates. 

📗YES, for adults. Maybe even download the audiobook. This isn't a code based book but more or less how to approach problems and solutions pragmatically. 

📕NO, to Kids. (the end)

📙MAYBE, as a reference book, if you aren't interested in reading this type of information from cover to cover. 

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📚Book Review: Beginners Step by Step Coding Course - Scratch

Beginners Step by Step Coding Course - Scratch 

Learn Computer Programming the easy way

Penguin Random House 

ISBN: 978-1-4656-8221-1

Where to Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Step-Step-Coding-Course/dp/1465482210 

Goal: 

Harvard CS50 requires me to understand Scratch for the projects. 

Decide to use this book to learn and do a few introductory projects to save to my website (portfolio)

Hope: 

I hope that it helps me to understand the logic of coding from a kids point of view and give me the confidence to move forward into more difficult things. If a kid can do it then I can. 

Outcome: 

Book was returned. Was a nice overview but NOT for my age group. Not very useful for me but encouraged me to continue looking into textbooks to learn versus online platforms. I wouldn't say SCRATCH is for babies, but I am beyond that point in my learning. 

Recommendation: 

📗YES, for Kids 

📕NO, for someone with beginner-level or moderate experience

📙MAYBE, for anyone super afraid to get started

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