“You are too old to learn to code!” This is the opening line of the video. I was not even searching for this type of video. But, the thumbnail and the title grabbed me. Being 46 myself, I could not ignore it. The narrator continues: “The answer is yes, if ‘too old’ means you are not willing to learn new things, then yes…” Phew. I thought he was going to hit me with some soul-crushing ish. It had not been a serious thought before, since the whole catalyst for my desire to learn to code in the first place hinged on a realization that NOT learning new things was contributing to my stress at the time.
Months before, I had been driving along in my 18 wheeler where I had a lot of time to ponder. As with any skill, after a while, you become almost one with the tool, which tends to free your mind. I keep trying to remind my kids of this. This can be a double-edged sword. If a few podcasts and satellite radio will do the trick, then you can equip yourself quite nicely for the road. However, if intellectual stimulation is what you crave, then you will have to become strategic. I started listening to audiobooks. I have a subscription to Audible, and so I started with books on the great wars first. I was always into history and the military, and I found stories of bravery inspiring. It got me thinking about the things I would change if I suddenly was given a chance to leave a war zone alive. Strange perhaps, but as mentioned before, I had a lot of time to think.
At some point, I made a turn into physics. I grabbed a book that promised to explain the most popular theories without the math. We then got to a theory that the author insisted he had to explain the formula briefly. He apologized and explained that the ‘beauty’ of the equation was such that it needed to be appreciated. I was fascinated. Of course, I would have to look at this equation when I was not driving. I wondered what made an equation ‘beautiful’. To me, they represented mental anguish, certainly not beauty. What was I missing?
That morning, I woke up and looked on Udemy. There was a course on sale for beginner algebra. I decided to buy it. See, I struggled with math in high school. One reason I majored in Sociology in university was to avoid math but still learn about people. Also, the reason I took biology for my mandatory natural science. In both instances, I did not escape. I found out Biology has all the ones I ran from hiding within, and they jump out as soon as you start getting serious. With Sociology, it was statistics. I ended up buying the aptly titled “Statistics for the Terrified”. After a few months, I found myself understanding. Slowly but surely. To my suprise helping others in the class! As soon as I got the credit, I was out and I looked forward to my permanent separation from my nemesis mathematics. I started the course and slowly worked through it. Its challenging havin no one to ask questions to. This spurred me to enroll at the adult learning center. I was now convinced that taking a class again would be worth it. I enrolled that September.
Mature students are an intriguing group. In university, I remember them showing up, dressed in the work clothes they did not have time to change out of. These people consistently scored at the top of the class. I could not figure it out. I had way more time, and yet I was celebrating B’s. I finally figured it out during this class. All I changed was my attitude and the way I approached it. In the end, I finished the class with a 93%. One of my highest marks of all time and a vast improvement from the previous 51% I had managed to scrape by with the first time. Here are some of the lessons I applied from the mature students included:
Set a goal.
Don’t be aimless. Know what it is you want to achieve, and how to get there will follow. As my father likes to say, “It will work if you work it.” Set a plan for study and stick to it, no matter how loud the lazy monster calls you.
Aim for the sky, and if you miss, you fall on the clouds.
Challenge yourself and actually rise to the challenge. Do what is required to reach your goal. If you need more practice to understand a concept, then practice more. Don’t complain, just keep practicing until it gets better.
Treat it like you payed money for it (Especially self taught)
If you shelled out hard earned cash for something, you usually want to get your money's worth. When it came free it's easy to just say "ah I will work on it later". Remember as real life grown up you understand how preprecious time is. Use it effectively and put down some of the less important persuits.
With these lessons in mind, I subscribed to Codecademy Pro, purchased Colt Steele's "The Web Developer Bootcamp," and started working my way through it. I was 45 when I embarked on this journey, and now at 46, I have no regrets. On the contrary, I am very glad I did.
Today, as I write this blog, I'm utilizing Contentful and Next.js 14, a combination I found after a relentless and frustrating search. I have learned that that frustration is part of the process. Avoiding it is to almost avoid learning.
Embarking on this journey has taught me that age really is just a number when it comes to learning new skills. The decision to learn to code, to dive into web development, and to embrace the challenges along the way has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. It's a testament to the fact that it's never too late to change your path or to pursue your passions.
To anyone feeling like they're "too old" to learn something new, let my story be a reminder: the only limits that exist are the ones we place on ourselves. Learning to code at 45 has not only been a journey of skill acquisition with an aim to switch careers, but also one of self-discovery.
As I continue to develop my skills and work on projects that excite me and fight with ones that frustrate me, I remind myself why I started learning in the first place. The importance of lifelong learning cannot be understated. Whether you're 20, 40, or 60 (you should have all kinds of time!), the right time to start is now. So, what are you waiting for?
