I think it was the year 2017 when I first got a little knowledge of the world of programming. Like all newbies go through this stuff, it seemed astronomically complex and impossible to learn not to mention, master. Still, it seemed exciting. Before then, I had always wanted to be a blogger/online content creator, but I couldn't afford the cost of paying a developer to build me one.
That's what made my interest in coding/programming get stronger. I kept reading about all those terminologies and the different specialisations and career paths available in computer development and I loved them all. I made up my mind to learn some programming language. But I had one significant problem; I didn't have a laptop, not a desktop.
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Over the years that followed, getting a laptop became my only goal and dream. But my family's economic state was never good enough to afford me one. From there onward, it just got worse and worse and worse, and whatever little money I could ever earn went to cover the cost of basic living.
At some point, I was almost getting depressed with the whole thing, so I fought back
I started learning about HTML and CSS on my phone using video tutorials from different sources. One of the things they all said in common was that regardless of what you learn if you don't constantly practice, you will lose it. I knew they were right, but I wasn't going to stop it. I was learning by faith, believing God will do something for me soon.
I learnt HTML and CSS. That was in 2018. Fast forward three years and my economic situation and that of my family still haven't improved. I still hadn't gotten a laptop to practice and had forgotten all I learnt. I took a refresher course that year, again on my phone, but with no means to practice, the story remained the same.
Around June this year, I started on it again. But here I am right now, almost blank of all the knowledge, far worse than I was in 2017, and still, no laptop to practice. The funny thing is once in a while I get this "you are getting old" feeling. Like I am missing out on all the time to live my life or achieve anything substantial. I know I am, but it's where life has so far placed me.
Another funny thing is that in 2017, I could have gotten a good laptop in my country for say $120, but as of today, an averagely capable laptop will set me back no less than $300. With my current state, it's seeming like it's now forever out of my reach. Guess the god of computers and programming has rejected me. Won't be the first person whose dream was shattered. Such is life though.