You Can’t Learn to Code in 3 Months (And That’s Okay)

You can't learn to code in 3 months.

There, I said it. It's the biggest lie I see sold to people who are new to tech, and frankly, it's harmful. I fell for it myself. I'd see these ads, "Become a Developer in 90 Days!" or "Learn to Code and Get a Six-Figure Job in 12 Weeks!" and I'd think, "Yes, that's it! That's my ticket."

I'd dive into a bootcamp or an online course, hyped up and ready to go. The first few weeks were great. I was learning the basics, building small projects, and everything felt easy. I thought, "This is it! I'm on track." But then, I'd hit a wall. A concept wouldn't click, a project would get too complex, or I'd see the job descriptions for the roles I wanted and realize I barely knew a fraction of what they were asking for.

The lie makes you feel like a failure. It makes you believe that if you aren't a senior developer in a few months, you're doing something wrong. It's a race you can't win because the finish line is a mirage. The truth is, learning tech is a marathon, not a sprint.

It's about the small, consistent steps. It's about spending a little bit of time every day. It's about celebrating the small wins—getting that bug fixed, understanding a new concept, or building a tiny feature you're proud of. It's about embracing the fact that you will constantly be learning, even after you land your first job.

The most valuable thing you can do is to be patient with yourself. Don't compare your journey to someone else's highlight reel. Don't rush through the fundamentals just to get to the "cool stuff." Build a solid foundation, and the rest will follow.

So, let's stop telling people they can learn everything in 90 days. Let's tell them the truth: It's a journey, and it's worth it. The best developers aren't the ones who learned the fastest; they're the ones who never stopped learning.

I am still Learning despite building great products.

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I’m Ndubuisi Agughara, a Full-Stack Developer helping brands go from idea to impact with sleek, functional websites.
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