How I Started Learning Python

Dive: Coder - Python
Description: Knows how to code using Python
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Can code in Python at a basic level
Certified On: Nov 19, 2023

Editor’s Note: On all dive certifications, we try to edit the writing as little as possible to preserve authenticity, personality, and writing style. We typically fix spelling errors, but minimally modify grammar and sentence structure (just enough to ensure readability).

Name: Nidhi Singh Break Diving Level: Recruit Number of Certified Dives: 1 From: India In: India

1. When and Why Did You Decide to Pursue This Dive At This Level? What was your inspiration and motivation?

I started a little more than a month ago, with python. I really wanted to build things and learning how to code was a part of that, Python wasn't the first language I picked up, It was C. I think C gave me a good base for learning python as python is built upon it. Learning python allowed me to demystify the "magic" I thought code was.

2. How Long Did It Take For You To Accomplish This Dive At This Level From The Day You Decided To Pursue It, And Why Did It Take That Long?

It took me not more than a few weeks to get to a beginner level, but I practiced everyday without fail, I would go through one chapter everyday and do all of the exercises in it, no matter how tedious even if I "thought" that I could do them. I also started to play around with questions on other websites like Hackerrank and Codewars, which made me realize I really dont know much. I went back to practicing the same concepts until they're clear.

3. What Was The Hardest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The hardest part for me was keeping my morale high, it is really hard not to get really upset over not understanding something the first time or getting things wrong. It would often make me question if I'm made for this or if I'm just not "smart" enough. But in the end its all about building up the skill of problem solving and strengthening that muscle which is what I did everyday and I now am better than I was before and that's the only metric I use now.

4. What Was The Easiest Part About Achieving This Particular Dive Level?

The easiest part was the planning, following a book game me structure and I did not have to spend time scouring random blogposts or tutorials. This might not work for everyone but I prefer to go deep into the things I'm learning and the approach in a book was much better for me but I know friends who have learned how to code and prefer visual / shorter resources to get up to speed without diving into the nitty-gritties.

5. What Is Your Advice For Someone Who Is Pursuing This Dive And Level?

YOU CAN DO IT. Do not waste your time questioning yourself if you can do it or not, just try and find out for yourself, you'll learn so much about yourself through the journey that you'll be thankful even if you fail to do what you set out to do, you can only ever fail forward anyway because failing is still a step above not trying at all :)

6. What Are Some Of The Best Resources You Recommend to Those Pursuing This Dive At This Level, And Why Do You Recommend Them? Please Include Relevant Weblinks, If Applicable.

I used the book "Python Crash Course" by Eric Matthes

Here are some other resources that I would recommend:

Resource 1: Real Python - It has a lot of valuable tutorials and I find it a lot more concise and clear than other tutorial websites.

Resource 2: Automate the boring stuff with python - Book by Al Sweigart, it has a lot of practical applications of the language while teaching you the very basics.

Resource 3: -

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

7. Tell Us A Story Of One Of Your Adventures While Pursuing This Dive (At This Level).

I finished my journey of learning "basic python" by making a Pygame, I got the assets of the game from a Pygame tutorial on Youtube and I would follow the tutorial up until they showed the code and pause the video, code it myself and un-pause it to see if and where I messed up.

It was very encouraging to find out I was always pretty close the the solution or the same, It gave me more confidence to go out of my way and pursue things I dont understand yet because in the end, I knew I could learn it.

I also ended up learning why Object-Oriented (OO) programming is so fundamental in game development. It was very frustrating creating it without them, it taught me a lot about functions and using conditionals.

The most interesting part for me was when I got the character to move from left to right to give the illusion that he was moving, I did that all on my own before turning to the tutorial so it was very fun and a confidence booster.

I also learned about converting my code into an .exe file and sending the game to my friends to play !! They thought it was really cool and I was able to give some advice to those who wanted to learn as well

8. What Evidence Did You Submit to Prove You Met the Requirements for This Dive and Level?

a beginner game I created in the beginning of my journey

9. Will You Be Pursuing The Next Level For This Dive? If Yes, Why? If Not, Why Not?

Yes, I will be pursuing (or am already pursuing) this dive to the next level. I plan to make projects on my own with an original idea with help from tutorials only as a supplement . The next project I want to work on is a web scraper so I'm excited to see how that turns out.

10. What is the Break Diver's Creed?

No rules. No excuses. No regrets.

Certificate photo:

And having made this post, and provided adequate evidence to the dive committee, Nidhi Singh is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Coder - Python - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 156

The author above wrote this WYSEguidance post as one of the certification requirements to become certified by Break Diving, Inc. for a dive completed. Would you also like to find greater success, happiness, and friendship, and make genuine supportive connections with others around the world pursuing your same dreams? Come join us at Break Diving and soon your story will be the next one you read about on this site!

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