Moving On Up as Ruby on Rails Developer.

Dive: Coder - Rails
Description: Knows how to code using Rails
Level: Level 2
Level Requirements: Can code using Rails at an advanced-basic level
Certified On: Mar 4, 2024

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: Monroe Mann Break Diving Level: Level 1 Number of Certified Dives: 14 From: United States In: United States

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

As you read in my prior certification for Level 1, it took me decades to become a coder, because I thought I was too stupid to succeed because of all of my prior failures trying to become a coder. But once I learned the basics of rails, it was a simple and quick decision to decide that I wanted to continue the journey forward. So I believe I decided to keep going sometime in 2016 or 2017.

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?

I would say it took me about a year or two to feel like I was competent enough with rails to consider myself an advanced-basic coder. It took that long for two reasons: 1) I was pursuing coding part-time as I built the breakdiving.io community with fellow volunteers, and 2) even though I know today that I am not 'stupid', I also acknowledge I am not the best coder. For some people, this just clicks immediately. For me, it takes longer to grasp the concepts.

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

Coding is hard! There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it! It's so frustrating when you can't solve a bug, and it makes you question whether you have what it takes to continue.

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

When do do solve a bug, it makes you feel great. Further, it encourages you to keep going. Finally, knowing that the better coder I can become, the more likely Break Diving will succeed on a larger scale really drives me forward.

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

Don't quit. You're going to run into road blocks. Just keep going, and be patient when you run into those road blocks. You will eventually find the solution you seek!

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.

Here are some of the best resources I can recommend to you.

Resource 1: ChatGPT - When you get a bug, you can use this tool to help you debug!

Resource 2: Pragmatic Studio - I recommended this before in my previous certification, but I recommend it again, because it's a really great course!

Resource 3: -

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

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

I remember two days before we were about to launch the breakdiving.io website, our best coder volunteer quit. We had been relying on her to do all of the heavy lifting, because I was still a real beginner as a coder, and so we the others.

When she left, I panicked for a moment. But... necessity is the mother of invention, and her leaving, forced me to invent some confidence in myself, because I had to step up as a coder bigtime. 48 hours later, we launched the site on the internet, and... it crashed within 12 hours. Another coder and I were up all night, until 6am, trying to fix the code together.

And... WE DID IT! We solved it together. And got the site back online.

What happened next? Well, two things:

1. I realized I had become a much better coder than before.
2. The site on which you are reading this blog post... is the very same one from that day back in 2019!

Don't give up folks!

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

The breakdiving.io website, and my Github pull request history, are the two pieces of evidence I am submitting attesting to my coding abilities at this level.

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

Absolutely. The more I can learn about Ruby and Rails, the better coder I will become. The better coder I become, the better Break Diving will become.

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, Monroe Mann is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Coder - Rails - Level 2. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 203

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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