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Ileana Argyris – From MySpace to Front End Developer with HTML & CSS

Dive: Coder - HTML/CSS
Description: Knows how to code using HTML/CSS
Level: Level 1
Level Requirements: Can code in HTML/CSS at a basic level
Certified On: Apr 16, 2020

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).

Ileana Argyris

Name: Ileana Argyris Break Diving Level: Level 1 Number of Certified Dives: 6 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?

I started working with HTML and CSS in 2005 to customize themes on Myspace. Back then, social media had a wide range of customization options available and everyone wanted to customize their profiles and show off their personality and style.

As a kid, I had a lot of free time and wanted to be ‘cool’. Changing the HTML and CSS on my Myspace to add flashy gifs and colorful backgrounds was a way to do that.

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 did not truly understand the basics of HTML and CSS until much later. In 2017, I decided that I would pick up website development again.

I started working through the FreeCodeCamp curriculum, which helped me brush up on my HTML and CSS, especially because much of it had changed from when I first began coding. In total, I would say that from the moment I focused on learning HTML & CSS, it only took me a month to learn the basics.

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

The hardest part was keeping myself motivated to learn. The hardest part about achieving this dive level was actually sticking to it.

When I was younger, I was motivated by creating cool things, so I learned it as a way to create said cool things. However, back then, there weren’t many tutorials that took you from no knowledge of HTML/CSS to an advanced level. If you wanted to customize something, you had to search for specific terms and hopefully find what you were looking for. It was mostly a game of guess and check.

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

The easiest part, by far, was learning HTML and CSS again the second time.

Today, there are so many tutorials and videos that make it very easy to learn! These courses teach you everything you could possibly need to know, filling in all of the blanks for you so that you can have good coding habits. Back when I was first learning, I wrote a ton of spaghetti code. [Editor’s note: spaghetti code is code that’s messy, unstructured, and all over the place.]

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


  • Learn the basics right the first time. Learning good coding habits in the beginning is easier than correcting bad habits later.

  • Remember that practice makes better.

  • Be easy on yourself when you create your first site. It won’t be pretty, but at least you MADE it!

  • You will get better with time and experience.

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 recommend:

Resource 1: The Complete Web Developer: Zero to Mastery - The course instructor, Andrei Neagoie, goes through web development from the very beginning (HTML & CSS).

Resource 2: Intro to HTML and CSS - The course style is very interactive and they go in-depth on important topics like responsivity and semantic HTML.

Resource 3: Break Diving - Come chat with other coders here!

Resource 4: -

Resource 5: -

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

In 2005 I was customizing Myspace themes. I took code from sites and changed the colors of text and background images. Anything to make the site look better.

Two years later, I was helping my cousins create websites for their homework assignments. These assignments mostly used site builders, but my HTML and CSS knowledge definitely came in handy!

In high school, I continued creating websites. I made a website for my school’s robotics team. At first I created HTML & CSS sites from scratch and created graphics for menu elements. They eventually moved the site over to use WordPress for easier customization.

I also created sites as part of homework assignments in high school.

After high school I went to college and studied computer science. Just kidding, I studied mechanical engineering. However, my web development story did not end there. In college, I developed and managed sites for the engineering societies that I was a part of.

I eventually graduated college and went on to become… a front end developer.

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

1. I work on the Break Diving Coding team. I helped to build some of the front end features. All staff there verify my HTML and CSS coding abilities.

2. Here is the link to a landing page I created as a FreeCodeCamp project:

3. Here is my personal website, which I created using html and css: ArgyrisIleana.com

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

I will be pursuing the next level! I love working on the front end of websites. I want to get better at creating interactive websites with CSS animations and transitions.

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, Ileana Argyris is now hereby certified by Break Diving, Inc. as: Coder - HTML/CSS - Level 1. Congratulations ! Thank you for being an inspiration to others!

Certificate number: 33

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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