Why I decided to study Software Engineering at Flatiron School…

Why computer science? What is my goal for the future? Do I have what it takes to succeed? These are the frequent questions that come to my mind. My name is Cristian Benitez, and I am striving to become a great software engineer!

First things first, why am I so interested in software engineering? Well, I’ve always enjoyed all sorts of problem solving. Things like a Rubik’s Cube, a puzzle, a video-game, you name it, have all thrown me in for a loop! No matter how difficult the task was at hand, I was always determined to finish it, and I eventually did!(The Rubik’s Cube…🙄) Last year I challenged myself (both financially and mentally.. somewhat even physically lol) to build my own gaming pc. It was a very tedious project, and it took me quite a few hours to complete. The way my brain is able to decipher tasks is one of the main reasons I decided to give programming a try. I like a good challenge, and the excitement that comes with it.

This year, 2021, is the start of my journey as a software engineer. In reality I have no idea where this will take me or what will happen, but I do know what my goals are! I plan to graduate from Flatiron School with knowledge that’ll assist in finding the right career for me, which leads to my second goal. I want to find my “dream job”, which (to me at least) is working from home. Being successful is very important to me, but family will always come first 😁. Supporting my future spouse and children someday is my most prioritized goal. This all seems possible if I were to become a skilled programmer who can work from, well, virtually anywhere!

Learning how to code is DIFFICULT, I can’t think of any other way to describe it. Spending hours on end trying to figure out what the hell is on your screen is perfectly normal….right?! Some days I’ve asked myself, “Can I really do this?”, “What if I fall behind?”, or even worse, “What if I fail!?” (I get imposter syndrome way too often I swear). Those days are hard, and common, but I’ve learned that with persistence and dedication, I really can do this! I’ve learned so much about programming already, and I only want to keep learning more. My thoughts are mainly focused on coding, and I’m pretty sure I’ve had a few dreams about code 👨‍💻 . I plan to finish what I’ve started, and I’m filled to the brim with excitement just thinking about it!!