Why Learn Computer Programming

Why you should learn computer programming. Improve your thinking abilities and chances of making money.

Computer programming is the way we talk to computers using special purpose constructs called programming languages. Computers like humans need a way to communicate with humans and with each other. If humans did not have a way to talk to computers then most of them will be useless and we won’t have the beautiful apps and technologies we enjoy today.

Most people do not get into computer programming because they feel its complicated and useless or reserved just for a few high IQ mathematicians who have spend years learning the magic of computers. This could not be far from the truth. Computer programming is complex at the beginning but the benefits of learning it surpass the time and pain required to master it. As we all know, computer programming is not useless. Without computers and programming, we won’t be able to go online, visit social media and enjoy all what the software industry has brought to us. From communications to medicine, computer programming has changed the world forever. You won’t have been able to read this article if not for computer programming.

Anyone with the desire, motivation, patience, discipline and interest to learn computer programming can do it given enough time and practice. Programming is not just for math or STEM majors. Anyone can learn it. Although a knowledge of Maths is important to do some specific type of programming like Machine learning, it is not required for all sub fields of programming. Anyone who has the motivation and interest to learn programming can do so without worrying too much about maths. If you can learn programming and have the interest, then you can learn maths whenever you need it. I know people who cannot solve simultaneous linear equations but are earning money and doing work as Software Developers.

You don’t need a a high school diploma or university degree to be a good Software Developer but having it will make it easy for you to get opportunities. Even though Open Source opens more doors to you than even degrees. Despite this, have your degree if you can and if you can’t, just learn programming, contribute to Open source and you will be fine.

Money

If you are poor or need money then computer programming might be the way to go in this modern age where computers are everywhere. Right now, Software Developers or Computer Programmers are some of the best paid people on the planet. In general, for people from poor families, you should be in the STEM fields. Why? because STEM is more difficult than their arts and humanities counterparts. Doing STEM, of which computer programming is part of, will improve your chances of getting a job and making money since very few people can handle the complexity and challenge. This is the reason why you see so many history, Journalism, Economics etc graduates and so few Maths or Computer science majors. This means very few people are available to do STEM work there by improving your chances for the few people in STEM to make money. Take some time to think about it.

Critical Thinking Abilities.

Computer programming is at the intersection of Applied Maths and Language. Computer programming naturally will improve your thinking abilities because, truly, it is just logic and English. The logical statements you use in programming like the if, else, switch statements along with loops or iteration can be used in the real world to solve problems. So knowing computer programming means, you are improving your logical thinking abilities and to an extend your communications skills since you will have to collaborate with others to build Software. If you notice around you, people who understand programming or mathematics are better at solving problems than others. If you have critical thinking abilities, just know that you will never be poor in your life.

Security

If you can solve problems using computers, you will be able to make money. And with money, you have financial freedom and security. Security here is not just in terms of money. Having money from computer programming means, you and your family members will not involve yourselves in fraudulent activities and stealing. This means your family members will not be prostitutes and will stay on the good side of the law. The root cause of people getting into illegal and immoral activities can be linked to a lack of money. So learning computer programming gives you money which in turn protects you and your family since you can now solve your money problems.

Social Status

Becoming a Computer Programmer will elevate your social status. Just the nature of your job, the people you know, what you do and the money you make as a result of it becomes something which many people admire but cannot get it. This boosts your confidence, pride and increases your social status. Social Status or capital can buys you a lot of things. It can make it easy for you to make friends with powerful people and build a powerful network for yourself.

Programming Opens Doors

The best way to get into the Software industry is via computer programming. If you wanted to be a technical writer, product manager, UI/UX designer or whatever in the Software field, your best bet will be to start as a Computer Programmer or Software Developer and then move on to those fields with time. This is so because Software Development or Computer Programming is harder than most of the other related fields in the industry and so there are fewer people competing with you to get hired. Learning Computer Programming will be a good way to stand out and build a good reputation for yourself so much such that you can now compete with whites and Asian people who are unconsciously favored in the software industry. I have heard so many people say: “What if I want to become a Technical Writer” Or “What if Technical Writing or UI/UX Design is my passion”. As an African in a global software industry, I will ask you to pick something more difficult as this will have very few people competing for those positions. Doing this also sets you up for the opportunity to build up a reputation for yourself and prevent people from minimizing you as most whites feel that Africans are unskilled and have nothing to offer. programming sets you apart in the Software Industry and increases your reputation. Please learn programming to put yourself in a good place in the global market.

Another take on this point is that computer programming is a generic problem solving tool which cuts across domains. Software Developers are found in various domains and this gives them the opportunity to move across industries easily. If you check the banking industry, you will see developers building Software for for banks and other Financial Institutions. This is same for all other industries. Given that Software is eating the world, you as a Software Developer can easily move between these industries and create opportunities for yourself because of the domain knowledge you build over years working in industry.

Programming might just be the best way for Africans to make money and get out of poverty. You should learn it. Go through the pain and you may never have money problems in your life. It takes just 3 months of consistent work for anyone to learn their first programming language. From there, the sky is really your limit.

In the coming days, I will write an article talking about how to learn computer programming. Subscribe to this list to get updates.

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