My Coding Journey
"Christabel is analytical and has a strong ability to problem solve and grasp difficult concepts. She is also a very responsible student and is helpful towards her classmates. Will be an asset in any course :)"
~Mrs Lai (Sec4 Math Teacher of PLMGSS)
Why coding?
I decided to try coding after doing much research into the field of data science and analytics. Before this, I didn't even know what careers I was interested in, let alone what data science was. It was through multiple career profiling tests which showed I was highly investigative, conventional and enterprising, that led me to explore careers in analytics. The more I researched, the more I was drawn to data science. It seemed like something I would enjoy doing as I much preferred working with numbers compared to words.
My coding experience
I started coding lessons with Code Ninja at the end of 2020. The coaches have been very supportive in helping me further explore my interest in Data Science as one of them is a Data Analyst as well! I started by learning the basics of Python coding, covering the knowledge and usage of programming fundamentals and data structures, etc. The initial stages of coding were easy for me to pick up, however, it progressively got harder. Occasionally, I doubted myself and wondered if this was really the field I would go into. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the learning process and my coaches constantly encouraged me and guided me through the parts I was weak at. Eventually, I was able to understand most of the codes without much help, which made me proud of myself for coming so far. It was and continues to be a fruitful experience. I am looking forward to improving my skills and taking on more projects in the future!
What is data science/analytics to me?
Data Science, in my understanding, has vast applications across industries. It is the collection and analysis of data to predict outcomes or to discover trends to make decisions for the organization or even the country. In this way, companies could, for example, better decide on what to bring into the market to meet customers’ demands. Data science is also used to track finances to prevent economic downfalls. Even in the biomedical field, data science is utilized to improve healthcare systems and advance medical technology. While I have not decided on a specific industry of focus, I find data analysis in Financial Technology, Business, and Geographic Information Systems intriguing. I am confident that a diploma in data science/analytics will enhance my learning, challenge my intellect and take me closer to my target.